Disney Brings Summer Magic to Children’s Hospitals Worldwide.
This summer, Disney is spreading joy and entertainment to children in hospitals around the globe through a series of special events, movie screenings, and heartwarming deliveries. Kicking off the festivities with the beloved film Lilo & Stitch, Disney is ensuring that young patients, who might otherwise miss out on typical summer fun, can experience a touch of magic.
The summer celebrations began with a special Lilo & Stitch movie party at Sutter Children’s Center in Sacramento, a region with a significant Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community. The event was a vibrant affair, featuring traditional hula dancing, fun coloring activities, and themed giveaways provided by the Starlight Children’s Foundation. The biggest surprise for the children was a visit from Stitch himself, alongside a special video message from Zach Galifianakis, who voices Jumba in the film, before they enjoyed the brand-new movie.
Sara Anderson, pediatric manager of integrated therapies at Sutter Children’s Center, highlighted the profound impact of such events. “These events can help them feel like they’re not in the hospital,” she said. “We all remember going to Disneyland and seeing a character — how special that is. But imagine being a child in the hospital and having a character come to you. That can lift your spirits.”
Nine-year-old patient Grace was thrilled by Stitch’s appearance. “It made me feel like I was in the movie just standing with him saying, ‘Hi, my name is Grace, and this is my friend Stitch,'” she shared. Her enthusiastic review of the day was “Amazing, cool, awesome, and ten out of ten.” Grace’s mother, Jessica, added that the event fostered a “family environment for the hospital,” calling it “a blessing that she gets to be part of this.”
The joy of Lilo & Stitch extended beyond Sacramento, reaching children’s hospitals worldwide. In Japan, Disney VoluntEARS and professional announcers read aloud to patients at Shizuoka Children’s Hospital. Disney China brought Stitch plush toys and interactive activities to 50 Disney Fun Houses – Disney-themed play spaces – across China. At Beijing Children’s Hospital, Stitch joined Disney VoluntEARS to engage with children after a special screening of Lilo & Stitch at the hospital’s Disney Mobile Theater.
In Indonesia, Disney partnered with Make-A-Wish to host a Lilo & Stitch screening for 55 children and their families at Harapan Kita Women and Children’s Hospital in Jakarta. Stitch made a surprise appearance, visiting over 150 children in the pediatric wards. Local influencer Yasmin Napper and 15 Disney VoluntEARS also participated, creating moments of happiness and comfort for the young patients.
Exclusive Access: The Disney Movie Moments Program
A cornerstone of Disney’s outreach this summer is the Disney Movie Moments program, available exclusively to children’s hospitals. This program allows seriously ill children to watch new movies while they are still in theaters. Since its inception in 2014, Disney Movie Moments has brought the magic of cinema to thousands of young patients, offering a vital sense of normalcy and entertainment during challenging times.
As part of this initiative, hundreds of children’s hospitals now have access to Lilo & Stitch through Disney Movie Moments. Additionally, these hospitals will receive a Lilo & Stitch edition of Disney’s “Movie Party in a Box,” which includes a curated assortment of complimentary themed products and activities. Both Disney Movie Moments and Movie Party in a Box are designed to provide kids and their families with comfort and a sense of community, especially when they are unable to visit traditional movie theaters.
Continuing the Magic All Summer Long
The Disney magic is set to continue throughout the summer with more highly anticipated films, including Disney and Pixar’s Elio, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Disney’s Freakier Friday, all debuting on Disney Movie Moments globally from June through August.
Beyond movie screenings, Disney teams worldwide are planning special deliveries of toys and books, along with events featuring visits from Disney characters, artists, and Disney VoluntEARS. Fans in Southern California will also have the opportunity to participate in the CHOC Walk in the Park at Disneyland Resort. Furthermore, new sets of Disney-themed Starlight Hospital Gowns and Pants will be made available to hundreds of children’s hospitals across the country.
These initiatives are part of Disney’s ongoing commitment to supporting seriously ill children, building on a recently fulfilled $100 million global commitment to reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals and pediatric care facilities. Disney continues to leverage its unique ability to bring beloved characters, stories, and experiences directly to children in hospitals, ensuring that even young patients who might miss out on popular summer activities can still experience joy and wonder.
To learn more about The Walt Disney Company’s efforts to deliver happiness and comfort when it’s most needed, please visit joy.disney.com.
Disney Brings Summer Magic to Children’s Hospitals Worldwide
