SPOKANE, Wash. — Shriner Children’s Spokane and Spirt Halloween came together tonight to transform Halloween into a celebration of joy and community for patients and their families.
Spirit Halloween donated hundreds of costumes to Shriners patients and their families, ensuring every child could participate in the spooky season festivities.
“Today is just a great event, we’ve got 62 families, almost 300 total people coming to get costumes,” said Mike Pratapas, Shriners Senior Director of Philanthropy. “It’s so nice to see them in this environment. We see them often in our hospital environment. To see the smiles on their faces, it’s an exciting day for the hospital and for the kids.”
The partnership between the two organizations spans nearly two decades. Since 2007, the collaboration has generated more than $1 million in support for Shriners Children’s Spokane. Nine Spirit Halloween stores across the Inland Northwest have participated in the fundraising efforts.
For families who did not receive costumes at tonight’s event, you can find a 10 percent discount coupon on the Shriners Children’s Spokane Facebook page. When used at participating Spirit Halloween locations, 10 percent of the purchase amount is donated back to the hospital.
Pratapas emphasized the significance of Spirit Halloween’s commitment to the hospital and its young patients. “It’s just really, to me, a very generous play on their part to partner with hospitals like ours and for these kids,” he said. “And I think they get a big kick out of it seeing the fruits of their labor.”
For parents navigating the challenges of having a child in the hospital, events like tonight’s Halloween party provide a much-needed respite. The gathering allows families to connect with others facing similar circumstances while creating lasting memories.
“You know, it’s a lot sometimes,” said Ashley Loncon, a parent of a Shriners patient. “And so, to be able to kick back and relax and enjoy yourself and see other people going through similar too, which is just wonderful.”
Another parent, Alexis Fields, echoed the sentiment about the welcoming atmosphere. “It’s so fun. So helpful. We are so welcomed. Everybody is one in the same, so it’s really nice.”
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
