Spirit Halloween raises funds for UC Davis Child Life

Spirit Halloween is once again helping make the hospital less scary for kids by raising funds for the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at UC Davis Children's Hospital.

Stores are now open, and shoppers can download a coupon to receive 10% off their Spirit Halloween purchase. In addition, when shoppers use the coupon, the store will make a 10% donation to UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. The coupon is good for purchases made online at www.spirithalloween.com and specifically at the following store locations:

• 4004 Foothills Blvd., Roseville
• 1030 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville
• 7440 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove
• 500 1^st, Davis
• 3041 Forni Road, Placerville
• 704 West Onstott Frontage Road, Yuba City
• 1175 Dana Dr., Redding
• 3440 McHenry Ave., Modesto
• 2100 Standiford Ave., #D1, Modesto
• 2717 Countryside Dr., Turlock

"We are incredibly grateful to Spirit Halloween for their longstanding support of Child Life and our department," said Diana Sundberg, UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Manager. "Their ongoing partnership has helped us strengthen and expand Child Life services throughout the hospital, ensuring that the emotional and developmental needs of our patients remain an essential part of their care."

Thanks to donations by Spirit Halloween, the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department has been able to offer 21 child life fellowship opportunities. These provide additional training and supervision to aspiring certified child life specialists who help hospitalized children. The department has also built upon internship and student training programs, expanded child life services into the Children's Surgery Center, Pediatric Infusion Center, Pediatric Emergency Department and Radiology, and assisted children of adult patients who are experiencing life-altering illnesses.

Spirit Halloween also donates costumes and treats and hosts a Halloween party for hospitalized children at UC Davis Children's Hospital each year.

Spirit Halloween's Spirit of Children Foundation raises money annually for child life programs across the U.S. These programs are dedicated to helping minimize the anxiety of hospitalization, increasing understanding and strengthening coping skills for sick and injured children and their families.

Spirit Halloween raised $111,908 last year for the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Spirit Halloween donations have topped the $1 million mark - and every cent goes toward the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department.

"We deeply appreciate their generosity and the countless moments of comfort, coping, connection and childhood they help make possible," Sundberg said. "Their support has made a lasting impact not only on the services we provide, but also on the many young patients and families who benefit from Child Life services each day."