Renton River Days - July 26 & 27

Renton River Days is right around the corner. Birthday Dreams would love to have your help at our booth. Help us spread the word about Birthday Dreams mission. Sign up to volunteer!

Randall Morris Foundation Events

Birthday Dreams is pleased to be once again a beneficiary of the trio of annual events hosted by The Randall Morris Foundation; the June 28 poker tournament was a big success, and the two events below are right around the corner. Get your tickets today!

• September 7 |18th Annual Celebrity Gala & Auction in Seattle
• September 8 | Celebrity Golf Tournament in Renton

The parent feedback we receive is a constant reminder of the importance of our work. We want you to be aware of the difference you make, so we are sharing it with you:

"My children and I are victims of domestic violence, although we are safe and free from abuse, life can be challenging. Being a single parent of three is challenging, and a financial struggle...holidays and birthdays are stressful because I can't always afford gifts." [My child's reaction when he learned he would be able to celebrate his birthday was] excitement and joy...the staff [at Birthday Dreams] did an amazing job with gift selection and the cake was beautiful. Creating memories with the gifts and cake supply, plus they are valued and important. Thank you."

With your continued support, we are committed to bringing hope and joy to the community we serve through the gift of a birthday celebration.

Call for Gala Auction Items

Funds raised at our annual Gala of Dreams provide a large portion of our operating revenue, and a huge part of the Gala's success hinges on the auction. We need your help to gather the best silent and live auction items we can!  

F5

We are grateful to Alison Hinojosa and Dar Kraft for introducing us to F5 in Seattle. We were invited to a team event where volunteers put together over 200 goody bags. It was a fun event where everyone had the opportunity to catch up and give back to the community. F5 generously donated the supplies for the bags, and there was enough left for an additional 200 bags! Thank you to everyone who participated.

Microsoft Device Operations

We were so excited when Stephanie Deas invited us back to work with Microsoft Device Operations once again. One of the best compliments our Community Events Team receives is when we are invited back to partner with an amazing team who understands the mission and is ready to help! The team generously purchased supplies and assembled 90 friendship bracelet kits. We can’t thank them enough!

Shorewood Cheer Team

Thank you to Carly Mallow for introducing us to the fabulous Shorewood Cheer Team. They worked together to build over 60 Friendship Bracelet Kits! These fun, wearable craft kits will be sent to upcoming birthday parties for kids to enjoy. We love that you are helping us make special memories for the families we support.

U Prep

The Community Service Team at U Prep, brought together by Fabi Kirst and Amy Knobbs, spent an evening of service with students and families making birthday party hats. This was our first time partnering together, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Along with their hard work on the hats, they generously donated juice boxes for upcoming parties. We can’t wait to partner with them again. Thank you to the U Prep community.

Whole Foods West Seattle

It was our pleasure to welcome the West Seattle Whole Foods Culture Champions to the Birthday Dreams Office. This amazing team, led by Juliet Owen, arrived at our office with over 150 birthday gifts for kids in need! This was a great surprise; we couldn’t wait to start fulfilling birthday wishes with the gifts. The culture champions also gave of their time, spending the morning in our office, helping us prepare items for upcoming parties. Thank you so much for everything!

Capital One

We were thrilled to be contacted by Morgan Spencer, Senior Program Manager in Brand Marketing for Capital One. She and a colleague were looking for volunteer activities for an upcoming meeting in Richmond, Virginia. They generously purchased the necessary supplies and led their co-workers in making goody bags and friendship bracelet kits. We received their completed bags and kits just days after the meeting. Thank you!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bellevue South Stake

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Debbie Briggs and the students who attended The Valiant Activity Camp. Campers made over 400 birthday party hats, with stickers that were generously donated, and assembled 250+ teen goody bags. The kids were shown a short Birthday Dreams video and loved finding out who would benefit from their service. We are grateful for all their hard work!

Highlands Church

Thank you so much to Highlands Community Church for including Birthday Dreams in their annual Serve Our City Day. 16 volunteers registered to put together goody bags for upcoming birthday parties. We appreciate Highlands Church for being ambassadors for our cause, and the volunteers who donated their time to bring hope and joy to children in need.

12-year-old Adriana Mealy got involved with Birthday Dreams at the age of eight when she would help her mother make cakes/cupcakes. Four years later she is still at it, only now she can bake and decorate baked goods all on her own! 

Adriana says “I love to decorate the cakes. My favorite theme to bake is Mickey Mouse, because I love to pipe Mickey or Minnie faces onto the cakes. I have a big cake pan that makes the cake look like Mickey or Minnie's face!” 

Of baking and decorating cakes for Birthday Dreams, she says, “I feel like I can help kids like me and make them happy! I would say to others that if you like making cakes, you would also like to do this, and it is fulfilling to feel like you are doing something to help the world. You can make cakes for other kids who are your age, and you can think about how you like cakes on your birthday, and how they would like a cake for their birthday, too.”

Twyla Stephens is the party coordinator for our onsite party at YWCA Passage Point. She learned about Birthday Dreams at last year’s Renton River Days event, where Birthday Dreams had a booth. Twyla said, “They were asking for volunteers to throw parties for homeless children, and I thought it was a fantastic idea. When I think of the needs of children and families who are living in a shelter, it's overwhelming. Throwing a party for a child is simple, but it brings so much joy. I don't think they'll ever forget it. I love watching them open their presents.”

When asked about a favorite moment volunteering, she said, “When one of the girls was painting my face. I had no idea what she was going to paint. Then I look in the mirror and see Shrek. It was hilarious.”

Twyla, who enjoys spending time with her family and relishes summer nights around the bonfire with them, loves that her daughter can volunteer too. For anyone thinking about getting involved with Birthday Dreams, she said, “It's very fun and it makes a difference. I love to bring my daughter along. She gets to learn about giving back and also have fun with the children.” 

Thank you, Twyla for all you do for Birthday Dreams and the community we serve.