Starlight & Colossal Celebrate $3.2M Raised and Deliver Joy to Kids at Banner Children’s
What happens when you mix Halloween superfans, surprise toy deliveries, hospital hallways, and the announcement of a $3.2 million fundraising milestone? Pure magic. That’s exactly what unfolded at Banner Children’s at Thunderbird as Starlight Children’s Foundation and Colossal teamed up to celebrate this year’s Face of Halloween results.
A Halloween Party at Banner Children’s
The hospital transformed into a mini Halloween celebration as Colossal and Starlight volunteers rolled through the halls with carts full of toys, costumes, treats, and enough spooky energy to light up the entire floor. Kids peeked from behind curtains and doorways, some shy, some boldly waving, all smiling once they saw the colorful avalanche of surprises coming their way.
Reverse trick-or-treating might be the best idea ever: instead of kids knocking on doors, the treats come to them. And judging by the giggles, gasps, and wide-eyed stares—this might have been the best Halloween ever.
The Face of Halloween Winner
That same day, Colossal revealed this year’s Face of Halloween: Ollie Graves, a dedicated spooky-season superfan who loves anything creepy, eerie, or horror-classic adjacent. Ollie not only earned the crown but also scored a $13,000 prize and a dream meet-and-greet with absolute legends—Jamie Lee Curtis, Matthew Lillard, and Kane Hodder. Halloween royalty, basically.
Colossal Joins Starlight for a Day of Big Hearts and Bigger Smiles
For Colossal CEO Mary Hagen, the visit brought the mission to life.
“We raise the funds, but it’s rare we get to see the impact this directly,” she said. “Being here, seeing kids light up—even for a few minutes—reminds you exactly why we do this.”
Meanwhile, Starlight CEO Adam Garone said, “Halloween is such an important day for kids. Knowing this campaign raised $3.2 million means more smiles like this—not just today, but all year long.”
Hospital staff were just as moved.
Nikki Hardin, nursing director, summed it up perfectly:
“Any day we can make the hospital feel a little less scary is a great day.”
Leaving With Full Hearts
By the end of the celebration, carts were empty, camera rolls were full, and the hallways were buzzing with energy that didn’t feel like a typical day at a Children’s hospital. And maybe that’s the real success of Face of Halloween: Halloween fans everywhere helped bring a spark of joy into hospital rooms where it mattered most.
