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News, Updates & Opportunities
January 2026
| | Our community partners are very important to us. This version of the newsletter corrects a mistake in the Community Support and Recognition Section. The event descriptions under the BECU and Gates Foundation headers were inadvertently switched. | |
A 2025 by the Numbers | Thank You!
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Last year, our goal was to celebrate 1,750 children—and thanks to our incredible community, we surpassed it, celebrating 1,944 children in 2025. While we had to stretch our resources a bit, every child was celebrated, and every birthday was special.
This impact was made possible by 238 dedicated volunteers who donated 3,245 hours, baking cakes, wrapping gifts, delivering birthday joy, and supporting our office. Our Community Events Team hosted 145 events, where 2,500 individuals became a part of our extended volunteer team by making thousands of party kits, goody bags, birthday cards, games, and bracelet kits.
To our volunteers and supporters: You are the cornerstone of our organization! Your time, energy, and compassion bring joy to children and families; Birthday Dreams simply could not do this meaningful work without you. Thank you for everything you do and for standing behind this mission so wholeheartedly.
| | | 2026 Impact Events | New Year, New Smiles | | |
As we usher in the new year, Birthday Dreams is pleased to announce our exciting series of 2026 events! In addition to our annual event, we are excited to announce our first, dare we say annual, Birthday Dreams Par-Tee Golf Tournament. We invite you to mark your calendars for our 2026 Event Series!
Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available for all of the events! Please contact our Development Director Jarod Drozdowski at Jarod@birthdaydreams.org or 425-524-4705 with inquiries and interests and to get involved.
| | First Annual Birthday Dreams Par-Tee Golf Tournament | | | | |
When: Monday, June 15
Tee Time: Scramble Start at 1:30pm
Where: Washington National Golf Course, Auburn
Registration is Open!
We are calling out all fans of golf and Birthday Dreams to participate in our first annual Par-Tee Golf Tournament, which promises to be a full day of fun, prizes, and fierce (but fun) competition.
In true birthday "par-tee" fashion, the event will conclude with a celebratory Birthday Toast and Awards event — a festive gathering where players will be able to enjoy food and refreshments and tournament winners, and special acknowledgments will be presented!
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Miles for Smiles
If your New Year resolution is to get out and be more active, this is a great way for you to keep your resolution and support our cause in the process. The 5th Annual Miles for Smiles Activity Challenge will take place from May 15 through May 29. Run, walk, swim, roll at your own place and pace. All movement counts!
Registration will open soon!
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Gala of Dreams
We are excited to announce the theme for the 2026 Annual Gala of Dreams is Denim and Diamonds. The gala will take place on Saturday, September 26 at The Museum of Flight.
You have 8 months to get your event-ready fashion attire set around this fun theme! Tickets will go on sale this Spring. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.
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There is no quick or easy solution to poverty and homelessness, and often Birthday Dreams is called back to fill a Birthday Dream multiple years. This is the case for a single mother working hard to support her family on less than $600 a month. With no family to lean on, this mother has found a support system through Birthday Dreams, she said,
"I wanted my daughter to have a birthday party, so I asked for your help...last year my daughter received tickets to the Seattle Ferris Wheel and Wings Over Washington. She had a blast going and we made lasting memories. This year she helped me fill out birthday party invitations to give out at school...She wasn't reminded of how broke we are... she had a party like everyone else. It took a ton of stress off my shoulders by saving time and energy trying to gather up enough money to pay for [a birthday]. She was surprised to see how many presents there were for her and loved that there were party bags for each of her friends. Thank you so much!"
With your continued support, we are committed to bringing hope and joy to the community we serve through the gift of a birthday celebration.
| | Fun, New Opportunities to Get Involved | | |
Make a Difference—Join the Birthday Dreams Board of Directors!
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children? Birthday Dreams is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our Board of Directors! Our board is comprised of dynamic, community-minded leaders who are dedicated to bringing joy and hope to children experiencing homelessness. We’re looking for people with experience in marketing, social media, event planning, networking/ambassador energy, technology, business, and fundraising to help guide and grow our mission. As a board member, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Shape the future of our organization
- Support our mission to celebrate children experiencing homelessness with the gift of a birthday
- Collaborate with a passionate, mission-driven team
If you’re ready to make every child’s birthday a special one, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Executive Director Chris Spahn at chris@birthdaydreams.org to learn more about board service.
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Join Our Events Team! Help Make Birthday Dreams Even Bigger!
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Events Team; people who love planning, organizing, connecting, and making things happen. Whether you have experience with event logistics, sponsorship outreach, marketing, or just love helping create unforgettable experiences, we’d love to have you on the team! As part of the Events Team, you’ll:
- Help shape exciting new fundraising events
- Support our mission in creative, community-building ways
- Work with a fun, passionate group of volunteers
If you’re interested in joining the team or learning more, contact Brandi Martinez at brandi@birthdaydreams.org.
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Without the grant awards generously endowed by our foundation partners, we could not do what we do. Over the past month, we received grants from the following organization:
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First Financial Northwest Foundation | $10,000
We also received generous grants from:
- Mr. Lawrence & Mrs. Kincaid-Lawrence
- The Pinnacle Family Fund
| | Community Support and Recognition | | |
The Community Events Team truly values our partnerships. Over the past year, our partners generously contributed their time, financial support, and supplies—helping us bring the joy of a birthday party to kids in need. With the support of more than 2,500 volunteers, we provided thousands of goody bags, party hats, friendship bracelet kits, and birthday cards to children who deserve to feel celebrated.
If you or your team would like to get involved, we would love to connect. Whether you’re looking for a day out of the office volunteering at Birthday Dreams or would like us to bring the party to you, we’re here for it. Contact Leah at leah@birthdaydreams.org to learn more.
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Stifel Holiday Toy Drive
Over the past few years, our friends at Stifel have become leading supporters of Birthday Dreams and 2025 was no exception. In addition to sponsoring last year's Gala of Dreams, the team at Stifel organized a Holiday Toy Drive which yielded a donation of 80 items valued at over $1000. Our thanks to Kari Hayden and the entire Stifel team for their continued generous support.
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AvalonBay
Holly Mihalyo, Sr. Administrative Coordinator for AvalonBay Communities, reached out months in advance to ensure a spot on our December schedule—a true testament to her dedication to Birthday Dreams. We are grateful to all three AvalonBay Communities locations that partnered with us in December. AvalonBay generously donated supplies, and residents assembled friendship bracelet kits and party hats, which will help make upcoming Birthday Dreams birthdays that much more special.
| | | Not only does Holly partner closely with our Events Team, but she is also an incredibly talented cake baker. One of her cakes is featured in our Awesome Cakes section of this newsletter. | |
Amazon XLS
We would like to thank Jennifer Levin and her team at Amazon SLX for their generous donation of supplies for 200 goody bags. The team also volunteered their time to assemble the bags and contributed several items from our wish list. We greatly appreciate their support and partnership.
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Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton LLP
We were thrilled to partner again with Rachel Saimons and her colleagues at their beautiful office overlooking Seattle. Their generous donation of supplies for 100 goody bags, along with the time they spent assembling them, is greatly appreciated.
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Boeing Employee Credit Union
We are so thankful for our partnership with BECU! During the department’s end-of-year meeting, Michelle Beckley, Manager of Business Services, and her team supported Birthday Dreams through a hands-on team activity. They purchased supplies for 200 goody bags and 200 friendship bracelet kits, assembled the items, and created more than 150 Pin the Candle on the Cupcake games. Their generosity and teamwork helped bring smiles to many, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.
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Gates Foundation
We were honored to be part of a team-building event hosted by the Immunization Team at the Gates Foundation. Grace Popelka, Program Assistant, coordinated this fun event for her colleagues. The team purchased supplies for 200 friendship bracelet kits and 200 goody bags, which they thoughtfully decorated and assembled. Their creativity and care will bring joy to the children we serve in the coming months.
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HASBRO
We were delighted to be invited to Hasbro’s Global Day of Joy, a companywide day of service. Invited by Donna Mink and organized by Shelly Mazzanoble, employees decorated and filled 300 goody bags, with toys and candy generously donated by Hasbro. A big thank you to HASBRO, Donna, Shelly and all of the employees who gave their time to brighten the days of the children we support.
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Kaiser
Misty Roberts, Manager of Talent Acquisition, led her team in supporting Birthday Dreams by spending two hours making birthday party hats for kids in need. This caring team chose to extend their holiday party by giving back to the community. Their generosity and spirit made a meaningful impact that will be felt by many children.
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Arena Sports Wednesday Night Women's Soccer League
We’re excited to share a new partnership with the Wednesday Night Women’s Soccer League at Arena Sports in Magnuson. The league purchased everything needed for goody bags and took time between games to assemble the bags. Thank you also to Arena Sports staff Derek and Charlie for providing space to assemble and store the goody bags. Your amazing "teamwork" is a game changer for kids in need!
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Aljoya Mercer Island
We are grateful for our continued partnership with Aljoya, a retirement community on Mercer Island. Over the holidays, the community hosted a giving tree benefiting Birthday Dreams; the support was truly heartwarming. Thanks to the generosity of the residents, many children will receive items from their wish lists in the months ahead.
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In Kind Donations
In-kind gifts, office and party supplies donations are always needed and appreciated. A big thank you to the individuals and organizations below for their generous donations last month:
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8- Bit Arcade
Adele Anderson
Alexa Medhus
Amazon SLX
Andrea Bates
Angelina Evans
Chanse Richardson
Emily Cheng
Emily Egashira
Eric Wright
EXP Group
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Greg Bannick
Gretchen Wingard
Hasbro Gaming
Jen Roberts
Jennifer Levin
Jill Slabey
Julie Salazar
Kari Hayden
Kyle Abels
Lanette Metcalf
Leah Battin
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Linda Zambrano
Lolly and Company
Lyla Smith
Mae Glover
Mary Simmonds
Michelle Shumskiy
Nguc Le
Priyanka Gaurav
Sally Eastey
Sandra Moore
Tre Sorelle Salon
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Our donor recognition Birthday Club members are a part of a special group of people who are making a real, tangible difference in the lives of homeless children. Their generosity directly and positively impacts the life of a homeless child and provides a gift of joy, dignity, self-esteem and hope.
Our thanks to the following new and renewing individuals and businesses who generously donated to Birthday Dreams in December 2025:
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Bill and Jane Ozuna
Cameron Stratton
Carmen Meeks
Charles and Susan Allison
Chris Brewer
Dale Rolf
Dharmesh Chauhan
Enterprise Mobility Foundation
Eric Barone
First Financial Northwest Foundation
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Heidi MacDonald
Innspace Matching Funds
Jackson Main Architecture, P.S.
Janine Chin
Jennine Ellis
John Neeleman
Karen and Gregg Middaugh
Laurel Jamison
Mark A McClure & Janet B McClure
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Mr. Lawrence & Mrs. Kincaid-Lawrence
Robert Louden
Sandra and Douglas Nalley
Sandy Gregory
Steve and Gail Kaneko
The Pinnacle Family Fund
The White Family Charitable Fund
Veritiv Corporation Matching Fund
| | Please consider joining our Birthday Club in 2026. Click here to learn more about our giving levels. Click here to donate. | | Volunteer Spotlight | Lauren Yasuda | | Lauren Yasuda discovered Birthday Dreams, while visiting another non-profit’s website. Lauren has been doing volunteer work for over 20 years with organizations like Old Dog Haven, North Helpline Lake City Foodbank, Hunger Intervention Program; recently retired from her long-term career as a community college biology instructor, she sought additional volunteer opportunities that would serve her North Seattle community. She was amazed by the number of children Birthday Dreams serves each week and was eager to get involved. | | | |
Lauren said, “I had always made my kids' birthday cakes when they were growing up, so I knew I'd enjoy cake baking and decorating for BD. I was especially inspired by the fact that I could make the cakes personalized according to each child's chosen theme, flavor, favorite colors, and interest. I enjoy the entire process of making a cake to help a child celebrate their birthday! It makes me feel good to imagine how happy and special kids would feel when they see and get to enjoy eating a cake made especially for them at their BD party.” Lauren's amazing cakes are always a hit. Her creations are regularly featured in the Awesome Cakes section of our newsletter; this month we've featured three of her most recent creations. Birthday Dreams is so thankful that she is now donating her time and talents to support our cause.
To those considering getting involved Lauren said, “there are multiple types of opportunities for people who would like to help…and it is so rewarding to be able to do something for the many homeless children and families who live in Western Washington.”
Empty nesters, Lauren and her husband love spending time wih their two cats Casper and Milo, and Old Dog Haven Final Refuge dog Romy (aka Romeo). In addition to volunteering Lauren also enjoys gardening, spending time with friends and visiting their son Nate and daughter-in-law Rose, and their daughter Sophie and her boyfriend Ben who live Portland OR.
| | Awesome Cakes Delivered with Love | | |
This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cake by Page Monji had a birthday boy turning five saying "Cowabunga!"
Nerf Rival Blasters, Marvel Team Spidey Flip and Reveal Cruiser, LEGOs and a skateboard helmet were among the gifts delivered.
| | These Paw Patrol cupcakes made by Carolyn Weger brought joy to a birthday boy turning three (and his friends). An assortment of Paw Patrol gifts, as well as a CAT Dump Truck, books, coloring supplies and a T-shirt were some of the gifts he recieved. | | This heart adorned Barbie princess cake was made with love by Holly Mihalyo. Mae McMullin delivered the cake and an assortment of Barbie-themed gifts including a cosmetic set, doll, clothes and playset to our five-year-old birthday girl. | | Light Up cake by Cherrie Smith | | Disco cake by Cathy Footer | | | Gaming cake by Lauren Yasuda | | Barbie cake by Lauren Yasuda | | Stars cake by Lauren Yasuda | | |
Onsite Party Volunteers Needed
Shelter parties allow us to celebrate a number of children at one time. We bring food, games, goody bags, and gifts to the shelter, and facilitate a great party for the birthday children and their families. Sign up here to volunteer to help.
- Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, January 11- age 18+
- YWCA Passage Point in Maple Valley | Wednesday, January 28
- LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, February 7
- Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, February 8- age 18+
- YWCA Passage Point in Maple Valley | Wednesday, February 28
- LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, March13
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Volunteer Orientation and Opportunities to Help
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to join the Birthday Dreams family! To learn more about current opportunities, please contact Jordan Martinez, Operations Director.
If you’re interested in getting involved but not sure where to start, we offer 30-minute virtual orientations for new volunteers, as well as the option to schedule a tour of our Renton office at your convenience.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
A list of upcoming parties and party needs can be found here.
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Other Ways to Help | Office and Party Supply Needs
Our Amazon Wish List is updated weekly, allowing us to better serve Birthday Dreams' kids by making sure they have some great gifts from their personal wish lists. Click on this link or scan the QR code to see our current needs, which include toddler toys, scooters, art supplies and sports balls!
Did you know that you can use Amazon to set up 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.
Please include your name and email when using the Amazon wish list so we know who to thank.
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VENMO or Text Your Donation
We accept donations through VENMO. The QR code will take you directly to our page.
You can also donate by texting “birthdaydreams” to 366283.
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Donate Stocks
Did you know that you can donate stocks to Birthday Dreams? Lots of tax benefits to the donor. Click here to learn more
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At Birthday Dreams, we believe that every child deserves to feel special on their birthday. We work tirelessly to bring hope, joy, and a sense of self-worth to homeless children with the gift of a birthday party. We understand that a birthday party may seem like a small gesture, but to these children, it means the world.
Our parties are more than just cake and presents. They are a celebration of life, of resilience, and of the human spirit. They are a reminder that no child is forgotten, and that every child deserves to be seen, heard, and loved.
Thank you to all our donors and volunteers who bring so much joy to the children we serve.
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