Children's Hospital, Cancer Center get major boost for Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department

From left to right: Diana Sundberg, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department manager, Shanda Pierce, owner of the Sacramento region's Spirit Halloween Superstores, Robin Steinhorn, chair, Department of Pediatrics, Mikayla Pierce, Shanda's daughter, and Natalie Reese, manager Sacramento's Spirit stores.

A program that provides children with support through education, play, music and art received a big boost Friday with the gift of $56,360 from the Spirit of Halloween Superstores.

The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, which operates in the Children’s Hospital, will use the funds to pay for fellowships for individuals training to become certified child life specialists. For the first time, one of the fellows will be assigned to the pediatric infusion center, now located in the Comprehensive Cancer Center on 45^th Street.

“There are so many areas within the Children’s Hospital where we haven’t been able to provide Child Life services,” said department manager Diana Sundberg. She said the fellow will be able to assist the pediatric infusion clinic staff by providing the patients with support coping during procedures, diversionary activities during chemotherapy treatment, self-expression projects and other interventions, as needed.

“This support for the Child Life Department is so important because it allows a great children’s hospital to be even more amazing,” said Robin Steinhorn, professor and Chief of the Department of Pediatrics.

Spirit of Halloween franchise owner Shandra Pierce said the funds were raised thanks to sales associates and generous customers of the company’s Halloween-themed pop-up stores throughout California, as well as outside organizations, which held events to raise additional contributions.