Starlight Children's Foundation Midwest

Description: When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, the day-to-day joys of childhood take a back seat to the rigors of treatment and hospitalization. Since 1986, Starlight Children’s Foundation Midwest has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness.

We understand what families go through when a child is sick, and how important it is to find relief from constant worry and isolation. Our programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families with others facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone.

Unlike any other charity, Starlight offers a comprehensive menu of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings that enable us to provide ongoing support for children and families — from diagnosis through the entire course of medical treatment. Programs include:

*Family activities and outings that give families a chance to have fun together away from the hospital so they can relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope. The events also forge important connections between families struggling with similar issues to combat feelings of isolation.

*In-hospital entertainment technology that helps kids fill hours in hospitals or treatment centers with therapeutic fun; find distraction during long or painful medical procedures; access Starlight’s online educational programs and communities; and stay connected with the outside world and keep up with school work during extended hospitalizations.

*Online communities and interactive websites that help seriously ill teens connect with each other and find tips and strategies for coping with their medical conditions.

*In-hospital playrooms, kid-friendly treatment rooms and special events that help ease the loneliness, fear and boredom that accompany hospital stays.

*Educational programming — delivered via online interactive games, ezines, webisodes, a comic book and websites — to help sick children understand common hospital procedures and manage illnesses and injuries such as cancer, sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, asthma, Crohn’s and colitis, severe burns and kidney disease.

Research studies have found that Starlight’s programs help reduce children’s pain while helping them to better deal with, understand and manage their illnesses. In addition, Starlight programs help the child, parents and siblings experience less depression, anxiety, pain and isolation and bond as a family.

Target demographics: Children who have chronic or life-threatening illnesses or life-altering injuries and their family members.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 300,000

Geographic areas served: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan

Board Members and Affiliation: President, Sonya Naar

Vice President & Secretary, Bradley H Jones

Treasurer, Geoffrey C. Schiciano

Barbie Adler

Andrew Berlin

Richard B. Bindler

Kim Bradley

Chuck Floyd

Lesley Prizant Goodman

Todd K. Holmes

Russ Karlins

Stan Martin

Stefan A. Noe

Ron Raskin

Marlene Rotstein

David Stafman