On February 1, 2023, The Walt Disney Company announced it would expand access to its global Children’s Hospital Initiative throughout 2023. This effort builds on Disney’s $100 million commitment from 2018 to reimagine the patient experience and deliver joy, comfort, and inspiration to children and families in more than 750 pediatric hospitals and care centers worldwide.
Global Expansion of Mobile Movie Theaters and Disney+ Access
Inspired by the cinema on Main Street, U.S.A., Disney’s mobile movie theaters bring storytelling magic to young patients. These pop-up theaters are easy for hospitals to store and move around, offering flexibility in creating shared moments of entertainment.
In 2023, Disney expanded the mobile theater program to hospitals in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the United States, and across Europe and China. Patients and families can also enjoy complimentary access to Disney+ and Disney Movie Moments, allowing them to watch beloved movies and shows during their hospital stay.
Since launching a global rollout in 2022, Disney+ now reaches over 430 children’s hospitals in 17 countries. In 2023, Disney continued progress toward a goal of reaching 30 countries, with new rollouts underway in Greece, Mexico, and Japan.
Disney-Themed Hospital Wear and Deliveries
In partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation, Disney reimagines hospital gowns with colorful, character-themed Starlight Hospital Wear. These comfortable alternatives feature Marvel, Star Wars, Frozen, Pixar characters, and more. In 2023, Disney expanded this program internationally for the first time—reaching children’s hospitals in Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and France.
Disney also continued its special deliveries of books, toys, games, and movies throughout the year. One featured drop included 40,000 themed activity packs shared with hospitals across Europe. The packages and themed products help transport patients into the heart of their favorite Disney stories.
A Legacy of Joy
“Delivering joy builds on a legacy that started with Walt Disney himself,” said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president of corporate social responsibility for The Walt Disney Company. “Walt brought animators and characters to visit hospitalized children, and that spirit lives on in everything we do today.”
Disney continues collaborating with Starlight Children’s Foundation and regional partners around the globe. “We’re honored and grateful to have a longstanding relationship with Disney,” said Adam Garone, CEO of Starlight. “Together, we’ve helped transform hospital experiences for seriously ill kids for over 20 years.”
To learn more about the Disney Children’s Hospital Initiative 2023, visit joy.disney.com or starlight.org/disney.
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