COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two non-profit organizations are on a mission to bring joy to children when they need it the most.
Since 2022, Starlight Children’s Foundation distributed more than 21,000 Highlights Magazines to more than 700 hospitals across the country.
“It just enables kids to be kids to escape the confines of the hospital room, have fun, and help on their healing journey,” said Adam Garone, CEO of Starlight. “That’s why we partnered with Highlights for Children to bring books and puzzles and toys to kids in the hospital so they can be kids and forget the stresses and forget the isolation."
Joy Cooper said the magazines have been a great distraction for her daughter every time she goes to the hospital.
“It gets her brain moving,” she said. “It helps her find all the little pictures in the book and it’s a nice distraction as well as an awesome learning experience.”
Kent Johnson, CEO of Highlights Magazine, said that is the mission behind why the Columbus-based non-profit chose to partner with Starlight for this Mental Health Awareness Month campaign.
“Kids across the country who are in difficult situations, their parents they’re stressed, they’re dealing with medical situations and they’ve got to fight through,” said Johnson. “If a Highlights product or magazine or book could be just a little escape and could help reduce that anxiety [and] make them feel a little better… I feel great about that,” Johnson added.
Johnson recalls a moment he shared with a stranger who hugged him after describing her memories as a child in a hospital and always found a Highlight’s Magazine for comfort.
“We need that child to become their best selves,” says Johnson. “Just because someone’s in a medical situation, we don’t want to turn off that development. We want to support it and let them engage their whole self as they go through that process.”
50% of Starlight programs are prioritized for hospitals and facilities caring for medically underserved and vulnerable children.
“At Starlight, we focus on the mental well-being for children,” said Garone. “We know that when a child’s mental wellness is healthy, they’re physical health will also follow.”