Disney Movie Moments is expanding its reach at children’s hospitals
Disney Movie Moments program provides children’s hospitals with special access to new Disney movies, and now it’s doubling its reach as it expands to nearly 100 additional hospitals.
Children experiencing time in a hospital have been able to enjoy Disney Movie Moments showings of first-run films, along with their families, at 48 hospitals since 2014. Now, the program will help reimagine the patient experience at nearly 100 more hospitals, bringing comfort and joy to youngsters as they work their way through treatment.
Starlight Children’s Foundation will continue its long-time collaboration with Disney to help make the expansion a reality.
“Transforming the hospital experience is core to our mission at Starlight of delivering happiness to seriously ill children and their families to reduce the stress of hospitalization and medical procedures,” said CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation, Adam Garone. “When kids are hospitalized, they miss out on the most important parts of being a kid, like having fun and going to the movies. That’s why we’re grateful for our long-term work with Disney to bring these magical Disney Movie Moments to pediatric patients at our network of children’s hospitals and facilities.”
The expansion kicked off with a celebration at several new and existing Disney Movie Moments-participating hospitals, including the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital in Albuquerque on June 23, 2022, with a showing of Disney and Pixar’s new Buzz Lightyear origin film, “Lightyear.”
Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, Calif. had a showing of the movie on June 30, and the facility, along with the New Mexico Children’s Hospital, also had giveaways and meetings with animators during their showings.
“We’ve supported children’s hospitals for many years, and are committed to fostering special moments for children and families to bring a little joy into their lives during these tough moments,” said Alan Bergman, chairman, Disney Studios Content. “We are proud to continue that work by expanding our Disney Movie Moments initiative and bringing the magic of our stories to more hospitals.”
As the program moves forward, proprietary technology will be used to deliver first-run titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios directly to children’s hospitals, and will include customized talent video greetings.
Disney Movie Moments is part of Disney’s larger commitment to support children’s hospitals, and joins their 2018 global donation of $100 million to help reimagine children’s in-hospital experiences.
Interactive murals, digital Disney and Disney character content, Disney-themed Starlight hospital wear, care packages, and specially-designed training classes for hospital staff are also part of the effort to transform difficult experiences for hospitalized kids.
It all builds on Walt Disney’s legacy of supporting kids and families, which began with his first visits to hospitalized children in the 1930s.
For more information on Disney Movie Moments initiatives visit Impact.Disney.com.
