In the quiet corridors of Primary Children's Hospital, something magical happens when a child walks into the School Zone. Their eyes light up at the sight of shelves filled with books—books that are theirs to keep.
This gift of adventure, escape, and imagination bound between covers creates what the School Zone staff lovingly call "light up moments," making a difficult hospital stay more bearable by transporting patients to other worlds, and providing a little bit of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal situation.
At Lightweaver, we’re thrilled to be partnered with the kind of organizations and programs that uplift our community in the way that the School Zone does. It’s why they’re one of our closest partners in 2025. Our team got to go and visit the hospital to see the impact in real time, and it was such a special experience!
In this article, you’ll get an inside track to the incredibly life-changing work they do at the School Zone and learn how Lightweaver—with your help—makes a difference.
More Than Just Education
Research published in the journal Continuity in Education shows that "hospitalized school aged children receiving school services experience significant improvement in positive emotions and a significant decrease in perceived pain" (Ciucci et al., 2024). In other words, education during hospitalization doesn't just engage the mind—it helps the body heal.
"The School Zone brings the power of a caring teacher to children experiencing trauma," shares one of the program's dedicated educators. "We partner with the medical staff in giving children the best chance to heal."
This partnership takes many forms, as diverse as the children they serve. For long-term patients awaiting transplants, recovering from accidents, or undergoing chemotherapy, the School Zone provides tutoring and support for school assignments. For behavioral health patients or those recovering from surgery, they offer access to free books and coordinate with schools to create accommodation plans. For the youngest patients not yet in school, they provide preschool programming and summer reading.
Small Moments, Profound Impact
The School Zone staff witness daily miracles—small in scale perhaps, but profound in meaning. A child recognizing "Miss Amy" from the preschool show and beaming in the hallway. An anticipated, pre-ordered book delivered moments before a long chemotherapy infusion begins. The visible relief on parents' faces when they learn that the School Zone will help coordinate accommodations for their child's return to school.
Some moments leave permanent impressions. One School Zone oncology teacher helped facilitate a high school graduation ceremony at the hospital, attended by the student's principal, teachers, family, and friends. "Her goal was to graduate, and our School Zone oncology teacher helped to make that happen just a few days before our patient passed away," shares a staff member. "But the memory of that moment and the pride on our patient's face will always remain with her family and us."
Lightweaver Foundation: Illuminating The Way
This is where The Lightweaver Foundation has made its mark. The Foundation provides books and helps maintain the School Zone Library, offering a wide variety of topics, genres, and reading levels to meet the needs of children of all ages and interests.
"Perhaps due to time in bed or isolation, a considerable number of our patients love reading!" the School Zone staff explains. "Patients' eyes light up when they walk into the School Zone and see a—library! And when they learn, the books are theirs to keep, the surprise and delight are visible." Brandon Sanderson books and merchandise are particular favorites, with Doomslug plushies bringing special joy. "We love discussing Brandon's books with patients, watching patients get excited about the next book in a series, or introducing patients and igniting a newfound interest in this world of fantasy."
The Need Continues
Last year alone, the Primary Children's Hospital School Zones gave out almost 9,000 books. This staggering number speaks to both the program's success and its ongoing needs. "We have a never-ending need for constant replenishment of our books in our hospital library!" the staff emphasizes.
Every donation, every book makes a tangible difference. Most of the School Zone's funding comes through donations, allowing them to offer high-quality books to patients. Some children actually look forward to their infusion treatments or clinical follow-up appointments because they know they can visit the School Zone to get a book—transforming a potentially frightening medical experience into something to anticipate. That subtle shift can make all the difference in the world.
Looking to the Future
The School Zone dreams of expanding its impact. They're currently partnering with BYU students to create an online database so patients can browse book choices from their hospital rooms and make selections from their beds. "We are hoping to create an on-line database so that patients can browse the book choices, see the books, from their hospital rooms, and make selections right from their beds—which means we would need more books!" They also hope to expand their preschool program and STEM offerings, bringing 3D printers and interactive programming to all hospital locations.
"We work off the model of making a difference for the ones we can see," they share, "but long for the time when we could be more confident that we are meeting the needs of all patients."
A Call to Light the Way
As one staff member beautifully puts it, borrowing from "Horton Hears a Who": "Lightweaver can help us say, 'We are here! We are here!'" Through continued partnership with The Lightweaver Foundation and generous donors, the School Zone can continue bringing light to children who need it.
The School Zone reminds us that society benefits when we partner together to invest in children's wellbeing. A hospital School Zone provides patients with needed connection and socialization, gives them something to look forward to, and contributes to their sense of belonging. According to a 2021 study by Tomberli and Ciucci, "Experiencing less discomfort during hospitalization not only reduces pain and promotes healing, but also reduces school dropout rates, and limits other psychological consequences of illness such as anxiety, depression, and learning or behavioral disorders." The evidence is clear: programs like the School Zone don't just support education—they support the whole child.
And in that moment when a child's eyes light up at receiving a book of their very own—that's when we see the true magic of the School Zone and the vital importance of your support support.
To support the School Zone program through The Lightweaver Foundation, please visit https://www.lightweaverfoundation.org/collections/donate. Or, you can support all of Lightweaver's endeavors this year by purchasing our exclusive products.
Note: The Lightweaver Foundation was established by bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and his wife Emily Sanderson to create and support sustainable programs that foster imagination, build community, and provide help to those who need it most. You can learn all about Lightweaver on our website.