New PLAY IN MAY campaign highlights the healing power of play  This month, kids, families and anyone who loves games can join actress Bailee Madison and Starlight Children’s Foundation for the inaugural Play in May™ campaign that highlights the healing power of play for hospitalized kids while raising funds to support Starlight programs. Starting May 1, individuals and teams will pledge to play games for 15 minutes a day for 15 days – any game, anywhere from video games, to sports, to board games with the entire family. Friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members can then sponsor that activity by making a donation or they can join a Play in May team at SupportStarlight.org. Starlight Tablets, Starlight Fun Center® mobile entertainment units, Starlight Wish Lists, Starlight Sites and the Starbright World® online community all improve the hospital experience for kids and families. The goal of Play in May is to raise at least $25,000 to support these Starlight programs. Bailee Madison, a Starlight supporter since 2008, voiced a fun animated video for the campaign and is also helping with the official launch through a variety of planned events.

“I’ve been able to see firsthand how Starlight programs bring smiles to the faces of hospitalized kids,” said Bailee Madison. “The great thing about the campaign is whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, you can Play in May to bring the healing power to kids and families, one game at a time. And who doesn’t like to play games?”

httpv://youtu.be/uemPiosjx6M

This afternoon Madison kicks off the “Play in May” campaign with a visit to play games with pediatric patients at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. Later today, from 4 – 4:30 p.m., Starlight supporters and Bailee Madison fans will get the chance to participate and ask her questions live during a Twitter party using #PlayInMay. Follow @StarlightOnline for more information and to submit questions. Corporate sponsors for Play in May include JAKKS Pacific, Inc., Insomniac Games and g-NET who are supporting the campaign through gift in-kind donations as well as employee engagement programs. “We designed Play in May to make it easy for people to support Starlight programs by participating in activities that they are most likely already doing,” said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Global CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “From the gamer who spends time playing video games every day, to the family looking for opportunities to be active together, everyone can Play in May to support Starlight programs that improve the hospital experience for kids and families.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, millions children are hospitalized in the U.S. every year and many of these are repeat hospitalizations due to chronic illness. Starlight reaches kids with programs in more than 1,750 health care facilities and pediatric hospitals in Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, serving millions of children every year. For more information about Play in May and Starlight Children’s Foundation, visit www.supportstarlight.org. About Starlight Children’s Foundation Since 1982, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been a leading global charity that partners with experts to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world. Collaborating with innovators in pediatric healthcare, entertainment and technology, Starlight provides a unique blend of family-centered programs and services from hospital to home. Starlight partners with more than 1,750 healthcare facilities and pediatric hospitals in Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, serving millions of children every year. To learn more, visitwww.starlight.org, or follow us atfacebook.com/StarlightChildrensFoundation andtwitter.com/StarlightOnline