What's New

Aidan McConlin Enjoying a sail on the Mallory Todd
  

School's Penny Harvest program benefits Starlight!
Starlight sends a special thanks to the children of John Rogers Elementary in Seattle for selecting Starlight as a beneficiary of their Penny Harvest program! Your gift will bring joy to the lives of sick children and their families Thank you!

Starlight's 8th Annual Teen Prom
125 seriously ill teens, from hospitals & homes across Washington & Oregon attended Starlight's 8th annual teen prom at the Issaquah Holiday Inn on Saturday, May 21st.  Click here for the media release.

Starlight families enjoy Ride the Ducks
Last Wednesday Starlight partnered with Swedish Hospital and Ride the Ducks for our annual Ride the Ducks day. Over 100 people joined us on this gloriously sunny evening for a quacking good time. Thanks Ride the Ducks!

"Rango" Advanced Screening
Allied Advertising is making it possible for Starlight families to enjoy an advanced Screening of the new Johnny Deppmovie "Rango" on Saturday, February 26.  The kids will have a chance to do a craft prior to the movie and get prime seats for the show a week before it opens to the general public.

Family Valentine's Day Weekend at Great Wolf Lodge
This past weekend, Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound was the setting for a Valentine's dance for 75 Starlight children and their families.  They were able to enjoy the dance and activities in a safe environment and spent the following day at the Lodge's water park.

Hospital Party at Seattle Children's Hospital
On Tuesday, December 14, 2010, Starlight Children’s Foundation Northwest joined forces with regional law enforcement to host our fifth annual holiday party at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Together, Starlight, regional law enforcement, local students, and Starbucks partnered with some additional caring people to generate more than 2,600 toys and gift items. These items were used to create a “store” at Children’s where hospitalized kids could “shop” for themselves and their families for the holiday season. Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed to make this a wonderful day for these kids and their families.

Alcott Elementary Toy Drive
This week Alcott Elementary school in Redmond, WA conducted a school-wide toy drive for Starlight. On December 16th a full-size van showed up at Starlight packed with more than 400 toys, games, and books for our Starlight kids. Thank you Alcott!


Starlight board member, Laura Walton, and the toys from Alcott

Spokane Holiday Event
This weekend Starlight Families in Spokane were gifted with a magical day at the North Pole by North Pole Adventures.  From the moment they arrived they were treated as royalty. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were overjoyed to be visited by these very special guests, especially during the busy holiday season.

Starlight Children’s Foundation Northwest’s Spokane Program would like to thank North Pole Adventures. We are so honored that you selected Starlight as your partner this year! You created life long memories for our Starlight kids. Thank you!

We would also like to thank Wells Fargo, whose sponsorship dollars and more than 20 volunteer team members allowed Starlight to take advantage of this huge opportunity. Our Starlight families will remember this afternoon all their lives.

To Albertsons, Cravens Coffee, American Medical Response, Wall-Mart, ZAK Designs, Fred Meyers and FSA – thank you for helping Starlight help our ill kids and their families in ways beyond our comprehension.

Trans Siberian Orchestra
This past weekend, Starlight Children's Foundation Northwest was the charity beneficiary of the Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO) afternoon show at Key Arena in Seattle. 20 Starlight family members attended the performance. Starlight’s Executive Director, Steve McGraw, was invited on-stage to open the show where he received a $6,855 check from TSO for Starlight. Thank you TSO!!!

From left to right: Jodi Katz (TSO), Curt Kruse (STAR 101.5 Radio),
Steve McGraw (Starlight WA), Tommy Farese (TSO).

Trick or Suite
On October 23, Starlight Children’s Foundation partnered with area businesses and Embassy Suites for our seventh annual Trick or Suite event. This year 240 children and family members from more than 50 Starlight families participated, making it Starlight’s biggest Trick or Suite ever.
The Starlight Children went trick-or-treating through 30 suites decorated in different themes by local businesses, organizations, and families, who also provided fun activities and delightful give-aways. After the festivities 30 Starlight Families stayed the night.

Great Wolf Lodge Event
Starlight Northwest recently hosted the largest Great Escape in the history of its 17-year program when it took more than 350 Starlight children and family members—70 families total—to Great Wolf Lodge for two days of water park fun.
One Starlight mother wrote to Starlight’s Program Director, Erin Behen, “We wanted to thank you for setting up the Great Wolf Lodge getaway for all the families. Our family loved it and enjoyed being able to get away from the everyday trials of having to deal with doctors and hospitals."
This event is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship with Great Wolf Lodge. Five similar events for Starlight families will be taking place over the next few months.

Yo Gabba Gabba

On Saturday, November 13, 5 Starlight families attended the Yo Gabba Gabba performance in Spokane. Below is a note and picture from one of those families.

"Just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for making our weekend extraordinary!  Quinn was completely transfixed at seeing his favorite characters come to life at the Yo Gabba Gabba show! 

When we first learned about Starlight, it was immediately obvious to us that this would be good for our kids.  What Drew and I did not realize at that point was how good it was for us- to do things with our children that were just plain fun.  We've always tried to be positive about the many challenges that Quinn's health issues have brought to us, but until we started participating in Starlight, I don't think we realized just how much the events on our calendar were based upon things that were necessary, but not necessarily fun.  Thank you for giving us so many things to look forward to!"

Spokane Chiefs Game
On Saturday October 23, 2010, 45 Starlight kids and families attended the Spokane Chiefs Hockey game at the Spokane Arena.

CPK Event
It was an afternoon of hula hoop contests, lawn bowling, kickball, and great fun for the more than 100 Starlight Washington children and family members who enjoyed their very own CPK Kids Great Escape.
A balloon artist, dance instructor and magician also provided entertainment, while close to two dozen volunteers from Starlight and CPK local restaurants made sure everything ran smoothly.