FAQ
What is the mission of Starlight Children's Foundation?
We help seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.
Why do families need Starlight?
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. The kids, their parents and siblings struggle, in different ways, to grapple with the intrusion of illness or serious injury into their lives. We understand what families go through when a child is sick, and how important it is for families to find relief from constant worry and isolation.
How does Starlight help?
Our entertainment, education and family activity programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone.
Does Starlight grant wishes?
Starlight does not grant wishes in the United States. We work collaboratively with a number of wish organizations to bring our programs to sick kids and their families throughout the course of their illnesses-before, during or after treatment.
What are the benefits of Starlight's programs?
Research studies have shown the benefits of Starlight’s programs for seriously ill children and their families, including:
- Reduced pain, anxiety, depression and loneliness
- Improved peer support
- Increased communication with friends, family and healthcare professionals
- Improved knowledge about their disease, adherence to treatment and a reduction in symptoms
- Better bonding between family members
- Improved self confidence and ability to deal with the disease
- Better relationships between the sick child and their parent(s)
How and why was Starlight founded?
Starlight Children’s Foundation was founded in 1983. In 2004, Starlight merged with the Starbright Foundation, which had been in existence since 1991. Starlight and Starbright were each founded by Peter Samuelson (with help from Steven Spielberg in the case of Starbright and Emma Samms in the case of Starlight) to empower and improve the quality of life for seriously ill children — Starlight through high-touch events and activities and Starbright through high-tech entertainment, education and communication tools. Since the two organizations shared core goals, served the same population and had a founder in common, they decided to combine their efforts. Between 2004-2008, the organization operated under the name Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. In 2008, to simplify the name and unify with its international affiliates, the organization officially changed its name to Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Throughout our history, Starlight, Starbright and the post-merger Starlight Children’s Foundation have been developing programs that offer children ways to cope with the social, emotional and medical aspects of serious illness as well as providing families with a community of support and understanding. Through both national programs and services delivered locally by chapters and offices, Starlight’s programs touch the lives of more than 2 million children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions each year.
How is Starlight different from other children's charities?
Few organizations provide children with strategies, programs and services that enable them to cope with the challenging daily demands of serious illness. Even fewer provide support services that continue beyond hospital stays or one-time special events, or extend to the family. Starlight provides ongoing resources and a sense of community from the moment of diagnosis throughout a family's journey through serious illness. We serve seriously ill children and teens nationwide regardless of disease or injury, gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, as well as their family members of all ages.
Reach - We touch the lives of more than 3.8 million children and families every year in the United States and Canada. We serve children with life-altering conditions and injuries, including many who have life-threatening illnesses.
Ongoing - We touch the life of a child and family not once, but over and over again throughout the course of the illness or injury and recovery - before, during and after treatment.
Entire family - We support not just young patients, but their parents and siblings as well.
High tech and high touch - Our programs blend entertainment, education and family interaction. We are in the hospital, in the community and online.
What are Starlight's sources of funding?
Starlight is able to serve millions of seriously ill children and their family members thanks to individual and corporate donations and government grants. For details, please click here to access our annual report, audit or 990.
How much of each dollar goes directly to the children and families Starlight serves?
Seventy-eight cents out of every dollar goes directly to the delivery of our programs across the United States.
Is my financial contribution tax deductible to Starlight?
Yes, your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please consult your tax advisor for further information regarding your individual situation. Starlight Children's Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (Tax I.D. #95-3802159).
Who is eligible to participate in Starlight programs?
We serve seriously ill children and teens nationwide regardless of disease or injury, gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, as well as their family members of all ages.
Is Starlight active in my community?
We have programs at work in all 50 states and in more than 1,300 hospitals. To learn more about our activities in your state, click here.
Where does Starlight have offices?
Starlight has a network of more than 30 offices throughout the United States and Canada, some of which function as independent 501c3s and others which operate as field offices of the global office. In addition, we have international affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. For specific locations, click here.