We Believe Every Child's Story Deserves a Hopeful Next Chapter
Longevity of Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children — with a special focus on those facing the greatest barriers to care.
Our Mission
More Than a Charity. A Movement for Children.
We started with a simple but urgent belief: that too many children are struggling in silence. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma, or the invisible weight of growing up in a world stacked against them — these children deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
Longevity of Life was founded to fill the gap between the mental health care children need and the care they actually receive. We focus especially on children in communities shaped by racial inequity and socioeconomic hardship, where the barriers to care are highest and the consequences of going without support are most severe.
Our Programs
How We Show Up for Kids
School-Based Mental Health Support
Schools are where children spend most of their time — and for many, they're the safest place they know. We partner with schools to place mental health professionals and peer support resources directly within the school day, making it easier for kids to access help without stigma or logistical barriers.
Community Outreach & Workshops
Mental health starts with conversation. Our outreach programs bring awareness workshops, family education events, and resource fairs to neighborhoods and communities, meeting families where they are and helping them understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.
Therapy & Counseling
For children who need deeper support, we connect them with licensed therapists and counselors who specialize in pediatric mental health. We work to ensure that cost is never a barrier to receiving care.
Who We Serve
Every Child. Especially the Ones Who Need It Most.
While our programs are open to all children, we are particularly committed to reaching those who face the greatest obstacles — children in low-income households, children from communities of color, children navigating trauma, and children whose families lack access to traditional healthcare resources.
We know that these children are not defined by their circumstances. With the right support, every child can build resilience, find their voice, and create a future full of possibility.
Our Values
- Service: We are motivated by a strong commitment to serving seriously ill children.
- Teamwork: We are one team with one goal - to deliver happiness to seriously ill kids.
- Accountability: We are accountable to those we serve and our donors, as well as ourselves.
- Respect: We encourage diversity of identity, perspective, and backgrounds to create a more inclusive organization to better serve seriously ill kids and families of all races and ethnicities.
- Integrity: We do what we say we will do to make a positive change for seriously ill children and their families.
- Excellence & Innovation: We strive to go beyond expectations, always seeking new and better ways to achieve our mission.
Our History
- In 1982, our co-founders, filmmaker Peter Samuelson and his cousin, actress Emma Samms delivered happiness to our very first Starlight kid by hosting him and his mom on a trip to Disneyland.
- On February 2, 1983, Starlight was officially incorporated in the United States as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Peter and Emma drew inspiration for our name and first logo from the famous poem, “Star light, star bright/First star I see tonight/I wish I may, I wish I might/Have this wish I wish tonight.”
- In 1990 Starlight built our first-ever Starlight Space in Los Angeles to create a state-of-the-art and interactive environment where kids and families can relax and enjoy their time together.
Read more on Starlight's history of delivering happiness
Awards and Recognition
About Us
Helping parents nurture happy, healthy kids
Anabelle Mathews
Founder & Head of School - - Encouragement of first steps.
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Our Team
The Heart Behind Our Care
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Bryan Skinner
Maariyah Hull
Keziah Stewart
Amina Raymond
Kaleb Gross
Lucille Page
Our Journey Grown Together
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Our Journey Grown Together
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What Lovely Moms & Dads are Sayng!
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