Ryan Seacrest opens up about the emotional impact of Seacrest Studios

In HUDSON SQUARE, Manhattan — Seacrest Studios’ story traces back to twenty years ago, during Ryan Seacrest’s visits to children’s hospitals to show support to young patients and their families. He felt an urgent need to make a difference after these encounters.

But just what could that be?

“Engaging in conversations with the parents outside the hospital rooms, I inquired, ‘Is there something that can bring joy to your child in these tough times? Is there a way to make them smile or distract them from the medical procedures and seriousness?’ Their response was that aside from video games, there was little.”

That got Seacrest to thinking on the drive home from one of those visits.

“The concept of creating a safe haven, a poke-free area that serves as the heart of amusement in these medical facilities, came to me,” he recollects. “Imagine if the patients could enter this space to perform, create, and shine like stars? Everything they did would be broadcasted to other patients’ rooms, making them admired within the hospital and momentarily forget their struggles.”

And so Seacrest Studios was born, the first one opening at a hospital in Atlanta.

There are now 13 Seacrest Studios at hospitals today, with expansions coming in Miami and New Orleans.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation is dedicated to inspiring pediatric patients through these Seacrest Studios broadcast media centers. Just as Seacrest envisioned two decades ago, children get to explore the creative realms of radio, television, and now, new media.

“I hope that they tap into their talent, their ambition. I hope they realize that what they’re going through is just part of their life, that that is not what they are defined by,” Seacrest said. “I hope they realize that when they get through what they’re going through, they can pursue, maybe even a job in producing or singing. We have green screens, they make movies, they write the movies, they star in the movies. It’s amazing to see.”

Seacrest is perhaps the busiest man in show business, but he always finds time for Seacrest Studios. And he has help – it’s a family affair, guided by the mission to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay.

Learn more by watching this extended interview with Seacrest conducted by Shirleen Allicot, anchor for Channel 7 Eyewitness News in New York. Allicot is the host of “Protect Our Children: In Safe Hands,” which features an interview with Seacrest, news of a breakthrough in the fight against sickle cell disease and so much more.

You can watch the special on this station’s website beginning the evening of Saturday, May 17. Learn more about this special here.