You probably know Spirit of Halloween as the company that sells Halloween costumes and decorations. But since 2012, the company has also joined with McLeod Health Foundation donors, like you, to brighten hospital stays for our region’s children.   

The company has donated more than $165,000 to support various initiatives within the McLeod Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Program and provided an abundance of costumes, accessories, and other party supplies free of charge to help our patients celebrate this holiday.

“Spirit of Children and other donations supporting the Child Life Program make an incredible difference for our children and their families staying in the hospital during October,” says Cory Prescott, the McLeod Child Life Coordinator. “Our pediatric patients can pick out costumes for the parties that we offer, and they are often thrilled to choose something that brightens their day.”

Since Halloween costumes can be expensive, your support helps bring joy and fun to many more patients than the Child Life Program’s budget would allow on its own. Thanks to you, siblings of patients even get to pick out their own costumes.

Spirit of Children is about so much more than just costumes or party accessories.  Studies have shown links between patients’ mental well-being and recovery outcomes. So, the smiles you bring to our patients’ faces represent more than just a happy moment during a difficult period — you are literally helping them get better.

“Putting on a Superhero costume helps our patients feel just brave enough to get through the hard things they have to experience in the hospital,” Cory concluded. “And that can make all the difference.” 

Image shown: McLeod pediatric patient Anthony McCrory remained brave during his hospital stay thanks to gifts from McLeod Foundation donors and Spirit of Halloween.

When a hospital lacks a forensic nurse examiner program, victims of sexual violence are treated among the general emergency department population. This means vulnerable individuals, fresh off their life’s most traumatic moments, are forced to sit hours in the waiting room to receive treatment that fails to meet the standard of care. This experience traumatizes victims even further.

Now, thanks to your generosity, our region’s sexual assault victims are immediately triaged and provided a complete forensic exam in a private space dedicated to this care. 

Before the McLeod Forensic Nursing program was established, victims of sexual violence in our region had to travel 100+ miles to receive a forensic exam. Hundreds of victims have made this profoundly difficult journey over the years. But an untold number, debilitated by the assault against, have decided to forgo treatment altogether.

Thanks to you, no longer.

“The need for this program is clear,” said Shannon Scott, the program’s coordinator. “Our first pediatric patient was just three years old.”

Forensic nurses are specially trained to provide compassionate and understanding care to both pediatric and adult victims of sexual assault. Additionally, these nurses are experts in victim advocacy – they assist patients in their long-term recovery.

In addition to helping ensure our region’s victims receive the highest standard of care, McLeod Foundation donors have also played a crucial role in lifting spirits during these distressing times.

Through the McLeod Foundation’s HERO Fund, pediatric victims are given backpacks – known as Comfort Bags — containing teddy bears, coloring books, crayons, and new clothes.

“I wish that donors could see the change when we give a precious, frightened child a teddy bear to hold close or place a coloring book and crayons in their lap,” Shannon says. “And, they are so proud when we provide them new, pretty clothing. What a blessing this fund is for children.”

You can be a Hero for a child who is the victim of assault by making a gift of $50 to provide a Hero Bag while they are in the Emergency Department. The bags include items of comfort and a change of clothes. To be a Hero, visit mcleodinspiredbyyou.org or return your gift in the reply envelope provided.

In addition to their service to the community, this mission drives the business’s 15-year partnership with McLeod Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (CMNH). Nationally, RE/MAX is a sponsor of CMNH, and the support of RE/MAX Southern Shores to the McLeod Health Foundation directly benefits the children treated at McLeod Children’s Hospital.

For Mandy and Ted Fulford, owners of RE/MAX Southern Shores, living an abundant life includes giving back to help children and families who depend on McLeod Children’s Hospital for specialized, critical care.

“Our teams look forward to regular visits to the Children’s Hospital,” Mandy said. “These are some of the most memorable and life-changing moments with our agents. We are able to meet the children and their families whose lives are being changed in part due to our support.”

Three years ago, the Fulfords and their agents learned of an urgent need to update monitors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at McLeod Children’s Hospital. Every agent, through the RE/MAX Miracle Home Program, donated a portion of their sales to support this vital cause. They also held creative fundraising events and volunteered to help these children in need.

Thanks in part to these efforts, the NICU now has these new state-of-the-art monitors, which allow the staff to provide the highest level of care for these tiny babies. Their gifts are helping to ensure these little ones can thrive and continue to grow and one day go home with their family.

The generosity of the RE/MAX team came full circle the following year, when the family of one of their agents delivered twin babies who needed this specialized care in the NICU at McLeod Children’s Hospital. Those very monitors, so lovingly provided by their generous gifts, now helped these beautiful twins survive and grow stronger so they could go home.

“Through the dedication of our RE/MAX Southern Shores family, we were able to give significantly to support the children of our region,” Mandy and Ted proudly shared.

For everyone at RE/MAX Southern Shores, helping others live an abundant life is celebrated — both with the clients they serve and the patients and families who benefit from their generous support.

Giving and serving their community has been the backbone of both SPC Credit Union and Health Facilities Credit Union (now SC Federal Credit Union) since their inception. When each learned about the opportunity to support a regional Children’s Hospital expansion, they immediately felt it was a perfect fit.

Both are member-driven organizations. As such, supporting McLeod Health, the local medical center their members count on for care, is a focus of their giving.

“The driving force for this relationship is to keep money local,” explained Linda Weatherford, President of SPC. “When we give to the McLeod Health Foundation, 100 percent of our money stays here. McLeod Health is constantly serving our friends, family and colleagues every day through the services they provide. We are very blessed to have this facility and the level of care McLeod offers.”

Robert Harris, City Executive of SC Federal Credit Union, agreed.

“We have been involved with McLeod Health since 1977 when three local hospitals started Health Facilities Credit Union. Many McLeod employees were our members, so it has been a natural fit to give back to those we care for and serve every day. We are truly fortunate to have McLeod in a community of this size.”

When the McLeod Foundation launched its campaign to expand McLeod Children’s Hospital last year, these two credit unions wholeheartedly came on board. Many individuals and businesses throughout the region joined them, making commitments to support this most precious care.

Generous McLeod Foundation donors like you will join in celebrating the opening of the new, state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Spring of 2021. This specialized care for the smallest and most vulnerable patients will be the latest achievement made possible through philanthropic efforts.

We are grateful for the support of SPC Credit Union, Health Facilities Credit Union and all who have made this loving care a priority.

The couple recall the day they visited McLeod Children’s Hospital to meet their grandson, John Luke Iseman. John Luke was a healthy full-term baby, but several hours after his birth, his blood sugar dropped. He was rushed to the McLeod Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Bill and Mindy saw the fear their son and daughter-in-law experienced when staff took John Luke from their arms. It was the same anxiety Bill felt 39 years ago when his daughter, Olivia, had to be treated in the McLeod NICU.

“When Olivia was born, I was not prepared for the NICU,” Bill said. “I was unable to hold her for two weeks. But, I knew that my little girl was receiving the best care possible. The doctors and staff were just fantastic.”

Bill and Mindy encouraged their son and daughter-in-law, helping them understand that John Luke would receive excellent, state-of-the-art care.

And, they were right. Today, John Luke is an active two-year-old and the light of their lives. The Taylors know the value of McLeod Children’s Hospital more than most having had a daughter, and now a grandson, receive life-saving care from the McLeod NICU.

While the two have become generous supporters of McLeod Children’s Hospital — both personally and through Mindy’s employer, Duke Energy — they are quick to point out that they are not simply “donating” to a cause.

“I tell everyone that we are not just donating money; we are investing in the community,” Mindy explained. “But, when it becomes very personal, as it did for us, that is when you can really see the fruits of your investments.”

The Taylor family will always be grateful to McLeod Health Foundation donors who have also invested in excellent local care for children like Olivia and John Luke.

Mindy added, “We are so fortunate to have McLeod as a regional medical system. What would we do without them?”