Annual Report - Starlight Children's Foundation

Annual Report 

April , 2008-March 3 , 2009

2 Our First 25 Years 

3 

Dear Friends, 

1983 – Starlight Children’s Foundation founded by Peter Samuelson 

We are extremely proud to be celebrating a very special anniversary this 

year. Over the last 25 years, Starlight has improved the quality of life for 

millions of children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life- 

and Emma Samms in Los Angeles 

1985 – Starlight New England begins operation 

1986 – Starlight Midwest begins operation 

Fun Centers 

altering injuries. 

1987 – Starbright Foundation founded by Peter Samuelson and Steven Spielberg 

Milestones such as this give us all an occasion to pause and look back at 

the path that brought us here and recognize the people who helped us take 

1987 – Starlight NY*NJ*CT begins operation 

1988 – Starlight United Kingdom begins operation 

each step along the way. 

1989 – Starlight Georgia, Canada and Australia begin operation 

As an organization, we’ve grown from a small “mom and pop” operation into 

an international organization with 30-plus chapters and offices in the United 

States and Canada and affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. 

1991 – First Fun Center featuring Super Nintendo game system introduced 

1991 – First Starlight Express Room/Starlight Site playroom opens 

1992 – Starlight California and Washington begin operation 

Starlight’s programs are also offered in locations in which we don’t have a 

1994 – First Community Activity Network family event held (later became known 

physical office — in hospitals in every U.S. state and Canadian province, and 

via the Internet in countless locations around the globe. 

as Kids Activity Network, and today is known as Great Escapes family 

activities) 

1995 – Launch hospital-based Starbright World 

Super Nintendo/ 

N64 Model 

Game Cube 

Model 2002 

Wii Model 

2008 

1995 – Starlight Colorado begins operation 

1998 – New Fun Center model featuring N64 game system unveiled 

1991/1998 

Our service focus has evolved over the past two and a half decades too. 

As we have learned more about what children need to cope with the pain, 

fear and isolation of prolonged illness and have come to understand that 

serious illness affects the entire family, we’ve introduced a comprehensive 

range of entertainment, education and family activities that support families 

from the moment of diagnosis throughout the entire course of illness. Onetime 

wishes granted to a single child have been replaced by Great Escapes 

family activities that offer opportunities for groups of families to make 

special memories all year long. Our educational programs that were once 

only available on CD-ROM are now on the Web for the benefit of any child 

in the world. Fun Centers and PC Pals that were once huge and difficult 

to maneuver vehicles are now sized to be more child-friendly and easily 

mobile throughout the hospital. 

We are so incredibly proud of the work that Starlight is doing today. As you 

read this report about the last year, we hope you’ll take heart knowing that 

when illness strikes and a family’s world collapses, Starlight will be there, 

thanks to caring people like you. 

Whether you have been a Starlight supporter since the beginning or have 

just recently gotten to know us, we thank you for enabling us to take this 

incredible journey. On behalf of everyone at Starlight and the children and 

families we serve, thank you for making this a very happy anniversary! 

Paula Van Ness 

Chief Executive Officer 

Ronald L. Leibow 

Chairman 

2001 2005 

Starbright World 

In-Hospital 

1995 

Online 

2006 

PC Pals 

1998 – Starlight Florida begins operation 

1999 – Starlight MidAtlantic begins operation 

2001 – Launch of Explorer Series® on CD-ROM 

2001 – First model PC Pal® introduced 

2002 – Debut of Quest for the Code® asthma game on CD-ROM 

2002 – Fun Center featuring the Nintendo Game Cube introduced 

2003 – X-Men in: Life Lessons Marvel burn comic book published 

2003 – First Starlight Site teen lounge opens 

2004 – Starlight Children’s Foundation and Starbright Foundation merge 

2004 - Coping with Chemo website launches 

2005 – New laptop PC Pal model unveiled 

2005 – Starlight Japan begins operation 

2006 – Starbright World goes online 

2006 – UC and Crohn’s website launches 

2006 – Starlight Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas begin operation 

2006 – Explorer Series goes online 

2007 – Quest for the Code asthma game goes online 

2007 – Starlight Nevada begins operation 

2008 – Fun Center model featuring Nintendo Wii makes its debut 

2009 – IBDU website launches 

2009 – First Starlight Site care room opens

The Faces of Starlight: 

Our Families 

Please visit www.starlight.org/documentary 

to view the Starlight documentary film. 

The faces of Starlight are those of our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, friends, and even our own families. Childhood illness doesn’t 

discriminate — it strikes children of every age, ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion and region of the country. With your help, for 

the past 25 years Starlight has been able to brighten these children’s lives, a little each day. While doctors work tirelessly to improve a child’s 

health, and researchers look for cures, Starlight remains focused on restoring the entire family’s spirits. 

This short documentary film profiles the struggles of five families with serious childhood illness and explains how Starlight has made a 

difference. We invite you to take a look at this video and at the family stories included throughout this annual report to see how your support is 

changing lives.* 

Starlight’s range of outpatient, hospital-based and online programs enables us to provide ongoing support for children and families — from 

diagnosis through the entire course of medical treatment. Our programs are offered at no cost to families or hospitals, and serve children and 

teens suffering from a wide range of chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, 

heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, sickle cell disease and burn injuries. 

When my daughter Kyiha was just 17 months old, she went on a 

camping trip with her father and fell into a fire pit that had been left 

to burn itself out. She suffered third degree burns to both hands and 

second degree burns on her stomach and left knee. 

She was air-vaced to the Arizona Burn Center where she spent six 

weeks receiving skin grafts and having surgeries. All in all, my little 

girl went under anesthesia seven different times. It was a horribly 

frightening and uncertain time for us both. 

During those six weeks, I noticed that renovations were underway 

on the Burn Center’s treatment room. I learned later that it was to 

become a Starlight Site care room. 

When it was finally unveiled, the stark, sterile treatment room had 

been completely transformed into a child-friendly, jungle-themed 

room complete with a flat panel television. Where before Kyiha saw 

that room as a place she didn’t want to go because she was going to 

get worked on and it would hurt, once the room was redesigned her 

entire outlook on treatments changed. There is so much to distract 

her! She’ll look around and point things out to me saying, “Mommy, 

there’s a monkey” or, “Look at that tree.” Or she’ll watch her favorite 

cartoons on the TV. Her focus is no longer on what’s going to happen 

next. 

We’ve been back to the Burn Center for more surgeries and numerous 

other procedures and still have a long way to go. Thankfully, Kyiha is 

so independent that she’s using both of her hands and has actually 

regained full range of motion. I’m grateful that the Starlight Site care 

room was there for us to make her recovery so much less frightening 

— it changed our experience. 

- Starlight Mom Jessica 

This year, in year six of Toys“R”Us®’ $7 million, multi-year 

commitment, we completed two Toys“R”Us Starlight Site 

playrooms serving young children in hospitals across the United 

States. Local sponsors made an additional two Sites possible. 

We are proud to have a total of 128 Starlight Sites in hospitals 

and other health care facilities throughout North America. 


Starlight Child Kyiha 

Kyiha celebrates her birthday 

at the Burn Center. 

Starlight Sites allow children like Kyiha 

to find distractions like cartoons during 

painful treatments. 

5

6 


Starlight Volunteer Adam 

Adam logs onto Starbright World 

to welcome new members. 

The Starbright World Community 

offers teens many ways to connect. 

I was born with hydrocephalus or “water on the brain.” From the time 

I was 5 weeks old, I’ve had shunts in my brain that drain the excess 

cerebral fluid to keep pressure from building up and causing problems 

with my brain. So far, I’ve had 33 surgeries in my life to replace the 

shunts. 

I was first introduced to Starbright World shortly after my high school 

graduation. I was in the hospital again because I’d developed an 

infection in one of my shunt lines, and a Child Life Specialist suggested 

I check it out. At first, I only played the games. But after a few days, I 

logged onto the chat room and started talking with other kids like me 

— it changed my life. 

I had three surgeries that summer and was in the hospital for more 

than a month. Starbright World helped me stay sane! Every day when 

I logged on, my friends were there to greet me. For the first time, I 

didn’t feel like the only kid in the world stuck in the hospital. When 

you’re lying in bed all day, just waiting for the nurses or doctors to do 

their thing, Starbright World is an escape and a way to talk about what 

you’re going through with other kids who understand. 

Once I “aged out” of the Starbright World community, I signed on 

to become a volunteer. It’s my job to welcome new members, help 

the chat hosts keep an eye on the community, and keep members 

engaged. It means a lot to me to give back to a program that did so 

much to help me cope with my condition and loneliness in the hospital. 

Starlight truly gives kids a chance to feel as normal as they can and 

know that there are always others there who understand. I hope to be 

part of Starlight’s work for a long time to come! 

- Starlight Volunteer Adam 

Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, the Starbright 

World community grew to include more than 4,800 members. 

These teens logged more than 29 million activity hits across 

the site each time they posted or read blogs and bulletins, sent 

messages, added friends to their buddy lists, participated in 

polls or connected in the chat room. 

I had just turned 16 when I got very sick. I lost a ton of weight, felt 

really awful and was bleeding, and I was just really scared because 

I didn’t know what was wrong. My doctor finally hospitalized me 

and after a colonoscopy, he diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis on 

December 31, 2004. 

It was a really sad and lonely time for me. I didn’t understand what 

was going on or know what was going to happen next. The doctor 

started me on medications, which worked for a while, but then I got 

sick again and none of the medications were working. Plus, I was 

feeling really depressed as a side effect of the meds. 

As I struggled to feel better, my dietician connected me to the Crohn’s 

and Colitis Foundation of America, and I started to look for more 

information about my disease. I found the ucandcrohns.org website 

that CCFA had developed with Starlight, and for the first time found 

answers to my questions. The site was built for teens like me — it 

was fun and animated and addressed the topics we all worry about 

— information that you can’t find elsewhere. Like how to talk with 

teachers about needing permission to go to the bathroom whenever 

you need to and getting extensions on homework when you have a 

flare-up and how to talk with doctors and the importance of telling 

them everything. It gave me practical information about how to live 

my life. 

Even better, I found a link from ucandcrohns.org to Starlight’s 

Starbright World social network. I’ve made friends on Starbright World 

who I will cherish forever — some with US or Crohn’s like me and 

others who are dealing with diseases as different as cystic fibrosis, 

lupus, diabetes and cancer. 

Since then, my doctor finally found a medication that seems to be 

helping. I’m feeling better and am hopeful that I’ll stay that way. I 

am so grateful to have found ucandcrohns.org and Starbright World. 

I only wish I’d found them sooner! When you find out you’re sick and 

don’t know where to turn, resources like that really make a huge 

difference. 

- Starlight Teen Sebastian 

Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, Starlight introduced 

IBD U at www.ibdu.org and the IBD U YouTube Channel at www. 

youtube.com/IBDUwebsite in partnership with the Children’s 

Digestive Health Nutrition Foundation for young adults with 

Crohn’s or Colitis who are transitioning to college or the 

workplace. Also, in partnership with the Crohn’s and Colitis 

Foundation of America, we unveiled a new-and-improved www. 

ucandcrohns.org for teens. Overall, 285,000 children and family 

members took advantage of these programs and Starlight’s 

other online educational websites, games and tools. 


Starlight Teen Sebastian 

ucandcrohns.org answers the tough 

questions teens have about IBD. 

Sebastian today, feeling much better. 

7

8 

9 


Starlight Child Skylar My son Skylar was 3 years old when he was hospitalized for the first 

time with pneumonia and diagnosed with severe asthma. Since then 

we’ve spent a lot of time there. He’s 8 now, and he’s already been 

hospitalized five times this year. It’s been a month and a half since the 

last time, and I can tell by his cough that we’ll be back in the hospital 

again soon. 

Skylar plays Mario Kart on the 

Fun Center from his hospital bed. 

Skylar and his mom Jennifer have 

fun at a Great Escape event. 

This year, Starlight organized 879 Great Escapes family 

activities through our chapters and offices that enabled 49,389 

participants to make cherished memories and meet other 

families in similar circumstances. Additionally, we provided 

families with 6,232 tickets to Starlight families for sporting 

events and special performances as part of our Day Brighteners 

endeavor. 

I’m always watchful of his condition — because he can go from 

being somewhat okay to very sick within a matter of hours. We use 

an oxygenation meter to make sure that his body is getting enough 

oxygen, but there are still frightening times, like when his breathing 

becomes so labored that doctors have a hard time waking him up by 

the time we get to the hospital. 

Starlight came into our lives when Skylar was 5, and I can’t tell you 

what a difference it’s made for our family. I’m a single mother, so 

it’s just the two of us, and I wouldn’t have dared to try to go to an 

amusement park or an overnight trip to a hotel on our own. The idea 

of getting out was always overwhelming. But Starlight changed all of 

that. 

Great Escapes have opened up a whole new world of possibilities 

for us. We’ve gone to Santa’s Village and Story Land, and of course 

Skylar’s favorite Polar Express show — he’s crazy about trains! With 

Starlight’s caring staff and volunteers plus the other families who are 

so supportive, I feel safe and able to relax. Our photo album is full of 

pictures of the adventures we’ve been able to have with Starlight. 

Starlight is there for us in the hospital too. Skylar loves playing Mario 

Kart, but most of the time he doesn’t have the energy to get out of 

bed. Starlight’s Fun Center has helped him pass the time — he can 

play Mario Kart in the playroom or his room, whatever he’s feeling up 

to. His best friend Jack was hospitalized recently to get his appendix 

out, and when Skylar visited, the two boys were occupied for hours by 

a heated video game competition on the Fun Center. 

I’m so grateful to Starlight for everything they’ve done to make our 

lives better. My neighbor’s grandson was recently diagnosed with 

leukemia, and I am working to get them connected with Starlight’s 

programs too, so that they can meet other families dealing with cancer 

and find support. That really is the most amazing gift that Starlight 

gives to families like ours — never again feeling like you’re all alone. 

- Starlight Mom Jennifer 

My daughter Kayla was born with chronic lung disease, failure to 

thrive, a heart murmur, partial blindness and a very rare condition 

called dyskeratosis cognita — which means she has no sweat glands. 

She spent the first month of her life in the NICU, but she kept getting 

sicker instead of better so doctors transferred her to Children’s 

Hospital, where she had her first surgery at 6 weeks old to tie off her 

stomach and put in a gastrostomy tube so that we could feed her. 

Kayla and I live with my parents — they are truly our greatest gift. 

They help me care for Kayla and enable me to work — I don’t know 

how we’d get by without them. 

Starlight invited us all to our first Great Escape when they started the 

program in Dallas in 2006. The activities really have made our lives a 

little bit better. Every time we get an invitation in the mail, my mother 

will call me at work excited, insisting that I call and RSVP right away. 

We never miss one! 

It’s wonderful to have an opportunity just for children with special 

needs. If we go to an amusement park or to see a show by ourselves, 

people always stare. Kayla has very little hair, and people are always 

looking. But when we’re at a Great Escape with Starlight families, no 

one looks twice. We all have children who are different and special in 

their own ways. 

Starlight helps us when Kayla’s in the hospital too. For her entire 

life, she’s been tube fed. It takes her two months to gain a pound, 

and then if she gets sick, she can lose a pound a day. So we checked 

into Our Children’s House so that they could teach her to eat. It was a 

six-week process, and I was there by her side the entire time. What 

made it even harder was the fact that because of a previous illness, 

Kayla has to stay in isolation — which meant that she wasn’t able to 

leave her room for the playroom or anywhere else. The nurses had 

just unpacked a brand new Starlight Fun Center, and they wheeled it 

in and let Kayla keep it for almost two weeks. It was a lifesaver! She 

has a lot of sensory issues, so I had to help her use the controller, but 

she absolutely loved the games. When the Fun Center was there, she 

didn’t feel like she was in the hospital. It helped me pass the time too 

— when she was sleeping, I played football! 

It’s important for people to realize that we’re not talking about normal 

kids who get sick here and there. Starlight kids like Kayla are sick all 

the time. Starlight helps Kayla feel like a little girl, not a patient. It’s 

such a great organization, sometimes it makes me want to cry! Thank 

you for all you do to make everyone in our family’s lives brighter. 

- Starlight Mom Kelly 


Starlight Child Kayla 

Kayla and mom Kelly 

celebrate her birthday. 

Kayla and Grandpa 

together at home. 

Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, Starlight and our 

generous supporters donated 704 Fun Centers to hospitals 

throughout the United States and Canada, which will serve an 

additional 342,613 children. Starlight has now placed 5,604 Fun 

Centers in North America since the program began 18 years ago. 

We also distributed 19,378 new movies and games to hospitals 

to stock Fun Center libraries.

100 


Starlight Teen Julia My daughter Julia went out with friends to a bonfire last spring, and 

our lives will never be the same. Someone dropped a can of gasoline 

on the fire while trying to jumpstart the flames, and caused a massive 

explosion while my daughter stood inches away. She suffered burns 

on 80 percent of her body, most of which were third degree, and lost 

her ears and half of her nose. 

Julie, before the explosion. 

PC Pals help burn victims like Julie 

reconnect with the outside world. 

Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, Starlight and 

our generous donors, moved by the leadership of presenting 

sponsor The Walt Disney Company, placed 90 PC Pal laptops 

— each equipped with dozens of games, Internet access and the 

capability to play movies and music — in hospitals throughout 

North America, bringing our total to 736 units in more than 200 

hospitals. 

For seven months doctors at Shriners Hospital have been working to 

bring my daughter back. She’s had numerous surgeries to remove and 

re-graft the tissue on almost every inch of her body, and though her 

health is improving, we have more surgeries, physical therapy and 

reconstruction ahead. 

Julia has always been like any 16-year-old girl — texting with one 

hand, emailing with the other, and talking on the phone at the same 

time. But since the accident, she’s been isolated and alone. She 

couldn’t leave her room, and no one could visit because the risk of 

infection was so high, so it was just family. Sometimes I’d try to hold 

the phone up for her to talk, but it took a lot out of her and besides, a 

teenager needs her privacy. 

About a month ago, the staff brought Julia a Starlight PC Pal laptop. 

For the first time, she was able to get online. She logged onto her 

email and found that her friends had been sending her messages the 

entire time, telling her to hang in there and keeping her updated on 

what was happening at school. Someone had even set up a Facebook 

group supporting her recovery, and it had more than 2,800 members 

who were posting prayers and well wishes. She realized that no one 

had forgotten about her — that everyone was out there thinking and 

caring about her and that life was waiting for her. It made such a 

difference in her spirit. She’s only able to type with one finger, and she 

still has some trouble seeing the monitor, but slowly she’s been able 

to reconnect with her life, and her sense of hope has returned. 

PC Pals can be so important for kids who are stuck in the hospital. 

They give children an opportunity to reach out in a normal way, have 

something to do other than stare at the four walls in their room and 

a way to take their minds off the beeping machines. Having that 

computer lifted Julia’s spirits so much. 

We’re going to be able to take Julia home in a few weeks. She knows 

she’ll be back in the hospital a lot over the next three years, but the 

fact that she’ll be able to stay connected to her life while she’s here 

makes everything a little bit better. 

- Starlight Dad Jerry 

The Faces of Starlight 

11

2 13 

The Faces of Starlight: 3 


Our Supporters 

$100,000 - $999,999 

Supporters 

Reggie Fils-Aimé accepts Starlight's 

Jacki Carlish Humanitarian of the Year 

Award on behalf of Nintendo. 

The faces of Starlight also include thousands of dedicated individuals and organizations that make gifts of financial support, products, services 

and time to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families. 

You are truly the means by which each day we come closer to achieving our vision of every day, everywhere, every family — because no one 

should have to face serious illness alone. 

On behalf of the children and families we serve, we offer our heartfelt thanks to all of our donors. 

“As one of the many Nintendo employees who 

have visited hospitals where Fun Centers are in 

use, and listened to parents give thanks for what 

the Starlight program does, I’d like to express 

my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the 

honor of allowing us at Nintendo to be involved 

with your wonderful organization.” 

- Reggie Fils-Aimé 

President and Chief Operating Officer 

Nintendo of America 

The Annenberg Foundation 

The Annenberg Foundation awarded Starlight a $125,000 grant 

to support the Great Escapes program and its expansion into new 

communities nationwide. With the Foundation’s help, Starlight realized 

significant growth in family registrations and participation in both new 

and existing Great Escapes communities. This generous gift allowed 

thousands of sick children, siblings and parents to come together each 

month to enjoy a break from medical worries and routines, connect 

with peers, exchange resource information, and refocus their energy 

on health and hope for the sick children in their lives. 

California Pizza Kitchen 

In 2008, California Pizza Kitchen selected Starlight as its national 

charity partner. Initially, the company will donate $1 million to Starlight 

over the next four years — $250,000 each year. Through the alliance, 

Starlight and California Pizza Kitchen have created a signature CPKids 

Camp Great Escape providing seriously ill children and their families 

with the opportunity to ‘pause to play.’ This past year, CPKids Camps 

took place in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Irvine, Los Angeles, Orlando, 

Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. In addition to 

the Camps, California Pizza Kitchen restaurants around the country 

hosted “Make Your Own Pizza” parties for seriously ill children and 

their families. The company also served as presenting sponsor of the 

2009 A Stellar Night Gala and donated CPK dollars for the VIK (Very 

Important Kid) gift bags. 

CB Richard Ellis 

CB Richard Ellis again selected Starlight as one of the company’s 

three national charity partners for its 2008 corporate philanthropy 

program, CBRE Cares, making a total gift of $332,913 from April 2008 

through March 2009. During 2008, CB Richard Ellis employees were 

encouraged to donate to Starlight with contributions matched by the 

CB Richard Ellis Foundation. In addition to financial donations made 

through CBRE Cares, CB Richard Ellis offices participated in fundraising 

events to place Fun Centers at local hospitals, and employees were 

invited to volunteer with Starlight by creating CBRE Celebrations in a 

Box, which include games, arts and crafts, supplies and decorations 

for impromptu parties for hospitalized children. In 2009, CB Richard 

Ellis launched a new corporate philanthropy program that helps 

financially support its employees in the causes they feel most strongly 

about, and more closely aligns its philanthropic programs with its 

business by focusing on providing shelter and housing to those in 

need. Under this program, CB Richard Ellis no longer has designated 

national charitable partners, and instead, supports its employees in 

their individual philanthropic efforts, which in some cases across the 

U.S. directly involve Starlight. 

Approximately 3.6 million children 

and family members are touched by 

Starlight programs each year.

14 



The Colgate-Palmolive Company 

In its 20th year of partnership with Starlight, Colgate-Palmolive made 

a $636,500 gift this year which funded the placement of 98 Fun Centers 

in hospitals around the country. For the third year in a row as part of 

the company’s commitment to bring Fun Centers to more hospitals, 

Colgate hosted an online contest encouraging individuals to vote for 

hospitals on Starlight’s Fun Center wait list. The online contest invited 

visitors to “Show the Love” in their community by voting for their local 

participating hospital. The contest generated more than 200,000 votes, 

and Colgate-Palmolive awarded one Fun Center to all participating 

hospitals. The top three hospitals that received the most votes were 

awarded a second Fun Center. Colgate-Palmolive also served as a 

Super Nova sponsor of the 2009 A Stellar Night Gala. 

© 

Disney 

For the past seven years, The Walt Disney Company has supported 

Starlight with cash and in-kind support to help brighten the lives of 

children. In December 2006, the company donated $1.5 million to 

Starlight, becoming the presenting sponsor of the PC Pal program 

through 2009, and donated an additional $1 million to underwrite 

the placement of 200 PC Pals in children’s hospitals nationwide. 

Additionally, the company is providing free software and access to 

premium Disney products online, available for the duration of use of 

all Disney-sponsored PC Pals. Disney also was a generous sponsor of 

Starlight’s annual A Stellar Night Gala. 

Hasbro 

Hasbro’s generous $150,000 gift was received as part of the Hasbro 

Children’s Fund’s three-year, $450,000 commitment to provide 30 PC 

Pals each year to hospitals across the United States. Hasbro’s donation 

allows thousands of pediatric patients to access entertainment, games, 

the Internet, instant messaging and Starlight programming during 

their hospital stays. The company also donated more than 3,500 toys 

and games through their Gift of Play program, brightening the lives of 

thousands of seriously ill children and families nationwide. 

Hollywood Entertainment Corporation 

Since 2002, Starlight and Hollywood Entertainment Corporation 

through the Hollywood Video and Game Crazy brands have partnered 

to bring entertainment to kids who need it most. In 2008-2009, the 

company raised $569,805 through its Playguard program, cash 

canister donations and employee payroll deductions. Hollywood Video 

and Game Crazy employees also organized countless in-hospital 

Movie and Game Nights hosted by company volunteers. In addition, 

Game Crazy hosted the VIK (Very Important Kid) Lounge at the 2009 

A Stellar Night Gala and donated coupons and gift cards for Starlight 

families to enjoy. 

Mike Putnam 


For 17 years, Nintendo of America has manufactured and sponsored 

Starlight Fun Center mobile entertainment units — which currently 

feature a Nintendo Wii gaming system, DVD player and Sharp 

AQUOS LCD television. With the help of Nintendo’s $750,000 gift and 

other generous donors, 704 Fun Centers were sponsored this year 

in hospitals throughout North America, bringing the total to 5,604. 

Nintendo was also a generous sponsor of the 2009 A Stellar Night 

Gala, where Reggie Fils-Aimé, President and COO of Nintendo of 

America, was honored with the Jacki Carlish Humanitarian Award. 

Takeda Pharmaceuticals 

Takeda Pharmaceuticals made a generous gift to Starlight to assist 

with the development of the next generation of the Starbright World 

online social network and to fund the construction of three Starlight 

Site care rooms — two at the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix and one 

at Dallas Children’s Hospital. 



Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund 

In 2008-2009, two Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Starlight Site playrooms 

were opened, one at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, 

DC and one at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Patterson, NJ. More than 70 

Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Starlight Sites continue to offer a respite to 

children in hospitals around the country. These playrooms were built 

and are maintained as part of a $7 million, multi-year donation made 

by the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund to Starlight. 

Vivendi 

A $100,000 grant award from Vivendi through its Create Joy Fund 

supported the key preproduction process of the Starbright World 

redesign project, including formative evaluation, rebranding and 

design. Through its generous gift, Vivendi became the signature 

sponsor of Starbright World and an integral partner in helping us create 

a valuable, enduring online social network for seriously ill teens. 

15

16 



$100,000+ 

Annenberg Foundation 


CB Richard Ellis Foundation 

Colgate-Palmolive Company 

The Walt Disney Company 

Hasbro Children’s Fund 

Hollywood Entertainment Corporation 


Michael Putnam 

Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. 

Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund 

Vivendi 

$20,000 - $99,999 

1st and 10 Foundation 

Activision Blizzard 

Bickerstaff Family Foundation 

Jeffrey, Carol and Becky Burch 

Children’s Digestive Health Nutrition Foundation 

ConAgra Foods Foundation 

County of San Diego, Community Projects Program 

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America 

Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation/Nouveau Riche 

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. 

The Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation 

Hermann Foundation 

James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation 

Jewels by Park Lane 

The Jo Mitchell Foundation 

Kraft Foods 

Leap Back 2009, Inc. 

MGM MIRAGE Voice Foundation 

MTV Games 

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital 

Penguin Group 

Qdoba Restaurant Corporation 

Ralph & Eileen Swett Foundation 

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. 

UniHealth Foundation 

The Wasie Foundation 

$10,000 - $19,999 

Anonymous 

Atlanta Thrashers Foundation, Inc. 

Beam Foundation 

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans 

Children’s Medical Center of Dallas 

Cities 97, KTCZ FM 

David M. Crowley Foundation 

DIRECTV, Inc. 

Electronic Arts Tiburon - Silicon Valley Foundation 

Entercom Austin LLC 

Evolution Capital Management 

David K. Haspel 

Hospira Foundation 

IGN Entertainment, Inc. 

Insomniac Games 

The Irving A. Hansen Memorial Foundation 

Karen and Jeff Jordan 

David S. Koz 

Major League Baseball Charity Inc. 

Mammoth Photography 

Kevin and Lisa Mayer 

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt 

Multiplan, Inc. 

myShape, Inc. 

Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation 

Phoenix Suns Charities 

Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. 

Karla Schuchmann 

STAPLES Advantage 

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital 

THQ Inc. 

$5,000 - $9,999 

13 Donuts Foods 

Anonymous 

Anonymous 

Ben Silverman Foundation, Inc. 

Broadcast Film Critics Association 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, Inc. 

C. Davis Electric Co., Inc. 

CAL-NEV-HI District of Kiwanis International 

Steven Chasman 

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 

Children’s Mercy Hospital Foundation 

Coffee Regional Medical Center 

Ronald Cohen 

Coyotes Charities 

Creative Artists Agency 

Jamie Lee Curtis 

The David Vickter Foundation 

Davis Direct Marketing, Inc. 

Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation 

Ducks Charities Fund/McCormick Foundation 

Aron Dutta 

Dustin D. Wolfswinkel Foundation, Inc. 

ESA Foundation 

Fat Tire Foundation 

Henry and Barbara Fields 

Arnold P. Friedman 

The Fuller Foundation, Inc. 

Jeffrey Gural 

Teri Hatcher 

Paul Huddleston 

John W Alden Trust 

Russell Karlins 

Kern Medical Center Auxiliary 

Kiwanis Club of Northridge 

Kohl’s Department Stores 

Roberta Koz-Wilson and Patrick Wilson 



Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 

Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center 

Ronald L. Leibow and Jacqueline Blatt 

Helene Levitz 

Louise & Herb Horvitz Charitable Foundation 

Marvin J. Levy 

Jeffrey and Christina Lurie 

The M-Power Foundation Inc. 

Stephen Mandel 

Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital 

Miami Children’s Hospital 

Morris Design, Inc. 

Morrison & Foerster LLP 

Murray A. Jacobson Family Foundation 

Nestlé USA 

North Carolina Baptist Hospital 

NY Promotional Events Inc. 

PopCap Games Inc. 

Pulte Home Corp. - Orlando 

Gary and Gail Rachelefsky 

Rotary Club of Houston Heights Charitable Foundation 

Rotary Club of St. Johns 

The Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation 

Sephora 

Shands Children Hospital AGH 

Roger Shiffman 

Mace Siegel 

Silvalining Marketing Concepts Inc. 

Morris Silverman 

Matt and Vicki Skelton 


Richard Wickliffe 

The Zachry Foundation 

$1,000 - $4,999 

4-H Texas 

ACAI Associates 

17

188 



19 

9 



Advanced Allied Foundation 

Akibia Network & Security Solutions 

Akron Children’s Hospital 

All Interior Supply, Inc. 

Anonymous 

Archetype Media Inc. 

Robert Aschkenasy 

Association of Professional Business Women 

Michele Atkins 

Atlanta Steeplechase 

AvNET 

Awin Management, Inc 

Susan and Michael Baer 

LeAnn Bailey 

Baker & Baker Foundation 

Banner Health Children’s Hospital 

Abigail Baxter 

Beazer Homes 

Bellevue West High School 

Bensman Family Philanthropic Fund 

Todd and Pamela Bermann 

Best Buy Children’s Foundation 

Blue Martini 

Boston Ballet 

Kristen Branch 

Brianna Rachel Fund for Kids 

Bridge City Promotional Events, Inc. 

Bright Spirit Children’s Foundation 

William and Shelli Broder 

The Brown Charitable Foundation 

BSR Marketing, Inc. 

Cynthia Buckley 

Burson Marsteller 

Jill Butler 

Calar Executives, Inc. 

Canada Realty, Inc 

The Capital Group Charitable Foundation 

Joseph Carponigro 

Russ and Donna Cashdan 

CB Richard Ellis/McGraw-Hill 

Centocor Ortho Biotech Servicing LLC 

Violet Cepeda 

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 

Children’s Services Council of Broward County 

Michael Citrone 

Citrus Valley Health Partners 

Anthony Clauso 

Nelson Coates 

Michael A. Cohen 

Ron Cohen 

Collingsworth, Alter, Lambert Inc. 

Community Events, Inc. 

Community Promotions, Inc. 

The Community of the Blessed Sacrament Church Scottsdale 

Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc. 

Bill and Connie Cosgrove 

Robert and Lauren Couf 

Covenant Health Care 

Patricia L. Cowan 

Kip and Virginia Crennan 

Crowe Horwath LLP 

Henry Datri 

The Davidow Charitable Fund 

Mark and Cindy DeMaio 

Steve Dolcemaschio 

Roy and Sheri Disney 

Docutek Imaging Solutions 

Scott Dorman 

Driscoll Children’s Hospital 

Jaeson Dubrovay 

Educate4re.com 

Electrical Supplies Inc. 

Alan Epstein 

Eventive Creations, LLC 

Fairview Health Services 

Hossein Farmani 

Fast Search and Transfer Inc. 

Charlie Ferer 

Fidelity Capital Markets Services 

Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors 

Steven Fischer 

Florida Marlins, L.P. 

Forex Capital Markets (FXCM) 

Fort Lauderdale Beach Rotary Club Foundation 

Dawn Friedman 

Friends of Dana Farber 

Darryl Fulton 

Gallo Herbert Lebolo 

Gexpro 

Larry Gilbert 

Jennifer Glassman 

Gold Coast Hi-Lift 

Good Cause Greetings 

Tom Gores 

Graybar Electric Company 

Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce 

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center 

Pearl Grimes 

Kathleen Grisebaum 

Glenn Grossman 

Sarah and Danny Grover 

The Halperin Foundation 

Linda Hammontree 

Kimberly D. Hatten 

Catherine Haubenstock 

Health Port 

Heartfelt Charity Cards 

Martha Henderson 

Brian Hodous 

Ross Homer 

Horizon Promotions, Inc. 

David Hubinger 

ICorps Technologies 

Intercontinental Hotels Group 

J.D. Backhoe, Inc. 

J.M.O. Promotional Marketing, Inc. 

Meg Jackson 

Don James 

Jazz Cruises 

JM Family Enterprises, Inc. 

JM Promotions Group 

JNL Marketing Group, Inc. 

Adam F. Jones 

JWR Construction 

Michael and Ronnie Kassan 

Drs. Francine and Neal Kaufman 

Kaye Scholer LLP 

Richard B. Kelson 

Susan Kenney 

Kidstrong 

Allen Klevens 

Jane Knolls 

Linda and Richard Kobel 

Kroger - Ralphs Grocery Company 

Kruger Family Foundation 

Laika 

Scott and Alexandra Lambert 

Tracy Lane 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

Mark Lawrence 

Legacy Concepts, Inc. 

Legacy Events Inc. 

Les Diplomates of Fort Lauderdale 

LH International Promotionz, Inc. 

Longo Toyota 

Lotspeich Company, Inc. 

Lusol Consultants Inc. 

Macy’s

20 221 



Mad Science of the Bay Area 

Mad Science of San Diego 

Mad Science of Washington 

Caroline Marciano 

Markmakers Foundation Inc. 

Mel Marks, MD 

Jeff Matura 

The Maurice Marciano Family Foundation 

McCann-Erickson USA, Inc. 

McMaster-Carr Supply Company 

Jerrod Melman 

Memorial Healthcare System 

Judith Mich 

Mary Ann Milano 

Milken Family Foundation 

Milton B. and Corrine B. Miller Fund 

Walter and Heather Mix 

Mochi Media 

Monster Demolition 

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. 

Morrison & Foerster Foundation 

Moss/Miller Joint Venture 

MS Cable & Wire 

Steven Nardizzi 

NatBank 

National Beta Club 

Nationwide Children’s Hospital 

New England Revolution 

North Broward Hospital District 

Dr. Honora A. Norton and Michael Elert 

Nova Southeastern University 

William O’Brien 

Dierdre O’Neil 

Oak Construction Co. Inc. 

OBIA 

Office of the Commissioner of Baseball 

Pantropic Power, Inc. 

Elaine Paul 

Phenomonal Marketing Concepts 

Margaret Pisinski 

Pratt Pediatric Associates 

Prestige Horizons, Inc. 

Preston Promotional Events, Inc. 

Ted Price 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

Proskauer Rose LLP 

Queen City Events, Inc. 

Rabin Strategic Partners 

Ronald A. Reeder 

Shelly and Mark Resnik 

Rexel, Inc. 

Jane Ritson and Ian Parsons 

Ronald McDonald House of Richmond 

Lois Rosen 

Marissa Roth 

Alan Rothenberg 

Safe Auto Insurance Co. 

Sam’s Club Foundation 

Peter and Saryl Samuelson 

Carol A. Savoie 

Cindy Schneider 

Richard Schulze 

Mark Schurgin 

Schwab Charitable Fund 

SEFL, Inc. 

Sentinel Marketing Group, Inc. 

Shands Healthcare 

Sharp Electronics Corporation 

Shield Bonnichsen 

Shriners Hospital Shreveport 

Robert Siegel 

The Simon-Strauss Foundation 

John Simone 

Skyline Promotionz, Inc. 

Stephen Sloan 

Debra P. Smith 

SocialVibe 

Sokolove Charitable Fund 

Solvay Finance, Inc. 

South Dade Lighting 

SPEC 4 International Inc. 

St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital 

The Stables, LLC 

Robert and Joy Steinberg 

Patricia Sterne Evans 

StubHub, Inc. 

Cornelia Stutz 

Sunshine After School Childcare, Inc. 

SWS Charitable Foundation, Inc. 

Philip and Janice Taylor 

Trident Surfacing, Inc. 

Pernille Trojgaard 

UMass Memorial Health Care, Inc. 

Unlimited Events, Inc. 

Vaillancourt Folk Art 

Valpak 

Jane L. Van Stedum 

VEE Corporation 

Velvet Inc. 

Julie Vinitsky 

W.F. Leopold Management 

Andrew S. Wallace 

Charles and Eileen Weber 

Gerry Wegl 

Jan Weiser 

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital 

Wesco Distribution, Inc. 

Robert and Judith Winston 

Women’s City Club of Laredo 

Becca Zambotti 

Harriet Zaretsky 

Ruth Zellez 

Zephyr International Promotions 



Approximately 9.5 million children in the U.S. have been 

diagnosed with a chronic illness, which also affects 30 million 

moms, dads, brothers and sisters.

22 


The Faces of Starlight: 23 23 



$100,000+ In-Kind 

AOL, LLC 

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. 

Morrison & Foerster 

MTV Games 

One Hundred Towers 

Radio Flyer 

Swarovski 

$10,000 - $99,999 In-Kind 

Advanced Excellence Systems, LLC 

American Events 

Anonymous 

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center 

CBS Television City 

Deloitte LLP 

Feld Entertainment 

Fisher Scientific 

Four Seasons Resorts 

G2 Direct and Digital 

Got Kids LA 

Hasbro Children’s Fund 

Jouer Cosmetics 

Kaye Scholer 

LAIKA 

Modern Babies and Children 

myShape 

NBC Universal 


Orlando Venues 

Ronin Advertising 

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. 

Shelter Partnership, Inc. 

Shomer Associates 

Shonna James Communications, LLC 

Userplane 


Zizzle Inc. 

$1,000 - $9,999 In-Kind 

1 Wedding Source 

A Hot Party 

Abandon Interactive Entertainment 

Academy of Interactive Arts and Science 

AFLAC All-American Game 

All Star Buddies 

American Airlines 

America’s Incredible Pizza Company 

Animax Entertainment 

Anonymous 

Anonymous 

Anonymous 

Terry Asche 

Atlanta Hawks 

Atlanta Spirit LLC 

Austin Ballet 

Bahia Shriners 

Bank of America Crosswinds 

Yvonne Behrens 

Bill Bennett 

Best Buy 

Borders Books & Music 

Boston Ballet 

Brockton Rox 

Sherri T. Brown 

David Burnett 

Susan T. Burnstine 

Cabot Vermont 


Caribou Coffee 

Carriage House Studios 

CB Richard Ellis 

The Chef’s Table 

Children of the Choir and Marrina Waks 

Seamus Conlan 

Cookies for a Koz 

Costco 

Eileen Cowin 

Dallas Symphony Orchestra 

David’s Bridal 

Disney Sports Attractions 

Jim Doukas 

François Duhamel 

Dunkin’ Kidzone 

Elegant Occasions 

Embassy Suites Hotel 

Entercom 

Esteé Lauder 

Robert Farber 

Dana Fineman 

Florida Citrus Sports 

The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation/Nouveau Riche 

Frank Erwin Center 

Game Crazy 

GDC- GameDevCo. Ltd 

Dana Gluckstein 

Golden Sales, Inc. 

Golf Tec 

Greg Gorman 

Arthur Grace 

Grand National Rodeo 

Michael Greggo 

Lauren Greenfield 

Dr. Reg Grundy, AC, OBE, Ph.D 

Handcraft Cabinetry 

Henry Amador Salon 

Hilton Hawaiian Village 

Hollywood Entertainment 

Honda Center 

Hot Printing 

Graham Howe 

Hunky’s Hamburgers 

Ice Cap Enterprises, SRL 

Icorps Technologies 

Intersport 

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 

Jaguars Foundation 

Janet Wainwright Public Relations 

Jason Taylor Foundation 

Jewelry by Lana 

Jungle Jim’s 

Ed Kashi 

Kate Picton Photography 

Kelton Research, LLC 

Douglas & Françoise Kirkland 

Mark Kirkland 

Pauline Korman 

Antonin Kratochvil 

Eliott Landy 

Kenneth Jay Lane 

Laser Quest 

LEGOLAND California Resort 

Levy Restaurants 

J.P. Licks 

Lifestyles Magazines 

Lily Camp Care 

Los Angeles Philharmonic Association 

Gerd Ludwig 

Magic Carpet Aviation 

Magic Fredy Events, Inc. 

Matador Coffee Roasting 

Paul Maurer 

Jim McHugh 

Melange Bridal 

Melissa’s 

Doug Menuez 

Eric Meola 

Victor Miller 

Mingus the Flying Cat 

Morocco Shrine 

Movie Gallery 

My Jewerly Guru 

Neotrope 

David Newsom 

Nine O’Clock Players Children Theatre 

Poul Ober 

Frank W. Ockenfels 3 

Oregon Children’s Foundation 

Orlando Magic 

Paramount Theater 

Pegasus Logistics Group 

Perfect Wedding Guide 

Sylvia Plachy 

PLGFF 

Premier Bride 

Qdoba Restaurant Corporation 

Rees Jones, Inc 

Residence Inn by Marriott - Beverly Hills 

Riley Marketing, Inc 

Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey 

Fredric Roberts 

Rodman Ride for Kids

24 2 





Rosewood Crescent Hotel 

Rota Portrait Design 

Marissa Roth 

Dr. Frank Ryan 

San Antonio Rampage 

San Francisco 49ers 

Santa’s Village 

Al Seib 

Nancy Shaller 

Skechers USA 

Sky’s The Limit Enterprises LLC 

Aline Smithson 

Rick Smolan, Against All Odds Production 

Joe & Rosalie Soto 

Spence/Martin LLC 

Steven Spielberg 

Stiletto Entertainment 

Telemundo New England 

Texas Rangers 

Will Thoren 

Pete Turner 

UPN 49 

US Airways Center 

VEE Corporation 

Vertical Response, Inc. 

Chuck & Jo Anne Vetter 

Jan von Holleben 

Water Country 

Web Advantage 

White Tie International, LLC 

The Wiggles Live USA, Inc. 

Stephen Wilkes 

WireImage 

World Wide Wrestling 

WOW Photobooth LLC 

Tom Zimberoff 

Zoo New England 

Vilmos Zsigmond 

Up to $999 In-Kind 

ABC Ice 

Abel Productions 

Enrique Ahumada 

Aleppo Shrine Circus 

All Bounce & More 

Allied Live 

Allstate 

Monica Almeida 

AMC Theaters, Tustin 

America’s Backyard 

Andrew Goldstein Photography 

James Andrews 

Anonymous 

Anonymous 

Gloria Aristizabal 

Arizona Biltmore 

Arizona Snowbowl 

Arizona State University 

Arneson Artworks 

Michael Arrigo 

Art & Frame Shop 

Artisan Center Theater 

Arty Brush Strokes 

Atlanta Spirit LLC-Philips Arena 

Austin Toros 

Susan & Michael Baer 

Bag Ladies Tea 

LeAnn Bailey 

Lindsey Barbour 

Joan Barr 

Beam Foundation 

Bearcreek Roller Rink 

Marcella Benitez 

Becca Berry 

Tracy Best and Kay Taylor 

Best Rental 

BJ’s Wholesale 

Blick Art Materials 

Blue Martini 

The Body Shop 

Susan Borden 

Phil Borges 

Robert Boudreau 

Michele Bourgouin 

Paul Bowen 

Box Xpress 

Sara Jane Boyers 

Miranda Brackett 

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre 

Broadway Toyota 

Brooks Foundation 

Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa 

Jessica Burch 

ByKarina/Karina Konupek 

Café de Paris 

Calder Race Course 

Capital Grille 

Carnival Promotions Inc. 

Joe & Gaylen Cashman 

Centerplate @ PGE Park 

Centre Chiropratique Legault 

Challenger Space Center 

Haley Chambers 

Champion Sheer 

Chase Contracting of Florida 

Alissa Chassen 

Chick-Fil-A 

Chris Savas Photography 

Sylvia Christensen 

Cirrus Aircraft 

City of Jacksonville 

Clara Publishing 

Clayroom 

The Coca-Cola Company 

Cocos Restaurant & Bakery 

Colgate-Palmolive Company 

Conch Tour Train 

Confection Expressions 

Mike Corbo 

Sara Cordano 

The Corporate Daisy 

Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP 

Ketaq Coqueta 

Courtyard by Marriott Portland North Harbor 

Dana Cozby 

Cranmore Mountain 

Credit Restoration Consultants 

Crème Brulee Bakeshop Café 

Richard P. Crudo, ASC 

Crystal Lake Productions 

Dan Cupptenal 

Ann Elliott Cutting 

Dallas World Aquarium 

Danna Brothers - Elmer’s 

Ann D’Auria 

Julia Dean 

Deborah Bradley Events & Designs, LLC 

Deerfield Buccaneer 

François Delebecque 

Deltek, Inc. 

Desert Botanical Gardens 

Danna DeShazer 

Paul DeTrana 

Natalie Dolly 

Dolphin Limousine 

Anne C. Dowie 

Arlene Driver 

Kelsey Edwards 

Eight, KAET-TV 

Elle’s Adornments, LLC 

Evans Team Wear 

Extreme Pizza 

EZ-UP Instant Shelters 

Dean Fairchild 

Family & Kids Lafayette 

The Family Jewels 

Ursula Ferrero 

Abi Ferrin 

Gina Ferris 

Florida Aquarium 

Florida State Gutters 

Mark Ford 

Four Seasons Universal Travel 

Dean Fowler 

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin 

Frank’s Awnings 

Barry French 

Froots - Plantation 

Jimmy Fund 

Game Works 

Angela Garcia 

Gators Dockside

26 2 





Max S. Gerber 

Girl Scout Troop of Richmond, TX 

Girl Scout Troop 825 

Girl Scouts of Central TX 

Tammy Goddad 

Herbert Goldberg, MD 

Golf Galaxy 

Melinda Sue Gordon 

Grand Canyon Railway 

Great Clips 

Greg Geiger 

Terri Grimsley 

GTR Company 

H. Brandt Jewelers, Inc. 

Hard Rock Café 

Harkins Theatres 

Janice & Robert Harris 

Juliana Hatfield 

Heaven Sent Creations 

HEB Grocery Stores 

Vicky Henderson 

Geoffrey Henning 

Christy Hertsch 

Cheryl Himmelstein 

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower 

Linda Holman 

Ellen P. Holton 

Ursi Howard 

Hyatt Pier 66 

Idazz Jewelry 

International Star Registry 

Izze Beverage Company 

Izzy Design 

J.C. Penney (Just Caring People) 

Jackie Neeley Acupuncturist 

Adam Jahiel 

Jamba Juice 

Donna Jellis 

Johnnies New York Pizza 

Jennifer Jones 

JPMalone Construction 

Shelly Juranek 

Kappa Kappa Gamma 

Kappa Mu Sigma Philo 

The Karpel Group 

Dennis Keeley 

Kiddywampus 

KidsOnly, Inc. 

Kiwanis Club of Oakland Park 

Ian Knauer 

Amanda Keller Konya 

Rajesh Kotecha 

David S. Koz 

Krispy Kreme 

Kroger Co. 

La Brochette Bistro 

La Grange Chamber of Commerce 

Lady M Designs 

Franz Lanting 

Patricia Lanza 

Lappert’s Inc. - Hawaii 

Las Vegas Convention - Visitors Authority 

Lawrence Hall of Sciences 

LAZ Parking 

Neil Leifer 

Le Rivage Restaurant 

Danielle LeBlanc 

Jennifer Lewis 

Libations 

Life’s a Bead 

Lightning Consulting 

Lion Country Safari 

The LOFT of Asheville 

Los Angeles Lakers 

Lucille’s American Café 

Mad Science of Jacksonville 

Mad Science of Portland 

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery 

Mai Kai 

Jay Maisel 

Manchester Monarchs 

Tim Mantoani 

Marcoink 

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater 

Markcity, Rothman & Cantwell 

Ian Martin 

Laffing Matterz 

Clay Patrick McBride 

Thomas McGovern 

Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin 

Nancy McRae 

Josephine Meli 

The Melting Pot 

Mind Muscle Fitness 

Mojo Image Consulting 

Trish Mortilla 

Mother’s Kitchen 

MTV Games 

MusicMaster DJ’s, Inc. 

Naked Winery 

Albane Navizet 

Linda Neal 

New England Aquarium 

New England Revolution 

New Hope for Kids 

New Look Eye Wear 

New Reflections Salon 

New West Symphony 

Newmark Knight Frank 

Nice International 

Michele Nocci 

Norcostco Atlanta Costume 

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Nuvo 

Oak Hill Girl Scouts 

Oasis Arts 

John O’Brien 

Oh Canada Photography 

OPI Products, Inc. 

Oregon Children’s Theater 

Oriental Rug Gallery of Texas 

The Outhouse Company 

Pacifc Theatres Entertainment Corp. 

Palomar Observatory 

T. Jefferson Parker 

Party City 

PARTY ON! Rentals 

The Pastry House 

Patrick Heagney Photography 

Pegasus/Beam Foundation 

Pesasus Logistics Group 

Beth Peterson 

Joey Petrizzo 

Phi Mu Tarrant County Alumnae Group 

Philadelphia Eagles 

Philosphy 

The Phoenician 

Phoenix Art Museum 

Phoenix Zoo 

Photography by Misty 

Photosound, Inc. 

Kimberly Pierce 

Greg Pitts 

Pizzeria Luigi 

Plantation Preserve 

Pokemon USA, Inc. 

Portland Beavers 

Portland Timbers 

Princess Spa 

Prompt Delivery, Inc. 

Protocol Consultants 

Provide Care 

PUN 

Purpose LLC 

Quay Financial Group 

Rachelle Dauphinee Jewelry 

Rancho Bernardo Storage 

Red Door Spa 

Regal Entertainment Group 

Laura Renteria 

Memoona Rizwan 

Rocklord Studio Photography 

John Rosenberg 

Round Rock Express 

Sabre Holdings 

Sage French Café & Oyster Bar 

Dick and Sandy Samuels 

San Antonio Botanical Garden 

San Diego Chargers 

San Francisco Giants/AT&T Park 

San Francisco Zoo

28 28 



29 


Volunteer of the Year Ross 

San Mateo County Fair 

Jose Sanchez 

Sandella’s Pizza and Wings 

Michelle Sanger 

Sanrio 

Say Yes to Health Now, Inc. 

Scentsy Candles 

Ida Schaeffer 

Karrie Schaffer 

Iris Schneider 

Schoem Insurance Group 

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 

SD Crane Builders, Inc. 

Sea World 

Annie Semeraro, LMT, LLC 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 

Barbara Shaw 

Shaw’s Supermarket 

Sheila Kelley’s S Factor 

Shenanigans East Side Pub 

Sid Stevens Jewelers 

Silver Palms RV Village 

Katy Simpson 

Sir Speedy 

Skating Club of Boston 

Ed Slone 

Lewis Smith 

Margo Smith 

Nathan Smith 

Soap by the Sea 

Sorelle Café 

Southwest Institute of Healing Arts 

Southwick Animal Farm, Inc. 

St. Augustine Inc. 

Catharine Stebbins 

Dan Steinhardt 

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church 

Diana Stempinski 

Stencil 1 

David Stoecklein 

Jennifer Storch 

St. Paul Saints 

Art Streiber 

David Strick 

Sunshine Rentals 

Tampa Bay Rays 

Tanaka Farms 

Target 

Donna Taylor & Janice Shubb 

Teddy Bear Creation 

Texas Brahmas 

Texas Christian University Panhellenic Council 

Time to Clay 

Too Cool Tat2 

Tour Saint Augustine, Inc. 

Treasures Jewelers 

Tropical Acres Restaurant 

Trublue Dragon 

Ubisoft 

Universal Studios Home Entertainment 

UPS Store #5254 

Vallaincourt Folk Art Studios 

Verde Canyon Railroad, LLC 

Vital Signage 

Warren Tricomi Salon 

Renee Weintraub 

The Wellness Community 

Wes Paul Photography 

Debra White 

Whole Foods Market 

Will Train Personal Training 

Witham & Dickey, Inc. 

Xpedx 

YB Wise, Inc. 

Jo Ann Yeo 

Each year Starlight conducts a nationwide search to select its volunteer 

superstar of the year. This year’s honor went to Boston resident 

Ross Homer. In his honor, Starlight dedicated a Fun Center mobile 

entertainment unit to the hospital of his choosing: Floating Hospital 

for Children at Tufts Medical Center. 

Raised in Wayland, Massachusetts, Ross was taught from a young 

age by his family, school and synagogue about the importance of 

giving back. He graduated from Tufts University, spent summers as an 

undergrad working in a Tufts Medical Center lab doing cancer research, 

and took a public relations internship at Starlight New England, 

managing a host of activities from media relations to administrative 

work to office painting. After the internship and for the past nine 

years, Ross has volunteered with Starlight in a number of capacities, 

including helping with Hospital Happening parties, volunteering at 

Great Escapes family events, writing and editing press materials, 

staffing volunteer recruitment events, recruiting co-workers and 

friends to volunteer, dressing as Starlight’s mascot Starry, working 

as a member of the Young Professionals Group, and most recently, 

donating to the organization in honor of the guests at his wedding. 

“What started as a typical internship soon transformed into something 

more, as I quickly fell in love with Starlight and its mission,” Ross said. 

“I was particularly affected by Starlight because as a child, I suffered 

with severe croup for which I needed to be hospitalized in an oxygen 

tent. I was left with a fear of hospitals and their overwhelming sterility 

and lack of warmth. I have flashes of being stabbed with needles 

and being separated from my parents and not understanding why. I 

know how much Starlight would have helped me with my feelings of 

isolation, fear and sadness during that period. This is what fuels my 

continued passionate involvement with Starlight. I have had so many 

wonderful and rewarding opportunities to interact with the Starlight 

children and their families and to see the joy and excitement in their 

eyes as they participate in various programs. With all of the fun and 

moving ways Starlight has allowed me to be of service, it’s no wonder 

I’ve stayed so long.” 

Research shows Starlight programs reduce children’s pain 

and make it easier for them to understand and manage their 

illnesses, while at the same time helping the family grow closer 

and experience less depression, anxiety and isolation. 

Ross accepts his 

Volunteer of the Year 

plaque.

30 31 31 


Events Round Up 

Starlight child Austin Gatus performs 

with Dave Koz at A Stellar Night Gala. 

Every year in the U.S., children spend a combined 

11 million days in the hospital. 

A Stellar Night 

Headquarters Office 

Los Angeles, CA 

Starlight Headquarters’ annual A Stellar Night Gala was presented by 

California Pizza Kitchen Foundation on Friday, March 27, 2009 at The 

Beverly Hilton and raised $1.2 million to benefit Starlight children and 

families. 

Jazz great and Starlight Global Ambassador Dave Koz hosted the 

evening and outgoing Starlight Spokesperson Jamie Lee Curtis 

presented the awards and introduced incoming Starlight Spokesperson 

Corbin Bleu. Chef Jeff Henderson and Sasha Lazard also made special 

appearances. 

Teri Hatcher was honored with our 2009 Heart of Gold Award in 

recognition of her deep commitment to children and generous heart. 

Teri has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Starlight, 

Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Aviva Center of Los Angeles, CARE and 

the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance and has been a strong ally of AIDS 

Walk LA and NY and Clothes Off Our Back. 

Starlight’s Jacki Carlish Humanitarian Award was bestowed upon 

Nintendo of America and its President and COO, Reggie Fils-Aimé 

for his and his company’s unwavering and longstanding support of 

Starlight. Named for a founding member of Starlight who dedicated 

her life to ensuring that sick children still had a chance to be kids, 

the award is given to individuals and organizations exemplifying the 

highest level of personal commitment to Starlight. 

One of the evening’s highlights was a saxophone duet performance 

between talented Starlight child Austin Gatus and Dave Koz. 

After the performance, Austin’s mother Eva shared the inspirational 

story of Austin’s battle with leukemia and its impact on her family. “As 

you just saw, you would never know what Austin has been through 

by just looking at him. He has endured so many obstacles that a child 

shouldn’t have to deal with,” said Eva. “He’s still in treatment, and I 

know we have a bumpy ride ahead of us, but I also know that we will 

get through this. I continue to hold my head up high through every dip, 

turn and loop of this uncertain roller coaster ride, and to think positive. 

I believe that my son will survive.” 

A Stellar Night’s acclaimed Very Important Kids Lounge was this 

year sponsored by Game Crazy, and it again invited children to learn 


Event Honorees and Attendees 

first-hand about the importance of philanthropy and to see the impact 

Starlight’s programs have on families with seriously ill children. 

Starlight’s StarPower Ambassador celebrity supporters spent time 

with Starlight’s young guests to reinforce the importance of giving 

back. StarPower Ambassadors in attendance included Allen Alvarado, 

Alyson Stoner, Aria Wallace, Christopher Massey, Devon Werkheiser, 

Dominic Scott Kay, Field Cate, Kay Panabaker, Kyle Massey, Rachel 

Sibner, Rob Pinkston, Sammi Hanratty, Tyler Foden and Zane Huett. 

The gala was chaired by Starlight board member and president of 

the CPK Foundation Sarah Grover, her husband CAA executive Danny 

Grover, and co-founders of g-NET Media David Getson and John 

Rosenberg. 

The evening was made possible by presenting sponsor the California 

Pizza Kitchen Foundation and The Colgate-Palmolive Company, 

Nintendo of America, The Walt Disney Company and Toys“R”Us. 

Heart of Gold Honoree Teri Hatcher with 

Humanitarian Award winner Nintendo.

32 


The Faces of Starlight: 33 33 



A Stellar Night 

Starlight Georgia 

Atlanta, GA 

Starlight Georgia hosted its 11th Annual A Stellar Night Gala on March 

21, 2009 at the Mason Murer Fine Arts Gallery celebrating the theme: 

“A World of Possibilities.” 

The evening honored local organizations and individuals for their 

tireless support of Starlight’s mission. Macy’s, Inc. received the 

Shining Star Corporate Award in tribute to the company’s financial 

support, leadership and ongoing volunteer efforts. University of 

Georgia Head Football Coach, Mark Richt and his wife Katharyn were 

recognized for their dedication to seriously ill children and families 

with the first annual Malachi Foster Star Award, which is named for a 

former Starlight Georgia youth spokesperson who died last October. 

Susan Kenney was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award. 

The black-tie event was hosted by WSB-TV reporters, Mark Winne and 

Lori Geary. Guests enjoyed a sampling of international cuisines from 

local restaurants, silent and live auctions, jazz music from Al Wynn & 

Company and a performance by Entanglement Circus. As a memento 

of the evening, each guest received a keepsake photo from around the 

world by Macy’s. 

The evening was made possible thanks to the generous support of 

Entertainment Design Group, Macy’s, Al Wynn & Company, Morrison 

Management Specialist, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Publix Super 

Markets Charities, Republic Services, Kroger, Inc., T 10 Consulting, 

Georgia Natural Gas, Quay Financial Group, Inc., United Commercial 

Bank, WSB-TV2 Atlanta, Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff, Don & Sons 

Sabastiani, Godiva Chocolatier, Headstrong Studios, Jewelry Artisans, 

Mason Murer Fine Arts Gallery, Anthony Larson, Maximum Sports 

Connection, Dave FM 92.9, McStatt’s Printing, Mickey Lynn, Reynolds 

Printing, Linda Keats, Michelle Quay, Kim Allison and Mark Winne. 

A Starlight family enjoys 

A Stellar Night’s “World of Possibilities." 

Starlight child Ty serves as the evening’s 

“official hugger."" 

Sparkling Starry Soirée 

Starlight Arizona 

Phoenix, AZ 

Starlight Arizona hosted its annual Sparkling Starry Soirée on March 

24, 2009. The event helped raise $42,000 for programs dedicated to 

helping seriously ill children and their families in Arizona and made 

possible the placement of a Fun Center mobile entertainment unit and 

two PC Pal laptops in Phoenix- and Scottsdale-area hospitals. 

The event took place in a newly built, custom home in Silverleaf, with 

dramatic city-light views. Guests were entertained by acclaimed jazz 

artist Jay Soto and band and enjoyed a cocktail reception and light 

dinner provided by presenting sponsor California Pizza Kitchen. Bestselling 

author Mark Kohler served as the evening’s emcee. 

Guests competed via silent auction for exclusive items such as an 

Aerosmith-autographed electric guitar and a John Elway-autographed 

Broncos helmet and via live auction for exclusive packages such as 

a private jet getaway to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow in concert, 

an Alice Cooper-autographed guitar and a backstage entertainment 

package with jazz musician Dave Koz. Attendees who donated $100 

received a glass of champagne accompanied by an elegant velvet pouch 

containing a cubic zirconium stone and a raffle ticket that put them in 

the running to win a one-carat diamond. Scott Bohall of Treasures 

Custom Jewelry displayed exquisite gems and jewelry for the guests, 

The Stables showcased a 2006 Yellow Ferrari 550 Maranello, and the 

gentlemen enjoyed quality cigars courtesy of Ye Olde Pipe & Tobacco 

Shoppe. 

The evening also recognized the event’s Honorary Chairman Jim 

Piccolo, founder of The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation and president 

of Nouveau Riche Corporation, for his many contributions. Piccolo 

gave a compelling speech about the importance of helping young, sick 

children on behalf of current and future generations. 

“Working with Starlight has proven to be a wonderful way of reaching 

beyond our known limits of compassion and fulfilling children’s 

dreams of hope,” said Piccolo. “It’s a privilege to work with such an 

organization that is truly unique among others, and we are proud to 

help chair this event.” 

A custom home in Silverleaf 

welcomed guests.

34 3 





6th Annual Greater Open Golf Tournament 

Starlight Florida 

Plantation, FL 

On November 7, 2008, Starlight Florida held its most successful 

fundraising event to date. More than 200 golfers turned out for the 6th 

Annual Starlight Greater Open at Jacaranda Country Club presented by 

C. Davis Electric and Credit Restoration Consultants and helped raise 

$80,000 to help fund Starlight programs in Florida. 

Golfers enjoyed the opportunity to participate in prize-winning contests 

such as hole-in-one, longest drive, putting and “Are You Better Than a 

5th Grade Golfer?” that allowed participants to challenge some of the 

best youth golfers in South Florida. The tournament was followed by 

a dinner reception, during which awards and prizes were presented to 

the winners. 

Additional sponsorship was provided by ACAI, JM Family Enterprises, 

Rexel, Lotspeich, Trident Surfacing, Oak Construction, MS. Cable & 

Wire, and Gallo Construction/JWR Architects. 

Golfers prepare to tackle the 

Jacaranda course. 

4th Annual Hats & Handbags Classic English Tea 


Hallandale Beach, FL 

Starlight Florida hosted its 4th Annual Hats & Handbags, A Classic 

English Afternoon Tea on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at the elegant 

Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa in Hallandale Beach which raised nearly 

$20,000 to support Starlight programs. 

Having attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 200 women each 

year since its inception, the Tea festivities began with a boutique sale 

where guests shopped from a wide array of unique custom-made 

accessories and treats including jewelry, home goods, chocolates 

and stationery. Following shopping, guests were treated to a classic 

tea service of tea sandwiches, scones, treats and of course, tea. The 

event also featured youth violinists and singers who entertained the 

crowd, and special guest speakers who each shared how Starlight 

has touched their lives. 

Sponsorship support was provided by the Blue Martini at Galleria Mall, 

Baer’s Furniture, the Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Broward Health, 

Best Rental Service, Atlantic Flowers and Elegant Occasions. 

Attendees show off their favorite 

hats and handbags. 

Celebration of Dreams 

Starlight Oregon 

Portland, OR 

Starlight Oregon recently hosted a Celebration of Dreams fundraising 

dinner and auction at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland 

to celebrate two years of providing Great Escapes to families living in 

Oregon and Southwest Washington. 

The highlight of the evening was Starlight mom Marie Poppa – who 

both entertained guests with her band “Heart and Soul” and shared 

her family’s personal story about the struggles that come with having 

a sick child and how much of a difference Starlight has made. 

The event raised important revenue and helped increase awareness 

of the many benefits that Great Escapes provide to children with 

serious illnesses and their families. “Friends of Starlight Oregon,” the 

committee who helped put the event together, includes many Oregon 

leaders and successful businesses that are committed to helping 

Starlight fulfill its mission to reach as many families as possible. 

Starry welcomes guests to a Celebration of 

Dreams in his finest black tie attire. 

Purses & Pearls 

Starlight New England 

Boston, MA 

Starlight New England welcomed hundreds of grandmothers, mothers 

and daughters to the Four Seasons Hotel Boston for the First Annual 

Purses & Pearls Afternoon Tea. Adult guests were treated to a delicious 

menu of teas, sandwiches and Valentine’s Day desserts, as well as 

exclusive shopping with regional artists and a silent auction featuring 

an autographed purse by Desperate Housewives star, Teri Hatcher. 

Young guests created crafts for hospitalized children, decorated 

cupcakes, learned dining and tea-time etiquette from protocol 

consultant and author Judith Bowman, and learned the importance of 

philanthropy first-hand. 

As part of the afternoon’s festivities, Starlight honored Gary and Judi 

Vaillancourt of Vaillancourt Folk Art with our Heart of Gold Award in 

recognition of the couple’s long-standing commitment to seriously ill 

children in New England. Since 1990 the Vaillancourts have created a 

series of limited edition chalkware “Starlight Santa” figurines with all 

proceeds benefiting Starlight New England. 

Guests made crafts for 

hospitalized children.

36 

3 3 


Chapter and Office Locations 


Annual Holiday Party 

Starlight Texas 

Dallas, TX 

The Rosewood Crescent Hotel welcomed Starlight Texas families, 

volunteers and supporters to its annual holiday celebration on December 

4, 2008, which included the unveiling of the traditional holiday display 

in the hotel foyer. Starlight children were honored guests, helping the 

community kick off the holidays by unveiling the Rosewood Crescent’s 

incredible foyer display, a 10-foot tall gingerbread house adorned with 

candy canes, sugar wreaths and a mailbox made from peanut brittle 

— for letters to the North Pole! 

This was the second year Starlight celebrated the holidays at the 

Rosewood Crescent with the magnificent holiday scene created 

by renowned Chef Eric Perelli and his pastry team. The event also 

included appetizers and beverages created especially for Starlight 

family members and supporters. The Turtle Creek Chorale provided 

entertainment. 

Young Starlight guests were busy throughout the event, decorating 

gingerbread cookies, creating holiday and thank you cards and holiday 

ornaments with the help of their siblings and parents. Each family 

received holiday gifts for the kids and a gingerbread house kit provided 

by the Rosewood Crescent. 

The Turtle Creek Chorale 

sets a holiday mood. 

Chef Eric Perelli unveils his team’s 

gingerbread house creation.

38 38 Chapter and Office Locations 

Chapter and Office Locations 39 39 

Starlight includes a network of offices throughout the United States 

and Canada, some of which operate as field offices of the national 

headquarters and others as independent chapters. As of March 31, 

2009, our office locations included: 

Headquarters 

www.starlight.org 

Los Angeles, CA 

310.479.1212 

UNITED STATES 

Starlight Arizona 

www.starlight.org/arizona 

Phoenix Office – 480.280.5289 

Starlight California 

www.starlight.org/california 

Regional Office – Los Angeles – 310.479.1212 (Also serving 

Orange County.) 

San Diego Office – 858.336.9381 

San Francisco Office – 415.994.1205 

Starlight Colorado 

www.starlight-colorado.org 

Central Chapter Office – Denver – 303.691.0700 

Colorado Springs Office – 719.238.4964 


www.starlight.org/florida 

Regional Office – South Florida – 954.318.2178 

Jacksonville Office – 904.210.3744 

Orlando Office – 407.222.5026 

Starlight Georgia 

www.starlight.org/georgia 

Atlanta Office – 404.982.0508 

Starlight MidAtlantic 

(Serving Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, West Virginia) 

www.starlight-midatlantic.org 

Central Chapter Office – District of Columbia – 202.293.7827 

Philadelphia Office – 267.455.3039 

Richmond Office – 804.536.7490 

Starlight Midwest 

(Serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin) 

www.starlight-midwest.org 

Central Chapter Office – Chicago – 312.251.7827 

Starlight Minnesota 

www.starlight.org/minnesota 

Minneapolis Office – 612.991.4258 

Starlight Nevada 

www.starlight.org/nevada 

Las Vegas Office – 702.882.8917 

Starlight New England 

(Serving Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 

Vermont) 

www.starlight.org/newengland 

Regional Office – Boston – 617.241.9911 

Manchester Office – 603.289.6252 

Starlight NY*NJ*CT 

www.starlight-newyork.org 

Central Chapter Office – Manhattan – 212.354.2878 

Albany Office – 518.368.7568 

Hartford Office – 860-713-9885 

Rochester Office – 716-601-4435 

Starlight Oregon 

www.starlight.org/oregon 

Portland Office – 503.298.3862 (Also serving Medford.) 

Starlight Texas 

www.starlight.org/texas 

Regional Office – Dallas – 817.706.5316 (Also serving 

Ft. Worth, Waco and Laredo.) 

Austin Office – 512.912.6782 

Houston Office – 281.761.5928 

San Antonio Office – 210.464.4303 

Starlight Washington 

www.starlight-washington.org 

Central Chapter Office – Redmond – 425.861.7827 

Spokane Office – 509.474.2820 

Starlight programs are also offered in states in which we do not have 

a local office. For more information about services in your community, 

visit www.starlight.org/locations. 

CANADA 

Starlight Canada 

www.starlightcanada.org and www.starlightcanada.ca 

Central Chapter Office – Toronto 

Alberta Office 

British Columbia Office 

Ottawa Office 

Central Chapter Office – Montreal 

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES 

Australia 

www.starlight.org.au 

Japan 

www.slsb.jp 

United Kingdom 

www.starlight.org.uk

40 41 

2009 Financials 


Management 

& General: 

$1,595,914 

6.8% 

Program Expenses: 

$18,205,573 

77.6% 

Fundraising: 

$3,671,763 

15.6% 

TOTAL EXPENSES: $23,473,250 

Contributions: 

$7,590,461 

41.3% 

Contributed Goods, Services 

and Use of Facilities: 

$6,700,010 

36.4% 

Special Events : 

$4,175,630 

22.7% 

TOTAL REVENUE: $ 18,390,873* 

*Revenue graph does not include 

investment losses of $222,123 

and miscellaneous revenues of 

$146,895 for the year. 

Chrohn’s & Colitis $171,808 

Get Fit Get Right $155,913 

PC Pals® $797,541 

Starbright World® $423,134 

Starlight Sites $420,398 

Fun Centers $2,829,979 

Hospital Happenings $3,629,149 

PROGRAM EXPENSES 

Great Escapes $5,217,529 

Other Programs $4,560,122 

Starlight’s expenses in FY2008-2009 exceeded our revenue due to the downturn in the economy. With oversight from our Board of Directors, 

Starlight has historically set aside revenue each year in a reserve fund created to ensure that in difficult economic times we would have 

resources to draw upon to protect the integrity of our programs. In FY2008-2009, we tapped into those reserve funds to continue to deliver the 

highest level of service to Starlight families, despite a dip in contributions. However, given the prolonged economic slowdown, we will need the 

continued support of our generous donors to maintain this level of service in coming years.

2 3 

2009 Financials 2009 Financials 

STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION 

AND U.S. CHAPTERS 

CONSOLIDATING SCHEDULE OF FINANCIAL POSITION: March 31, 2009 

Total Before 

ASSETS Headquarters Colorado MidAtlantic Midwest NY*NJ*CT Washington Eliminations Eliminations ** Total 

Cash and Cash Equivalents $3,934,326 $33,315 $179,431 $400,962 $5,620,311 $221,343 $10,389,688 $ - $10,389,688 

Investments 1,000,293 - - 250,539 1,034,140 - 2,284,972 - 2,284,972 

Accounts Receivable 50,107 509 - - 31,796 - 82,412 - 82,412 

Receivables from International Affiliates 81,863 - - - - - 81,863 - 81,863 

Receivables from U.S. Chapters 121,000 - - - - - 121,000 121,000 - 

Receivables from Headquarters - 2,210 12,914 3,209 8,084 1,892 28,309 28,309 - 

Pledges Receivable (Net) 2,828,628 2,649 12,828 20,935 137,750 313,560 3,316,350 - 3,316,350 

Bequests Receivable 323,640 - - - 650,000 - 973,640 - 973,640 

Inventory 2,165,992 164,213 25,607 70,640 124,688 684,306 3,235,446 - 3,235,446 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets 134,606 19,271 5,000 16,998 17,690 1,732 195,297 - 195,297 

Property and Equipment (Net) 80,644 - 509 202 7,371 9,419 98,145 - 98,145 

TOTAL ASSETS $10,721,099 $222,167 $236,289 $763,485 $7,631,830 $1,232,252 $20,807,122 $149,309 $20,657,813 

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities $2,403,349 $6,314 $5,032 $21,557 $849,246 $37,863 $3,323,361 $ - $3,323,361 

Deferred Revenue 100,000 - - - - - 100,000 - 100,000 

Payables to International Affiliates 842 - - - - - 842 - 842 

Payable to Headquarters or Other 

U.S. Chapters 28,309 - 3,750 87,250 30,000 - 149,309 149,309 - 

TOTAL LIABILITIES 2,532,500 6,314 8,782 108,807 879,246 37,863 3,573,512 149,309 3,424,203 

NET ASSETS: 

Unrestricted: 

Unrestricted Undesignated 1,134,699 209,978 81,227 491,639 5,759,684 880,829 8,558,056 - 8,558,056 

Unrestricted Board Designated 1,094,650 - - - - - 1,094,650 - 1,094,650 

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS 2,229,349 209,978 81,227 491,639 5,759,684 880,829 9,652,706 - 9,652,706 

Temporarily Restricted 5,959,250 5,875 146,280 163,039 992,900 313,560 7,580,904 - 7,580,904 

TOTAL NET ASSETS 8,188,599 215,853 227,507 654,678 6,752,584 1,194,389 17,233,610 - 17,233,610 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND 

NET ASSETS $10,721,099 $222,167 $236,289 $763,485 $7,631,830 $1,232,252 $20,807,122 $149,309 $20,657,813 

This information is from Starlight Children’s Foundation and U.S. chapters’ consolidated financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2009, audited by Green Hasson & Janks LLP. 

Please visit www.starlight.org/financials for the complete financial statements and Independent Auditors’ Report. 

**Intercompany revenue and expenses between headquarters and the U.S. chapters are eliminated as required under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.


STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION 

AND U.S. CHAPTERS 

CONSOLIDATING SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: Year Ended March 31, 2009 


Headquarters Colorado MidAtlantic Midwest NY*NJ*CT Washington Total Before Eliminations Eliminations** Total 

REVENUE AND SUPPORT: 

Special Events 

Gross Receipts $1,680,010 $227,306 $492,984 $424,560 $2,651,978 $196,149 $5,672,987 $ - $5,672,987 

Less: Direct Benefit to Donors (508,191) (93,004) (134,666) (81,147) (635,389) (44,960) (1,497,357) - (1,497,357) 

NET SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUE 1,171,819 134,302 358,318 343,413 2,016,589 151,189 4,175,630 - 4,175,630 

Contributions 1,133,668 202,124 103,410 182,378 662,268 262,232 2,546,080 - 2,546,080 

Contributed Goods, Services and 

Use of Facilities 3,129,952 159,609 84,795 216,012 2,858,447 310,416 6,759,231 372,781 6,386,450 

Revenue from Headquarters or Other 

U.S. Chapters 160,600 32,130 51,280 33,356 26,020 34,991 338,377 338,377 - 

Investment Income (Loss) 90,084 12 2,458 (51,995) (262,682) - (222,123) - (222,123) 

Assessments and Sales to 

International Affiliates 50,750 - - - - - 50,750 - 50,750 

Miscellaneous 64,377 153 45,645 426 26,533 739 137,873 41,728 96,145 

Net Assets Released from 

Program Restrictions 3,731,408 115,250 4,500 145,768 293,742 - 4,290,668 - 4,290,668 

Time Restrictions 1,270,434 2,688 15,000 1,812 2,445,200 - 3,735,134 - 3,735,134 

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED 

REVENUE AND SUPPORT 10,803,092 646,268 665,406 871,170 8,066,117 759,567 21,811,620 752,886 21,058,734 

EXPENSES: 

Program Services 9,523,480 415,297 687,265 653,577 5,950,251 1,728,589 18,958,459 752,886 18,205,573 

Management and General 807,055 74,958 82,802 51,891 520,120 59,088 1,595,914 - 1,595,914 

Fundraising 1,838,876 183,498 154,083 223,641 1,000,753 270,912 3,671,763 - 3,671,763 

TOTAL EXPENSES 12,169,411 673,753 924,150 929,109 7,471,124 2,058,589 24,226,136 752,886 23,473,250 

CHANGE IN UNRESTRICTED 

NET ASSETS (1,366,319) (27,485) (258,744) (57,939) 594,993 (1,299,022) (2,414,516) - (2,414,516) 

Change in Restricted 

Net Assets: 

Pledged Contributions 1,567,253 - 12,828 9,777 115,250 313,560 2,018,668 - 2,018,668 

Contributions 2,490,812 115,250 129,952 158,657 444,602 - 3,339,273 - 3,339,273 

Net Assets Released from 

Program and Time Restrictions (5,001,842) (117,938) (19,500) (147,580) (2,738,942) - (8,025,802) - (8,025,802) 

CHANGE IN RESTRICTED 

NET ASSETS (943,777) (2,688) 123,280 20,854 (2,179,090) 313,560 (2,667,861) - (2,667,861) 

TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS (2,310,096) (30,173) (135,464) (37,085) (1,584,097) (985,462) (5,082,377) - (5,082,377) 

Net Assets - Beginning of Year 10,498,695 246,026 362,971 691,763 8,336,681 2,179,851 22,315,987 - 22,315,987 

NET ASSETS - END OF YEAR $8,188,599 $215,853 $227,507 $654,678 $6,752,584 $1,194,389 $17,233,610 $ - $17,233,610 

This information is from Starlight Children’s Foundation and U.S. chapters’ consolidated financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2009, audited by Green Hasson & Janks LLP. 

Please visit www.starlight.org/financials for the complete financial statements and Independent Auditors’ Report. 

**Intercompany revenue and expenses between headquarters and the U.S. chapters are eliminated as required under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.


Starlight Child and Board Member Dr. Phillips 

Brandon's Starlight experience 

changed his life. Dr. Phillips now 

helps Starlight children 

just like him. 


Starlight Child and Board Member Dr. Phillips 

I was born with a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot which 

allowed the oxygenated blood from my lungs and the deoxygenated 

blood from my body to mix, causing me to turn blue if I exerted myself. 

To repair the defects, I underwent my first open heart surgery when I 

was only 2 years old. 

As a result of that experience, early on I decided I wanted to be a 

pediatric cardiologist and help other children like me. I even wrote 

essays in grade school about wanting to work with my pediatric 

cardiologist Dr. Vargo, when I grew up. I’ll never forget the day when 

I was only 11 that I had my first chance to watch a heart procedure 

– it was my own heart catheterization! When I met with Dr. Vargo 

to discuss the procedure, I told him the only way I would do it was 

if I could be awake. He finally agreed to use only a local anesthetic 

and allowed me to watch the procedure on a monitor while a nurse 

explained what was happening to me. 

That day is also when Starlight entered my life. In Starlight’s early days, 

the organization granted wishes to seriously ill children. Starlight had 

contacted me about granting my wish, and I told them I wanted to meet 

actor Jeremy Miller and the cast of the TV sitcom Growing Pains. As 

the child of a difficult divorce, I wanted nothing more than to meet the 

Seaver family because in my mind they were the type of family I could 

only dream about. Starlight made that dream come true for me. 

In mid-September 1989, Starlight flew my mom, aunt and me to 

California, all expenses paid, for the granting of my wish. I remember 

the day as if it were yesterday. I got to have dinner with the whole 

cast, ride bicycles around the lot where the show was taped with actor 

Jeremy Miller, and watch the taping of an episode of the show. 

After my trip, my whole outlook on life changed. For the first time I 

believed anything was truly possible. Though I always had my doubts 

as to whether I would live to be old enough to practice medicine, my 

commitment to becoming a cardiologist never wavered from that day 

forward — in fact, after my wish experience I maintained a perfect 

grade point average throughout high school and college despite having 

failed the first grade. Starlight had made a lasting impact on my life. 

After receiving my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Louisiana Tech 

University, I attended Tulane University School of Medicine. During my 

final year of medical school, I reconnected with the cast of Growing 

Pains when they filmed a reunion movie less than two miles from my 

home in New Orleans. In fact, the day I found out Dr. Vargo would be 

my academic advisor during my pediatric residency at Texas Children’s 

Hospital was extra special because the Growing Pains cast was on 

hand to celebrate with me. It was the day I saw my life come full 

circle. 

I’m now completing a three-year pediatric cardiology fellowship 

program at the Mayo Clinic — which just also happens to be the 

hospital in which I received my second open heart surgery. I now work 

with three staff pediatric cardiologists who actually treated me at 

some point in time during my life! 

Throughout my medical training and every day in my medical practice, 

I’ve seen how important lifting a child’s spirits can be in the healing 

process. It was certainly true in my own experience – meeting the 

Growing Pains cast gave me hope and helped me forget about the 

limitations of my medical condition for a little while. That’s why as a 

physician, I’ve stayed involved with Starlight and now am honored to 

serve on the organization’s Board of Directors. Seeing the organization 

evolve from one that brightened the lives of several hundred children 

each year through wish-granting to one that changes the lives of 

millions of children and families on an ongoing basis throughout the 

course of their illnesses has been truly amazing. 

- Dr. Brandon Phillips, M.D. 

47

8 

Faces of Starlight: Board and Staff April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 

Steven Spielberg 

FOUNDERS 

Peter Samuelson & Emma Samms 

OFFICERS 

Ronald L. Leibow 

Chairman 


Henry M. Fields 

Chair - Executive Committee 

Morrison & Foerster LLP 

Roger Shiffman 

Vice-Chair 

Zizzle, LLC 

Karen Shishino Jordan 

Vice-Chair 

Millie Judge 

Secretary 

Bear Creek Law Firm, PS 

DIRECTORS 

Russ Cashdan 


Kip Crennan 

PerfectSense USA 

Sheldon Davis 

Regal Confections 

Scott Dorman 

Dorman Communications Group LLC 

Alan G. Epstein 

MSD Capital, L.P. 

Kenneth Forkos, CPA 

Rick Genderson 

Schneider’s of Capitol Hill 

Lawrence Gilbert 

Sarah Grover 


Jeff Gural 

Newmark & Company 

Real Estate, Inc. 

David K. Haspel 

Haspel Communications, Inc. 

Dave Hubinger 

Nestlé Brands Company 

Russell Karlins 

Chemical Disposal Services 

Marvin Levy 

DreamWorks Studios 

Mel Marks, MD 

Miller Children’s Hospital 

Kevin A. Mayer 


Elaine Paul 


Brandon L. Phillips, MD 

Mayo Clinic 

Gary Rachelefsky, MD 

UCLA School of Medicine 

Jane Ritson-Parsons 

Hasbro, Inc. 

Peter Samuelson 

Samuelson Productions 

Carol A. Savoie 

Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Brett Shrewsbury 

Preventive Health Now 

John Simone 

The Colgate-Palmolive Company 

Christine Spadafor 

SpadaforClay Group, Inc. 

Robert Steinberg 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

Charles J. Weber 

Weber Communications, Inc. 

Llewellyn Werner 

Corinthian Capital 

Joseph Wessely 

Dime Savings Bank 

Michelle Worden 

EvergreenBank 

Troy A. Young, CFP® 

Destiny Financial Group, Inc. 

TRUSTEES 

Norman Anderson 

American Psychological Association 

Mark Bowser 

Stephen Burns 

Avenue Financial Corporation 

Howard M. Davine 

Touchstone Television 

Howard Gould 

Paul Guyardo 

DIRECTV 

Matt Haymer 

Attorney at Law 

Dave Koz 

Rendezvous Entertainment, LLC 

John Lee 

Embassy Suites Hotels 

Christina Weiss Lurie 

Brian Morris 

Walter Parkes 

DreamWorks Studios 

John Pridjian 

Penta Investment Advisors 

Glenn Ross 

Universal Studios 

Home Entertainment 

Gordon A. Smith 

JP Morgan Chase Card Services 

MANAGEMENT TEAM 

April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 


Chief Executive Officer 

Patricia Sterne Evans 

Vice President 

Development 

Joan Ford 


Strategic Initiatives 

Jenny Isaacson 


Brand Marketing & Communications 

Jane Van Stedum 


Program Services & Regional Support

Annual Report - Starlight Children's Foundation

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