Program Highlights
A Season of Wows! Great Escapes™ Help Families Make Special Memories
February
Early this year Starlight New England hosted the largest Great Escape in our history. More than 215 children and family members attended TAKE THE ICE at the famous TD Garden for a day with Boston Bruins Alumni. Families had the opportunity to meet alumni, skate on the Garden ice, create sports themed arts and crafts, enjoy a warm lunch together, receive airbrush tattoos, have caricatures drawn by local artists and more!
TAKE THE ICE and two additional Great Escapes events were made possible by a $10,000 gift to Starlight by The Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation. The Foundation helped Starlight organize the event and provided special gifts for participating children and families including autograph cards and gift bags. It was a truly magical memory-making day.
March
On St. Patrick’s Day, b Positive Project made it possible for 35 children and families to enjoy a Celtics Game Great Escape. The opportunity to catch the Celtics in Boston on St. Patrick’s day was an unbelievable experience for all of Starlight’s children and families.
“Just being there was a once in a lifetime experience for us,” said one Starlight mom. “Financially we would never have been able to afford to go to this.”
The event was sponsored by b Positive Project a socially responsible company that hosted an annual Ugly Sweater Party for Starlight, raising $1,250 to be directed towards the Celtics Game Great Escape. Throughout the year b Positive Project continues to raise funds for Starlight donating $5.00 from the sale of apparel items to Starlight Children’s Foundation. Learn more at bpositiveproject.com!
April
Starlight sponsors Vic Miller and Dan Burch understand that the magical experience of a ball game can lift a child’s spirits like nothing else. Their generosity made it possible for Starlight to treat more than 60 children and family members to a Red Sox game Great Escape. The event began with a buffet dinner, billiards and arts and crafts at Jillian’s Boston. Then at 7 pm sharp families headed over to Fenway Park joining the sea of fans, cheers and joyous laughter before taking their seats to enjoy a winning game. Oh Sweet Caroline, what a perfect night! Thank you to Mr. Miller, Mr. Burch and Jillian’s for helping to sponsor the ultimate Red Sox fan experience!
May
Starlight families from five states were invited to participate in this year’s CPKids Camp Great Escape, sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen. The event included non-stop activity with bouncy houses and slides, spin art, arts and crafts, carnival games, prizes, kickball, caricature drawings, balloon creations and face painting. And of course, this event would not have been complete without a lunch of CPK favorites.
Later in the month, it was “Time To Clay” for New Hampshire families as they enjoyed a Great Escape including brunch and pottery painting.
June
Starlight families explored the zoo at our annual Starlight Safari! Families went on a guided tour of the zoo, interacted with animals and ate lunch in the Outback.
Later in the month, Starlight families throughout New England were invited to experience the magic of a Rodeo Great Escape thanks to The Spirit of the American Cowboy Foundation.
New Hampshire families also got to experience their favorite nursery rhyme characters up close and personal at a Storyland amusement park Great Escape.
It’s not too late to help make our summer Great Escapes a reality. Volunteers, in-kind donors and sponsors are always needed!
July
- Starlight families will Quack their way through Boston on a Boston Duck Tour Great Escape! Starlight will charter our own Ducks for this unique Boston experience!
- New Hampshire families will cool off at the annual Water Country Great Escape. Children and family members will have the chance to zoom down water-slides, relax in the lazy river and chill out with ice cream and lunch.
August
- A wild Great Escape at York’s Wild Kingdom in Maine will give families a chance to enjoy amusement rides and a petting zoo.
- Families from throughout the region will be invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Fishercats Fundraiser & Great Escape event! Starlight children will throw out the first pitch, stand in the infield for the national anthem and take a private tour of the stadium before the game. Go Fishercats!
- Starlight families will celebrate summer with a BBQ Great Escape and a trip to Canobie Lake Park!
IBDU™ YouTube Channel
Starlight and the Children’s Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation have partnered to create an IBDU™ YouTube Channel that provides video stories related to Irritable Bowel Disease and coping skills.
The six candid videos are an extension to the IBDU website, and the older teens in the videos address things like:
- STRESS - Major stress can give you mood swings, fatigue, and decreased concentration and memory. It can also have physical impacts like changes in heart rate and blood pressure, weight gain, and a weakened immune system. It pays to make time to manage your stress level.
- SCHOOL - College can be stressful — learn simple stress management techniques that will help improve how you feel by changing your actions and thoughts.
- WORK - Because you have a medical condition that affects so much of your daily life, it helps to know your rights in the workplace, and to take all the steps you can to make sure you’re protected.
Visit www.youtube.com/IBDUwebsite to subscribe today and be notified when new videos are posted. You must have a YouTube or Google account to subscribe, but accounts are free!
Starbright World Gets an A+
Starbright World was recently reviewed by Common Sense Media, an organization that provides online information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a “choice and voice about the media they consume.”
We’re happy to report that Starbright World received rave reviews, including an A+ for its educational value and four stars for the site overall. Common Sense Media also provided a great summary of Starbright World’s message: “…one of support, solidarity, and strength . . . the site — and its members — enables kids facing health challenges to still be social, silly and fun.”
To see how Starbright World measured up in other categories, click here.
