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News, Updates & Opportunities
December 2025
| | Before the Ball Drops Let Generosity Rise | |
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Your Last Gift of 2025 | Their First Smile of 2026
As we approach the close of 2025, we humbly ask for continued support from our valued community of donors. Your gift, whether $50, $150, $500, or more, will enable Birthday Dreams to sustain its vital programs as we operate at full capacity during this final month of the year and will ensure that we are well-positioned to bring the joy of birthday celebrations to even more children in 2026.
To contribute, please visit our secure donation page on our website and put "Dream25" in the "what inspired you to donate box". To donate stocks, please reach out to Chris Spahn. Together, we can keep the dream alive and make a BIG difference in the lives of homeless children!
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Birthday Dreams Feature in Seattle's Child Magazine
We’re honored to be featured in Seattle’s Child magazine’s “Makers of Community” edition! This special issue spotlights 16 organizations whose creative solutions strengthen neighborhoods, build connections, and help families thrive — and we’re proud to be among them.
In the article, Program Manager Robbie Green shares why the work of Birthday Dreams is deeply personal for our team: “We’re the village for people sometimes. We all have pretty much a story of utilizing the services prior to being an employee here, which helps us put the love back into the community.” Read the full feature on page 28 of the magazine.
We’re so proud of our team, our volunteers, and everyone who helps make birthday dreams come true!
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Santa Photos | December 14
Haven't gotten your family photos with Santa yet? Or just want a bit more "Santa Cheer" this year? We've got an event for you. Santa Photos for our Cause.
Our amazing Board Member, Jenn Warrick has organized this event to support the work Birthday Dreams does for the most vulnerable children in our community.
To be a part of the holiday magic, just bring a donation of $15 donation or a new unwrapped toy.
When: Sunday, December 14 from 5pm to 7pm
Where: Real Property Management Today
210 N. Meridian, Puyallup 98371
PLEASE RSVP: Santapop4BD@gmail.com
| | | A big thank you to Jenn, her family, and sponsors organizing this event and spreading generosity, awareness, and holiday cheer! | |
Have a "Beary" Merry Christmas
This month, if you purchase a toy bear at Learning Express Toys and Gifts, $5 from that purchase will be donated back to Birthday Dreams. What a great way for folks to shop local, spread cheer, and help make birthdays brighter this Holiday season!
Learning Express is located at Landing in Renton.
840 N. 10th Place, Suite A
Renton, WA
425.264.3606
Our thanks to Learning Express, which also hosted a day of holiday shopping on November 29 where 20% of purchase proceeds were donated to Birthday Dreams. We truly appreciate their continued partnership.
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A pregnant mother of three arrived in King County after fleeing a domestic violence situation. After short stays with family, she has found stability and sanctuary at a shelter, where she now resides, and as her daughter's birthday approached, she was guided toward Birthday Dreams for assistance. The mother was overwhelmed by tailor made Birthday-in-a-Box that was delivered, she provided this feedback:
"I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the cake that was provided...[my daughter] loves butterflies so much and when the package arrived, she was wearing a Butterly dress that matched the cake. It was so special and something she (and I) will remember forever. The difference it made will be long-lasting as it helped to blur the lines between the life we knew and our current situation."
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!
Birthday Dreams is growing — and we’re looking to add new fundraising events like a golf tournament, trivia nights, etc. so that we can bring even more birthday joy to children experiencing homelessness!
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
Golfers - we need your ideas and expertise!
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 partners:
- Enterprise Mobility Foundation - $2500
| | Community Support and Recognition | |
Thai Nguyen & AIG 7th Annual Toy & Coat Drive
Guests of the 7th Annual event, held December 7 were entertained with games, arts and crafts, and treated to a festive family photo with Santa! Donations were so plentiful it took multiple “sleigh rides” to Birthday Dreams to deliver the haul.
We are deeply grateful to Thai and her AIG colleagues for their ongoing partnership and for spreading generosity, awareness, and holiday cheer throughout our community.
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Jackson Main Architecture
Since January, Jackson Main Architecture has held a monthly donation drive as a fun-spirited philanthropic competition amongst colleagues – and Birthday Dreams was the beneficiary. Over $1650 was raised, as well as a lot of awareness of our cause. Our sincere thanks to the team at Jackson Main Architecture for their amazing support throughout the entirety of 2025!
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Movement Mortgage
Our generous friends over at Movement Mortgage were at it again! This past month, they organized a toy donation drive for us, resulting in $1,000 in donated items including scooters, footballs, PlayDoh and Hot Wheels, board games, blocks, and Barbie dolls – all of which will make many birthday wishes come true this year. Thank You Movement Mortgage!
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The Knights of Columbus Council #11642
Founded in 1882, The Knights of Columbus has a mission of charity. Their Coats for Kids program, launched in 2009, has distributed over one million coats to children in need. This year, Council #11642, affiliated with Saint Monica's Catholic Church in Mercer Island distributed hundreds of coats to numerous charities and individuals in the greater South Sound region, including Birthday Dreams.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Greg Bannick and his Knights of Columbus chapter for their many years of support!
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Gates Foundation Grants and Services
We were thrilled to be invited to an end-of-year event at the Gates Foundation Grants and Services. They truly know how to throw a party while giving back—generously donating supplies for and assembling 200 goody bags. They even thoughtfully selected party items to match the s’mores and rainbow themed bags they purchased. We’re deeply grateful for their creativity, generosity, and support.
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Regence
We would like to thank Kim Bosch at Regence for arranging a wonderful service event for her team, who generously sponsored supplies for 200 birthday party goody bags. More than 30 volunteers came together to thoughtfully assemble the bags, making a meaningful impact for the children we serve. We’re deeply grateful for their support and dedication.
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Sammamish Valley Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
For this community service event, community members joined women from the Sammamish Valley Washington Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to volunteer. Led by Jen Roberts, these incredible volunteers created more than 130 birthday party hats and decorated candles for our Pin the Candle on the Cupcake game. We are so grateful for their time, creativity, and heartfelt support.
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Essex
We were honored to be invited back to Essex for a day of service. Their teams assembled friendship bracelet kits and created birthday party hats, contributing their time and creativity to support the children we serve. Thank you to Jennifer Escalante for the invitation.
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Additional Recognition
We would also like to thank the following organizations for volunteering in November.
Cub Scout Pack 578
Hope Church NW
Rosa Parks Elementary
Woodinville High School
And as always, thank you also to all the amazing individuals who so generously donated their time in November.
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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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Alicia Saetern
Andrea Bates
Gates Foundation
Charles Meredith
Ellie Diaz
Emily Egashira
Greg Bannick
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Harry Teasley
Jamie Cadenas
Janet Boyd
Kamila Woods
McKenna Goodson
Movement Mortgage
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Pam Rosendahl
Rebecca Redd
Robbie Green
Sally Eastey
Wende Wahl
ZIA
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Our thanks to the new and renewing individuals and businesses who generously donated to Birthday Dreams in November 2025. If you would like to become a Birthday Club member, please consider joining us. Click here to become a member.
Coal Creek Family YMCA
Garneau-Nicon Family Foundation
Jill & Andy McGovern
Keegan Lynch and Hayley Griffin
Mike & Alene Moore
Robert Akers
Stephen & Mary Birch Foundation
The CLOROX Company
Windows of Hope Foundation
The Birthday Club is our donor recognition society. As a Birthday Club member, you are a part of a special group of people who are making a real, tangible difference in the troubled lives of homeless children. Your generosity directly and positively impacts the life of a homeless child and provides a gift of joy, dignity, self-esteem and hope.
| | | | Volunteer Spotlight | Nejoom Almansuri | | Nejoom Almansuri learned about Birthday Dreams in October 2025. She said “From moment I heard about the mission, something in me softened. It spoke to a part of my heart that has always believed that every person—especially a child—deserves to feel special, seen, and celebrated on their birthday. Baking has always been more than just a hobby for me. It’s a way of creating joy with my own hands. The idea that one of my cakes could bring even a moment of happiness to someone who truly needs it moved me deeply. That’s why I got involved.Being involved with Birthday Dreams fills me with gratitude on a level that’s hard to describe. Each cake I make isn’t just frosting and decorations—it’s love, care, and intention poured into something that will become a memory for someone else. Thinking about a child smiling because of something I made… it humbles me. It reminds me that kindness is powerful, and that joy can be shared in the smallest, sweetest ways.” | | | |
Nejoom, who lives in Marysville, shared vulnerability that the last few years had been some of the hardest she’d faced. She has been baking and decorating cakes since 2016, and it always brought her joy, but in 2024, life became overwhelming and baking sadly lost its spark. She said “Baking has become healing for me again. It helps me breathe, it helps me hope, and it helps me give joy to others even on days when I’m still learning to find it for myself.” In addition to sharing her talent with Birthday Dreams, Nejoom is working at a local bakery she says is also “filled with love, positivity, and support—something I needed more than I realized. Being there has helped me reconnect with the part of myself that finds peace, purpose, and happiness in creating something beautiful for others.”
To those considering volunteering with Birthday Dreams Nejoom said, “It is worth everything you put into it. You might think you’re just giving a little bit of time or effort, but to the person receiving it, it can mean the world.”
We are so grateful for wonderful volunteers like Nejoom who give of themselves with such a true and genuine heart.
| | Kids Helping Kids | Kaitlyn Basom | | |
In September 2024, Kaitlyn Basom’s Girl Scout Troop volunteered at a Birthday Dreams party. That was when she learned about the organization. Kaitlyn helped to set up the party and did face painting. She said, “The kids were so excited, and I loved seeing how something as simple as a birthday celebration could make such a big difference for kids and their families.”
Entering her sophomore year at Gibson Ek High School, Kaitlyn started thinking about internship opportunities. She reflected on her time with us and decided to learn more about Birthday Dreams. She reached out for information and that meeting turned into an internship. Among other activities, Kaitlyn helps keep us organized around the office and assists with inventory. She brings a youthful joy and energy to everything she does.
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Of the experience, Kaitlyn said, “Everyone at Birthday Dreams has been really kind and welcoming, and being involved makes me feel proud, inspired, and connected to my community. Helping at that first party showed me how meaningful this work is. Knowing that my effort can help give a child a special day makes me want to keep contributing. Every time I help at Birthday Dreams, I feel happy, useful, and part of something positive.”
In her free time Kaitlyn loves to draw and create art and crafts, and makes jewelry and hair accessories, which she sells at local craft fairs. She also loves reading comic books and hopes to someday be a comic book writer and artist. In the summer, she is a volunteer Girl Scout camp counselor.
Birthday Dreams values and appreciates kids helping kids, we love having Kaitlyn as an intern and appreciate her sharing her time and energy to bring hope and joy to children in need.
| | Awesome Cakes Delivered with Love | | The crown that topped this "princess" cake by Claris Winston was the perfect fit for a birthday girl turning seven. Mae McMullin delivered the bejeweled dessert along with gifts, which included Disney Bluetooth headphones, Tiana and Barbie dolls, Kaleidoscope coloring book and markers, and a makeup compact. | | |
This elegantly decorated "pretty in pink" cake was made by Jen Falli for a lucky 17-year old girl.
The birthday girl also received Squishmallows, earrings, a Monopoly board game, and an Amazon gift card, which were delivered by Becky Nickels.
| | Jill Slabey made "this in the wild" cake for a 15-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy to share. The birthday kiddos also received a Wings of Fire- The Dark Secret, tiger skin rug, board games, pickleball set, NERF blasters, Squishmallows, and more. Cindy Liddle made the special delivery. | | Galaxy cake by Chris Wells. | | Butterfly sheet cake by Cherie Katana. | | Sprinkled with Love cupcakes by Cherrie Smith. | | Hello Kitty cake by Cathy Footer. | | Paw Patrol cake by Jamie Kang. | | Unicorn 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.
- LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, Dec 13 from 11am – 1pm
- Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, Dec 14 from 2:30pm-4:30pm (must be 18+)
- LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, Jan 03 from 11am – 1pm
- Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, Jan 11 from 2:30pm-4:30pm (must be 18+)
- YWCA Passage Point in Maple Valley | Wednesday, Jan 31 from 6 – 8 pm
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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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