Our Ambassadors

Starlight Global Ambassadors are dedicated advocates who use their star power to help make a world of difference in the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

Global Ambassador Dave Koz

Dave Koz, the world-renowned saxophone player, initially picked up the saxophone as a means of gaining entry into his big brother's band. For the young boy who grew up in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, what began as a ploy became a lifelong obsession. In a career spanning nearly two decades, Dave has established himself as a platinum-selling solo recording artist, humanitarian, music-business entrepreneur, radio host and instrumental music advocate. The recipient of four Grammy nominations, the list of artists Dave has played with bears testament to his talent - Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, U2, Michael McDonald, Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis and Rod Stewart among others.

Dave is host of the weekend syndicated radio show, The Dave Koz Radio Show, that features artist interviews and music. The show currently runs in approximately 120 markets and is in its 10th year on the air. He has also recently become the host of Smooth Jazz Network's afternoon show which is distributed nationally, along with hosting Smooth Air in Japan. In addition, Dave is a co-founder of independent record company Rendezvous Entertainment. Dave just released his 8th studio album At The Movies where he pays homage to classic film music.

In his role as a world-renowned saxophone player and syndicated radio host, Dave has rallied his fans to support Starlight's programs, including helping to deliver cuddly bears to hospitalized children during the holiday season every year. While on tour, he has often visited hospitalized children and shared his music to lift their spirits. In addition, he and his family were also among the very first PC Pal sponsors - placing three units at Shriners Hospital Los Angeles in his mother's memory.

In appreciation of Dave Koz's 20 years of dedication to improving the quality of life of seriously ill children and their families, Starlight presented him with The Jacki Carlish Humanitarian Award at the 2007 A Stellar Night gala.

Global Ambassador Tony DiTerlizzi

Dragons, space monsters, goblins and insects: the characters that inhabit storyteller Tony DiTerlizzi’s world haven’t changed since he was a kid growing up in South Florida. This year Tony celebrates ten years of creating children’s books by returning to aliens and spaceships with his futuristic fairy tale, The Search for WondLa. He is also celebrating a 10-year relationship with Starlight. It was ten years ago, when he first got involved with the organization and contributed beautiful illustrations for Starlight’s book, Once Upon a Fairy Tale, a unique collection of classic fairy tales with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Starlight.

Born in Los Angeles in 1969, DiTerlizzi is the oldest of three siblings raised in an artistically rich household. He started drawing at a very young age. One of his first hand-made books was on his favorite subject: dinosaurs, and was done for a Boy Scout merit badge. Fascinated by nature’s endless designs, Tony made another book, this time on insects, carefully drawn from his own collection.

After receiving his degree in graphic design in 1992, Tony did illustrations for the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and contributed to the collectible card game Magic the Gathering.

In 2000, his first picture book, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure debuted and was followed up the year after with the award-winning Ted. His third picture book, The Spider and The Fly, became a New York Times bestseller and won a Caldecott Honor, an award for high artistic achievement in children’s publishing, in 2003.

Soon after, DiTerlizzi met an up-and-coming writer and fellow fantasy lover named Holly Black. Fast friends, the two began to collaborate and created the chapter book series The Spiderwick Chronicles. The series was loved by children and adults alike, and was published in more than 30 countries, selling more than 7 million copies in the US alone. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies released a live action adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles in 2008.

Next up was G is For One Gzonk! and a continuation of the Spiderwick saga with Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles with Holly Black. In 2008, Kenny and The Dragon, which tells the story of a young, bookish rabbit who becomes friends with a happy-go-lucky drake, was another New York Times bestseller. He followed Kenny by teaming up with his wife, Angela, on a silly series of young picture books, Adventure of Meno.

Tony continues to support Starlight as a Global Ambassador.

Starlight Ambassador Bailee Madison

At just 13, Bailee Madison is already a versatile actress who has showcased her talent across the board, effortlessly executing both dramatic and comedic roles. Most recently, Bailee starred alongside Marisa Tomei, Bette Midler and Billy Crystal in 20th Century Fox and Walden Media’s film “Parental Guidance.” She stars as Young Snow White in ABC’s hit drama “Once Upon a Time.” When not working in film or television, she focuses her time and talents towards raising funds and awareness for kids with chronic illness and pediatric cancer research.

Bailee was inspired to help Starlight Children’s Foundation to improve the life and health of kids and their families in 2008 when she attended her first Starlight gala. Since then, the young actress has proven her dedication to Starlight families by appearing in public service announcements, attending hospital and community-based events and co-hosting Starlight’s annual gala, the very same event that first drew her to the cause. In 2009, Bailee was named spokesperson for Starlight’s StarPower Ambassador program, which encouraged young people throughout the United States to make a difference in the lives of hospitalized and chronically ill children. 

As one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young actors, Bailee has a larger platform than ever to spread awareness of Starlight’s unique mission to partner with healthcare facilities and pediatric hospitals around the world and has accepted the challenge to expand her role as a Starlight Ambassador. In her new role, Bailee leads Starlight Day, Starlight’s one-day Twitter campaign that calls attention to the millions of hospitalized children around the world and how hospitalization impacts their childhood. Additionally, she looks for ways to connect with Starlight families – at the hospital, in the community, and online – as well as to support Starlight’s domestic and international markets with every opportunity she gets.

To stay up-to-date of Bailee’s support of Starlight, subscribe to Starlight eNews. To keep up with Bailee, visit www.baileemadison.com