Disney teamed up with the nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation to host a special delivery event at Texas Children’s Hospital. The event celebrated the launch of season two of Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, according to a press release from Texas Children’s Hospital.
Hospitalized patients and their families got to experience the first episode of the new season before anyone else.
Armen Taylor, who voices Hulk in the show, also made an appearance to surprise patients.
Spidey and his Amazing Friends-themed books, toys, and activity packs were given out, and patients got to take photos to remember the event.
Starlight Children’s Foundation has a long-standing relationship with Disney, according to the CEO of Starlight, Adam Garone.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the long-standing relationship with Disney and the generous donation of ‘Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends’-themed products. Delivering fun experiences like this today helps hospitalized kids forget about their illnesses for just a moment and rediscover the joy of childhood,” Garone said in the press release.
The Spidey-themed event was part of the $100 million commitment that Disney made in 2018 to help bring joy to patients while reimagining the hospital experience. Texas Children’s Hospital was chosen as the pilot hospital for the initiative, according to the press release.
“At Starlight, transforming the hospital stay is core to our mission of delivering happiness to seriously ill kids and their families,” Garone shared. “Thank you to Disney and Texas Children’s Hospital for the support in creating this positive experience that patients will carry with them long after they leave the hospital.”
Tabitha Rice, the executive vice president of Texas Children’s Hospital, said that staff members also enjoyed witnessing the special event.
“Our Texas Children’s physicians and staff were delighted to watch the joy and excitement on the faces of our hospitalized patients as they reveled in this unique Disney visit,” Rice said. “Thanks to Texas Children’s established relationship with Disney and support from Starlight Children’s Foundation, our patients and their families experienced pure Disney joy — a most welcome reprieve from the many stresses that can accompany a child’s hospital stay.”
Starlight programs, including Starlight Deliveries, Starlight Gaming, and Starlight Hospital Wear, are offered to more than 800 healthcare facilities and hospitals in the United States free of charge. Community members can get involved by making a donation.
The nonprofit recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, according to the Starlight website.
One of the parents at the Texas Children’s event, Brenna Stelly, shared in the press release how her child, Everly, enjoyed it.
“Today was a different experience versus our normal hospital visits. This opportunity allowed her to see that hospitals can be fun. It’s not always about her diagnosis; it can be about her happiness as well,” Stelly said.
The second season of Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends premieres on Disney Junior and Disney Channel on August 19.
The show has already been picked up for a third season, according to the press release, and has gained more than 383 million views across its various channels.
