The halls of Virtua Voorhees Hospital were filled with color and costumes on Oct. 14, as Spirit of Children brought its annual Spirit Halloween celebration to young patients and their families.
Now in its 14th year partnering with Virtua, the organization – which funds and supplies local hospitals with Halloween essentials year round – has raised more than $1.1 million in local funds that directly support the hospital’s pediatric initiatives, including sensory rooms and a child-friendly MRI experience.
The goal is to make the hospital a less scary place for kids.
This year’s Spirit Halloween event transformed a meeting room into a holiday scene, complete with pumpkin painting, crafts, games, treats and photo opportunities. Spirit volunteers helped children pick out free costumes and lent of sense of normalcy to their hospital stays.
Amy McLeer, Virtua’s manager of philanthropic engagement, commented on the hospital’s long-standing partnership with Spirit of Children, which operates seasonal Spirit Halloween stores.
“We’re fortunate and grateful to continue this partnership with Spirit,” she said. “The funds provided through Spirit’s grants stay within Virtua Voorhees and Virtua Mount Holly hospitals, ensuring that our pediatrics and Child Life teams can continue to support children in the hospital setting.”
For hospital staff, the celebration is as uplifting as it is for patients.
“Excitement is the first word that comes to mind,” noted Samantha Greenbaum, director of pediatric nursing at Virtua Voorhees. “We’ve been talking about the event with patients since the beginning of October, even those who were discharged.
“It’s truly a spirit lifter for patients, parents and our staff.”
Greenbaum said children left the event with costumes, painted pumpkins and goody bags.
“For parents,” she added, “it gave them a bit of a morale boost and something to look forward to.
The Spirit of Children program, launched in 2006, has grown into a national initiative supporting more than 160 pediatric hospitals. In 2024 alone, it raised $13 million, contributing to a total of $145 million since its inception.
“It began as a small initiative with just 11 hospitals,” explained Mary Elizabeth Sullivan, an associate at Spirit Halloween. “Now it’s a powerful movement that brings joy to children and families during what can be a very difficult time.”
Sullivan also emphasized the local impact of every donation.
“One hundred percent of our donations stay local,” she pointed out. “When you shop at a Spirit Halloween store in South Jersey, you’re directly supporting Virtua and the kids in your community.”
She credited the enthusiasm of the Spirit Halloween chain store’s employees and managers for the program’s continued success.
“They’re on the front lines educating guests about our mission and encouraging support,” she said. “It’s heartwarming to see how much our community cares.”
