In March, Starlight Children's Foundation launched their inaugural Design-A-Gown contest calling on participants across the United States to design new, comfy, and fun hospital gowns to help improve the hospital experience for young patients.

Working with a core team of partners, Hawkins Mikita assisted in securing social and entertainment influencers to create a group of All-Star ambassadors who helped amplify the Design-A-Gown contest.

Starlight Children's Foundation partnered with Michaels Craft Stores, Niagara Cares, and Dunkin's Joy in Childhood Foundation to collect over 6,000 design submissions from across the country. In April, three finalists were chosen and over 18,000 voters nationwide chose the winning design by 6-year-old Jack from Chicago, which was designed for his little sister Everly who has a congenital heart defect.

All three final designs were manufactured into tens of thousands of Starlight Gowns and delivered to hospitals across the country.

Everly with brother Jack and his winning design!

Martha Stewart and her Starlight Gown design.

Shoshana Bean and Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Cheyenne Jackson with a Starlight Kid

Jack throws opening pitch at Cubs game after winning Design-A-Gown contest.

Max and Ava and their finalist design.

Kim’s finalist design.

Angelique Cabral and a Starlight Kid.

Dan Bucatinsky at a Starlight hospital visit.

Over the weekend, Hawkins Mikita had the pleasure of working with Wilmer Valderrama, America Ferrera, and Ryan Piers Williams to join their HARNESS team and convene over 400 entertainment, tech, business, and nonprofit influencers to support and protect our most vulnerable communities.

"We are all part of this ecosystem," said Wilmer Valderrama as he opened the event. "We have a responsibility to understand, to unite, and to take action."

Senator for California, Kamala Harris, delivered a keynote address echoing Coretta Scott King as she reminded us that "the fight for justice must be fought and won with each generation."

The event hosted ten nonprofit organizations representing some of the most vulnerable communities whose missions are at stake under the current political climate. America Ferrera hosted various panels and discussions focussing on the Indigenous, black, Asian, immigrant, Muslim, and LGBTQ communities.

With the help of numerous project managers, Hawkins Mikita is helping the HARNESS community focus the energy of Saturday's event into direct action and impact for these communities.

Explore the HARNESS Spotlight online to learn more about the organizations present at the event.

HARNESS has launched a #30DaysofAction campaign on their online platforms offering action items daily, which everyone can take to stay informed and create change.

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