Toys"R"Us Canada has raised over more than $30 million for Starlight Children's Foundation® Canada.
We are proud to be celebrating our 25th year of partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation® Canada!
Starlight Canada does what no medicine can do: create priceless smiles and memories for seriously ill children and their families. For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has been spreading joy to sick kids across the country through a unique blend of hospital-to-home programs designed for the whole family.
In-hospital, Starlight Canada offers distraction, relief, and fun for kids or teens who may be nervously awaiting treatment, recovering from surgery, or feeling lonely in their rooms. From activity kits to interactive gaming stations, Starlight Canada creates comfort and joy in-hospital to help support every kid through their stay!
Starlight Canada’s out-of-hospital wish programs grant wishes of all sizes to give seriously ill children and their families a reason to smile and special memories to cherish. Whether they are wishing for a simple night out with a loved one or dreaming big with the wish of a lifetime, Starlight Canada creates magic where kids can shine even when sick.
How We Help...
Great Escapes® Wishes
When a child lives with a medical condition, it can be difficult to find quality time with family. As National Sponsors of Starlight Canada’s Great Escapes Wishes, Toys”R”Us Canada makes sure every child gets to experience adventure – no matter their age, diagnosis, or ability. Great Escapes Wishes bring Starlight families together to connect with people who understand each other’s situations, and to host fun-filled events that help families create new memories and new friendships. These events include driving in exotic cars, movie screenings, harbour cruises, adapted skiing, holiday parties, sleepovers, and more.
Treasure Chests
Packed with puzzles, games, and toys to entertain all ages, Starlight Treasure Chests provide pediatric patients with comfort and distraction from the stress of treatment or the boredom of waiting for their next appointment. Sponsored by Toys“R”Us Canada and shipped across the country, these pick-me-ups provide positive reinforcement after difficult treatments and procedures, helping to ease the process for both families and hospital staff. In 2023, we sent more than 200 Treasure Chests – loaded with more than 20,000 toys – to 50 hospitals across Canada!Comfort Kits
Toys“R”Us Canada helps place Starlight Comfort Kits in hospitals across Canada: 7,500 in 2023 alone! These kits offer comfort, distraction, and entertainment for the whole family and bring a little bit of softness to a stressful situation. Since many seriously ill kids cannot share toys in-hospital due to infection control protocols, Starlight Comfort Kits are especially important to keep spirits high and ease social interactions with hospital staff. Sometimes a smile can be the best medicine of all!
Grant Tours
Each year, Toys“R”Us Canada stores welcome representatives from their local hospital to accept a $2,000 donation to benefit pediatric patients within their communities. Whether these grants are used for music therapy or distractive toys, they support the immediate needs of hospitals and go a long way in helping children find some relief during stressful hospital stays. In 2023, 83 Toys“R”Us Canada stores awarded grants totalling $166,000.
Play From Home Packs
Toys“R”Us Canada believes deeply in the power of play – so we are proud to be National Sponsors of Starlight Canada’s Play From Home Packs. Designed for children who may be isolated due to their illnesses, and filled with board games, crafts, toys, and loads of other interactive activities, Play From Home Packs are safely shipped right to families’ doorsteps. Each pack delivered – 1,500 in 2023 alone – provides a new opportunity for sick kids to explore and play, helping relieve some of their boredom and fear while in isolation.Starlight Bear
Every year, Toys“R”Us Canada and Starlight Canada come together to help a seriously ill child create their very own bear that’s totally unique – from ears to paws. In 2023, the 15th Anniversary Collectible Starlight Bear®, Speedy, was designed by six-year-old Christopher, who was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). This condition stiffens Christopher’s joints, weakens his muscles, and requires intensive physical therapy and many surgeries.Speedy’s name was sparked by Christopher’s obsession with race cars and love of the Starlight Drives for Smiles event! Speedy’s bright blue eyes are the colour of AMC awareness, and his rainbow tie represents inclusion – because the things that make us different can help make us strong.
