Slumberkins x Creature Comfort Foundation Instagram Live
In a heartfelt and inspiring Instagram Live, Slumberkins co-founders Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen sat down with Ava Builione, founder of Creature Comfort Foundation, to share the story behind their partnership and the powerful impact of comfort in pediatric healthcare.
Bringing Comfort to Life: A Heartfelt Conversation Between Creature Comfort and Slumberkins
On June 10, the founders of two mission-driven organizations—Ava Builione of Creature Comfort Foundation and Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen of Slumberkins—came together for a live conversation on Instagram to share the origins, impact, and future of their growing partnership.
In a warm and personal dialogue, Ava spoke about the deeply personal journey that inspired her to launch Creature Comfort Foundation. “This all started from a place of love and loss,” Ava shared. “We wanted to give kids more than just medical care—we wanted to provide emotional support that lasts long after their hospital stay.” She explained how the Foundation’s ComfortKits, filled with calming tools, creative activities, and inspiring creature stories, are now being delivered to hospitals across the country, supporting children through some of their most vulnerable moments.
Kelly and Callie shared similar motivations behind founding Slumberkins: to support emotional wellness in children through storytelling and therapeutic plush characters. They spoke about the power of characters like Bigfoot and Sprite to help children process emotions such as grief, anxiety, and stress in age-appropriate and accessible ways.
A highlight of the conversation was the shared passion both organizations have for working with Child Life Specialists. “These are the heroes on the ground,” Ava said. “They know exactly what a child needs in a moment of fear or uncertainty, and they make sure our tools are used with care and intention.” Callie added, “We’re constantly learning from the feedback of Child Life teams—they help us evolve and meet the real emotional needs of patients.”
The founders also discussed the importance of plastic-free, safe materials, especially for sensitive areas of care like NICUs and oncology units. “Hospitals need items that are as thoughtful and safe as they are comforting,” said Kelly. “That’s always been core to our design.”
The live event ended with a call to action: for hospitals to reach out and join the movement, for supporters to follow and donate, and for the community to help expand the mission of bringing comfort to every child who needs it.
Follow Creature Comfort Foundation and Slumberkins on Instagram to join their growing journey of healing, hope, and emotional care for children in medical settings.
👉 Follow @creaturecomfort_org to see the real-time impact
👉 Donate or partner to bring comfort to more kids in hospitals across the country
👉 Rewatch and share the live on Instagram to help spread awareness to child life specialists and healthcare communities
“These are the exact moments we need creature comforts the most.” — Callie Christensen, Co-founder, Slumberkins
“It’s a small act that makes a big impact.” — Ava Builione, Founder, Creature Comfort Foundation