In early May of this year, close to 60,000 Star Wars-themed hospital gowns and matching pants were distributed to children’s hospitals through Starlight Children’s Foundation, a feat that was announced during Jimmy Kimmel Live! The new gowns featured a mix of five brand-new and updated gown designs including the Mandalorian with Grogu, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Vader, R2-D2 and Chewbacca, and pants featuring more Star Wars characters. The gowns also feature QR codes with access to special Star Wars digital content to entertain and inspire kids while hospitalized.  

Obi-Wan Kenobi himself (Ewan McGregor) was around for the announcement as well saying, “As a member of the Star Wars family, I am thrilled to be a part of the unveiling of this new line of hospitalwear for kids,” said McGregor. “It is incredibly touching to see how children fighting their own battles in the hospital can find fun and maybe a bit of strength from these iconic characters.”

Since 2001, Disney and Starlight have collaborated to deliver happiness to seriously ill children and their families. In addition to deliveries of toys, books, games and more from all of Disney’s brands, Starlight distributes child-friendly hospital gowns to its network of more than 800 children’s hospitals and pediatric places of care in the U.S. The hospitalwear brings fun, comfortable and colorful designs featuring favorite characters from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Frozen, Mickey & Friends, ESPN and Disney Princesses. Since 2017, Disney has helped provide more than 350,000 hospital gowns that have so far been given to children in more than 300 hospitals through its collaboration with Starlight.

 “We’re incredibly grateful for the long-standing partnership with Disney, helping us bring smiles to seriously ill kids in hospitals,” said Adam Garone, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “Through the collaboration, we can provide our hospital partners with Disney-themed Starlight hospital gowns, toys and other programs free of charge. When hospitalized kids can magically transform into a Star Wars character or a Disney Princess by slipping on a Starlight gown, it helps distract them from the stress of medical procedures and conditions.”

In addition to the gowns, Starlight also distributes Disney Care Packages, deliveries of Disney toys, books, movies, and the groundbreaking Starlight VR bringing state-of-the-art technology that transforms the hospital experience to a “Droid Repair Bay” experience from ILMxLAB.

You can help keep the tradition going with a donation to Starlight.org. Each donation of $35 will provide one Starlight Gown. Learn how you can join Disney and Lucasfilm in delivering Star Wars-themed Starlight gowns by visiting starlight.org/starwars.

Main Image: Starlight Children’s Foundation