Children’s Wisconsin Patients Get a New Stage to Shine: A Seacrest Studio Is Coming

MILWAUKEE, Wis., April 14, 2026 — Children’s Wisconsin has been selected by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) as they expand their growing network as the 16th Seacrest Studio — content creation and interactive media studios where patients host podcasts, produce video content and interview celebrity guests while receiving care. The 1,250-square-foot studio is scheduled to open in the summer of 2028 and will be located in the lobby of the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital.

“Milwaukee is a vibrant cultural hub, and we are thrilled to expand into the Midwest with Children’s Wisconsin as our 16th Seacrest Studio location,” said Ryan Seacrest, Chairman and Founder, Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “With each studio, we are proud to see patients and families embrace the space as a core part of the hospital experience to create strong memories and positive experiences during difficult times. The team at Children’s Wisconsin is the perfect partner to help bring this vision to life.”

Seacrest Studios are fully equipped media studios located directly inside pediatric hospitals, offering patients the opportunity to participate in person or from the comfort of their rooms virtually. The studios give kids a fun, creative outlet when they are receiving medical care. By fostering a network of interactive media studios, RSF ensures that every patient has the opportunity to share their voice and create lasting positive memories beyond their medical journey. Seacrest Studios are more than an amenity; they are a core part of the hospital experience for kids, helping reduce anxiety, build confidence and improve engagement in care, which leads to better coping skills during treatment.

“This project is about collaboration, innovation and bringing moments of joy to kids and families during what can be a very difficult time,” said Gil Peri, President and CEO, Children’s Wisconsin. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation for partnering with us to create something truly unique and special for the children and families we serve.”

Seacrest Studios, an initiative from the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, was started by the Emmy Award-winning host and media personality, along with his family, including Meredith Seacrest Leach, Executive Director and CEO, RSF. The goal of the foundation is to help children feel less scared, less isolated and more like themselves during a difficult time. The studios give patients something positive to focus on, help build their confidence and create joyful moments during treatment. In 2025, the RSF delivered 8,406 hours of live programming and helped patients create 265 original shows, reaching approximately 3.1 million patients and family members through its national network.

Children’s Wisconsin and RSF are raising additional funds for the Seacrest Studio at Children’s to advance construction and support studio programming. Gifts have already included $1 million from the Slaggie Family Foundation, directed by Matt and Lindsay Slaggie, as well as from longtime RSF partners Sony Pictures Entertainment and iHeartMedia, Inc.

About Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s Wisconsin provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, mental and behavioral health care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. Children’s Wisconsin achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network.

About the Ryan Seacrest Foundation
The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) is a nonprofit organization that brings interactive media studios into pediatric hospitals to help patients find joy during treatment. Founded in 2009, RSF has grown into a national network of 14 Seacrest Studios where patients host podcasts, produce video content, and interview celebrity guests while receiving care.

In 2025, RSF delivered 8,406 hours of live programming and helped patients create 265 original shows, reaching approximately 3.1 million patients and family members. Viewed by hospital partners as a core therapeutic tool, Seacrest Studios play a meaningful role in helping children cope with hospitalization and extended medical care. Through its internship program, RSF also supports almost 50 interns a year, providing students with hands-on experience in broadcast production and empowering the next generation of industry professionals.

RSF currently has Seacrest Studios at hospitals in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Miami, Memphis, Orange County, Orlando Queens (NY), Salt Lake City and Washington D.C. Visit ryanseacrestfoundation.org for more information. A new studio is slated to open in New Orleans at Manning Family Children’s Hospital in early 2027.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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