Spirit Halloween Donates Costumes, Cash to Help Children at Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena

Natalie Chicas a Certified Child Life Specialist, center, helps children pick a Halloween costume during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team and volunteers to celebrate Halloween, provided by Spirit of Children, a foundation that raises funds to support Child Life programs that provide critical care to pediatric patients, the Halloween event took place at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Hamber Celaya, 4, choses a Halloween costume during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Freddie a therapy dog dressed as spider meets children during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Erick Rivera, 15, dressed as a "pirate" and Hamber Celaya, 4, dressed as a spider during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Volunteers dressed as "super heroes" walk around greeting kids during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Hand puppets amuse kids during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Hamber Celaya, 4, decorates a pumpkin during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Hundreds of Halloween costumes were purchased from funds raised, volunteers help organize the costumes during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

A young girl held by her father points to a Halloween costume she likes during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Natalie Chicas a Certified Child Life Specialist, helps a young girl pick a Halloween costume during Spirit of Children Halloween costume distribution day organized by the Child Life team to celebrate Halloween, at Shriners For Children Medical Center in Pasadena on Wednesday October 13, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)

Young patients at Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena received costumes and other treats Wednesday as part of a longstanding tradition made possible by Spirit Halloween stores.

In addition to the costumes and celebration kits, a philanthropic arm of the company called Spirit of Children is also providing its customers with a 10% discount and donating 10% of proceeds to the hospital for its Child Life program when they present a coupon or the promo code “GIVING21,” according to Spirit Halloween and Shriners representatives.

The company has been supporting the Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena since 2007, along with about 150 other pediatric hospitals across the U.S., according to the hospital.

“In 2021, Spirit of Children raised $48,756, despite the pandemic,” Shriners said in a written statement. “Help us get the word out on this program to reach our goal of $50,000.”

“Shop at select Spirit Halloween stores in the Los Angeles area and specifically raise money for Shriners for Children Medical Center – Pasadena through in-store donations and coupons,” the statement said. “When shoppers donate in-store, 100% of their donation goes directly to our patients. Present the coupon for a 10% discount which will be matched as an additional donation.”

Shriners for Children Medical Center Child Life Specialist Natalie Chicas said the Spirit of Halloween program makes a big difference in the lives of young patients battling serious illness year-round.

“We’ve been working with Spirit of Children for a really long time, and they are a big supporter of the Child Life Department. All that money that is donated to our department is used to buy materials that are needed for the patients, whether it’s distraction items, educational items, items that we could use to give out to patients… or it could even be used to compensate salary,” Chicas said.

“That makes a really big difference for us to be able to have that money and be able to provide resources and get resources that we need,” she added.

Child Life specialists work to make the hospital stays and treatments of pediatric patients as comfortable as possible for them and their families.

Common uses for the funding also include supporting art, music, canine and horticulture therapy programs, as well as building or renovating playrooms, lounges and family spaces, according to Spirit Halloween.

The campaign has garnered nearly $7 million for Shriners Hospitals for Children since 2007, according to the hospital network.

The program has raised more than $77 million to support Child Life programs at hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada, Spirit Halloween representatives said.

Donations are kept within the communities in which they are made, the company said.

In addition to the Pasadena Spirit Halloween location, other stores that will be supporting Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena this year include the locations in San Dimas, West Covina, Lakewood, Pico Rivera and Bell Gardens, organizers said.

Prior to the pandemic, Spirit Halloween would often bring a large Halloween party to hospitalized children, Shriners in Pasadena spokeswoman Connie Lujan said. This year, the celebration was kept small, with pumpkin carving and other “small activities.”

“Last year, we weren’t able to celebrate Halloween in a big way, so we just wanted to bring some of that spirit back,” she said. “We’re just so excited that we’re able to bring it back this year, and just have the kids celebrate in some small way.”

Lujan added that she was also grateful for the significant financial support.

“It makes a huge impact on the lives of these children. It really does,” she said.

More information on Spirit of Children, including a link to download the coupon, is available online at lovetotherescue.org/partners/spirit-halloween.