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News, Updates & Opportunities
August 2022
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Gala Of Dreams Saturday, October 8 | Get Your Tickets Today |
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This year’s event will be both in-person and virtual so everyone can attend, have fun, and support Birthday Dreams. The in-person event will be held:
Saturday October 8, 2022 | 6:30 pm
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
1053 Lake Washington North
Renton, WA 98056
Room discounts are available for gala attendees for October 8: information is provided upon registration.
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Request for Help from Birthday Dreams Supports
We are actively seeking silent and live auction items for the gala. Of particular interest are items in the following categories.
- Experiences (travel, hotel stays, skydiving, outdoor adventures, etc.)
- Food/Beverage (restaurant gift cards, beer/wine/alcohol packages, wine tasting tours, etc.)
- Fun, Family, and Leisure (golf, bowling, theme parks, museums, etc.)
- Physical items (jewelry, art, laptop computers/gaming systems, etc.)
If you have any connections/leads, please reach out to our Development Director Jarod Drozdowski at 425-524-4705 or jarod@birthdaydreams.org, who will manage moving forward with a procurement effort.
Click HERE to donate a gift basket or gift basket item.
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Randall Morris Foundation Gala | September 11 |
Birthday Dreams has been selected as a benefitting charity of the Randall Morris Foundation for Youth & Families' 16th Annual Celebrity Gala and Auction which will be held on Sunday, September 11th at 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Lake Washington in Renton.
Invited celebrities include Steve Largent (Hall of Famer), Jim Zorn, Curt Warner, Kam Chancellor, Lawyer Malloy, Walter Jones (Hall of Famer), Cliff Avril, Warren Moon (Hall of Famer), and others, just to name a few! Each table is headed by one celebrity.
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There are still some tickets available for this amazing event – Visit GALA — Randall Morris Foundation for additional details and ticket information. All contributions are fully tax-deductible under the 501(c)(3) status
In addition to being selected as one of the charities benefitting from the Gala, Birthday Dreams will also benefit from the foundations' sold-out Celebrity Golf Invitational on September 12. We are incredibly thankful to the Randall Morris Foundation for highlighting the valuable work our organization does for the community!
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We believe every child should be celebrated on their special day and are honored to help make that possible. Below is feedback from Luisa, a single mother of three boys. Having escaped a domestic violence situation, she and her boys were living in a Seattle shelter. As her eldest son's birthday approached, Luisa, who was working to "get back on her feet," was concerned about her ability to ensure her son felt celebrated. In conversations with a shelter advocate, Luisa found out about Birthday Dreams. She contacted us and was overjoyed that we were able to help. |
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“WOW! Thank you Birthday Dreams!! What a generous idea for those who need a little help during a financial struggle. My kids were so happy about the “gaming” themed cake/supplies and they very much enjoyed the gifts as well! My son felt loved, appreciated and celebrated – he had the biggest smile on his face while we were singing Happy Birthday! My family is feeling very blessed – thank you!”
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Help Be a Part of the Birthday Dreams' Magic! |
We are so excited that we can resume onsite group parties at some of our shelters! We have really missed being able to celebrate with our kiddos! Now all we need are some great volunteers to spend 2 - 3 hours of their time to help out at these wonderful celebrations. |
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Give back as a family. This is a great way for teens to get community service hours and for the younger kids to give back while having fun with other children their age!
If you are interested in being a Party Coordinator at a monthly onsite party in Kenmore, Maple Valley, Seattle, Burien or Bellevue please reach out to Tiffaney at tiffaney@birthdaydreams.org or (425) 988-3954. To volunteer at a party, sign up here.
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Community Support and Recognition |
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Grant Awards
Each month Birthday Dreams receives grant awards from our terrific foundation partners. We would like to highlight the financial support from the following grant funders:
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Windermere Foundation - $3,500
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Fales Foundation Trust - $2,500
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the above foundations for their generosity and support of Birthday Dreams!
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Janet and Jessica Solis are two youth volunteers at Birthday Dreams. They have been volunteering weekly as part of their graduation service hours requirements and have really enjoyed their experience. They especially enjoy the time they spend wrapping gifts and often compete with each other to see who can wrap the most in their time there. Janet especially likes the challenge of the oddly shaped or extra-large presents to wrap. Both girls also really enjoy getting to know the Birthday Dreams staff. Thanks to the Solis sisters for all you do for Birthday Dreams! |
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New Partnership with a Special School |
The New Horizon School is a school in Renton tailored to students with learning disabilities. Christina Schaefer-Harbison is a teacher at New Horizon who teaches a class called "Transitions" which caters to students ages 18-21 and focuses on independent living skills as well as vocational skills. |
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Christina's class started volunteering with Birthday Dreams in Sept of 2021 and would come in weekly to volunteer while also allowing her students to gain work experience and life skills such as completing tasks on time and delivering on commitments. The students completed office tasks, wrapping gifts and also participated in the annual inventory process. Christina is looking forward to partnering with Birthday Dreams again in the fall. |
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Thanks to the help of partners, volunteers and friends (special shout out to the Sea Hawkers), Birthday Dreams' participation in the Renton River Days festival and parade was a massive success! Despite new changes to the event, this year (operating in limited capacity post-COVID) parade participants were welcomed by an impressive turnout of hundreds of cheerful spectators. Accompanied by a myriad of other organizations spreading word about their teams, businesses and causes, t he Birthday Dreams float (beautifully created by Laura Fugate with Smash Baby Smash and Lanissa Youngquist with Sweet & Petite Party Designs) was warmly received by dozens of enthused onlookers, eager to volunteer and learn more about how they could help.
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To add to day's excitement, Birthday Dreams was awarded Most Original Float and honored with a gorgeous plaque from the City of Renton which hangs on display in our home office.
Needless to say, we'll be back next year!
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Awesome Cakes Delivered with Love |
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It's an art party for a sweet "princess" turning 12. The birthday girl received this beautiful cake baked by Elizabeth Blake and various art supplies. Thank you, Jim Waugh, for making the special delivery.
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The culinary program at Renton Technical College created this amazing cake for a special boy turning 6. The cake was delivered by Mae McMullin along with some of the birthday boy's favorite things: toy trucks and cars, sidewalk chalk and bubbles.
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Thank you, Jenna Pickell, for baking this awesome mermaid cake. Jim Waugh delivered the cake, a sketch book, crayons and a play kitchen and tea set to a little girl turning 4. It was a happy birthday for sure!
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Volunteer Orientation and Opportunities
Upcoming in-person orientations:
- Saturday, September 10 at 11 am
- Tuesday, September 13 at 6 pm
- Tuesday, October 11 at 6 pm
- Saturday, October 15 at 11 am
Contact our Community Events Coordinator, Leah Battin, at Leah@birthdaydreams.org for team building and service project opportunities.
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Follow us on Facebook! Cake and delivery needs are posted weekly. A list of upcoming parties and party needs can be found here.
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Office and Party Supply Needs
We rely on our donors and volunteers to make birthday dreams come true. This month we are in particular need of the following items:
Did you know that you can use Amazon to setup automatic donations? Just select “Subscribe and Save” to make an automatic order monthly for Birthday Dreams and select the Birthday Dreams address when you check out! It’s an easy way to support our office needs and help Birthday Dreams in a big way. Check out the Amazon Wish List for more ideas.
We are always in need of:
- Juice (gallon jugs or boxes)
- Large gift bags, clothing boxes and bows
- Gift Cards in $10 - $25 denominations
- RC Cars and Toddler Toys
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Birthday Dreams thanks the following Birthday Club members who joined or renewed their membership in April. We appreciate your generous support:
John Berkeley, Dani Brazzle, Deanna Hopper, Looking Out Foundation, Fales Foundation, Rock Steady Boxing and Swift Group.
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Please continue spreading the word about Birthday Dreams. We'd love to grow the club with more thoughtful and generous people like you!
If you are not a current Birthday Club member and would like to join, please visit:
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