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News, Updates & Opportunities
July 2023
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The Gala of Dreams Tickets on Sale Now | October 14 | | |
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The Birthday Dreams’ 2023 Gala of Dreams is on Saturday, October 14th and will be held at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington. This year we will host 450 guests in the gorgeous Grand Ballroom!
The Gala will once again be hosted by our dynamic duo of entertainers, Brooke Fox (Emcee) and Ron Hippe (Auctioneer).
The semi-formal attire event will feature appetizers and musical entertainment provided by The Tasty Waves during the cocktail hour.
Of course, the Gala will feature an incredible line-up of live and silent auction items, a delightful dinner, guest speakers, raise-the-paddle, dessert dash, and will end with a raffle drawing where participants can win round-trip airfare anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. More information about the evening can be found on the event website.
Special discounts for Hyatt hotel accommodations are available for attendees.
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Tickets are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis – so get your tickets today by clicking the link below or scanning the QR Code to the right.
TICKETS
Per person tickets - $125
Table of 10 - $1,250
The ultimate goal of the Gala this year is to have a fun and successful event that will benefit the 1,500+ homeless children that we serve each year. It promises to be a night to remember, and we hope to see you there on October 14th!
If you have any Gala-related questions, please contact our Development Director, Jarod Drozdowski, at (425) 524-4705 or [email protected].
Other opportunities to help with the Gala:
Volunteer at the Gala
Make a Cash Donation to Support the Event
Become a Gala Sponsor
Donate a Themed Basket
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Return to Renton Car Show | July 9
Check out the Return to Renton Car Show this Sunday, July 9th from 10am-4pm at Piazza Park in Downtown Renton. More information about the event can be found on the Return to Renton Car Show website.
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Renton River Days | July 21
Come say hi to us at Renton River Days on Friday, July 21st from 10am-5pm at Liberty Park. More information about the event can be found on the Renton River Days website.
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In remembrance of Geri Buchman | |
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A bright and shining light has been lost and we at Birthday Dreams want to pay tribute, in honor and remembrance, to a long-time volunteer, Geri Buchman.
Geri started volunteering at Birthday Dreams in early 2013. She loved our mission stating, “I was touched by the thoughtfulness of this organization and hope to participate in bringing joy to the children who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to celebrate their birthday. Since I have recently retired, my schedule could allow me to volunteer in a variety of duties.”
She indeed fulfilled her wish to help in so many ways. Over her years of dedicated involvement, Geri volunteered at onsite parties, personally wrote literally thousands of thank you notes, wrapped thousands of gifts, and so much more! She used her extraordinary talent to create beautiful gift baskets each year for our annual fundraising gala, with her gorgeous bows and personal touches, Geri was honored as the very first recipient of Birthday Dreams Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award in 2018.
But more than that, and most importantly, Geri became a very good and close friend to many of us over her years of volunteering. She was someone who you could talk to, hang out with, and call whenever you needed a friend. She is, and will be, very missed by all of us here at Birthday Dreams, and by anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing her. We love and miss you, Geri!
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From left to right is Geri Buchman, Andrea
Bates, and Shannon Avery (Co-founder)
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The feedback below was provided by a mother who was able to give her son a birthday party to remember, thanks to Birthday Dreams. This is why, with your support, we continue to do what we do.
“This service has been an amazing blessing for our family. I would have not been able to provide anything for them on their birthdays if it was not for Birthday Dreams. I think for a parent there is a lot of shame in the situation we have ended up in. Birthday Dreams help take some of the stress off of a day that should be for celebrating.” – LT
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We are now accepting donations through VENMO. The QR code will take you directly to our page.
You can now also text to donate by texting “birthdaydreams” to 366283.
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Community Support and Recognition | |
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Will Run for Beer 5K - We are excited to be a part of this year’s “Will Run for Beer 5K” on Sunday, July 30th. Birthday Dreams is honored to be selected as the benefitting charity of this fundraiser.
All participants get to enjoy a craft beer from Dubtown Brewing and Four Generals Brewing, as well as goodies and giveaways from their partners and sponsors. Registration is limited, so sign up today!
We are looking for three volunteers to help run our information booth and the award booth at the finish line of the event. If you are interested in helping out, please contact [email protected].
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Movement Mortgage | GraceWorks Grant Award - Last month, eight members of the Movement Mortgage Renton branch stopped by our office to give us a reason to celebrate: a $10,000 check!
"Philanthropy is our 'Why,'" says Greg Anderson, Branch Manager of Movement Mortgage in Renton. "We use a significant portion of our profits, through Movement Foundation, to uplift others and lead a movement of change in our industry, in corporate culture, and in communities."
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Birthday Dreams is the recipient of one of ten 2023 "GraceWorks" grants, chosen from thousands of nonprofits nationwide that were nominated by Movement employees at branches in 50 states. Birthday Dreams was nominated by Sheri Schluter, as a matching grant for money to be raised at the 2023 Gala of Dreams.
Birthday Dreams is honored to have been selected for this award. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire Movement Mortgage team for this generous gift!
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Nothing Bundt Cakes in Tukwila celebrated their one-year Anniversary on June 9th and Birthday Dreams was the charity of choice for this point-of-sale fundraiser, which raised over $850!
Our thanks to Margi, and the entire Nothing Bundt Cakes team, for organizing this event!
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Susan and Roger Atlas - We would like to thank Susan and Roger for their continued donations of books for our Birthday Dreamers! Susan and Roger have expressed their intention to provide books to our cause whenever we need them, and they sure do deliver! Our sincere appreciation to the Atlas’ family for their support! | |
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KING 5 / TEGNA Foundation - KING 5 hosted eight local nonprofits for a special celebration honoring them as winners of TEGNA Foundation grant awards. Birthday Dreams was fortunate to be one of those eight nonprofits!
Our thanks to the KING 5 / TEGNA Foundation staff and crew for supporting us and all of the other great nonprofits doing amazing work in our community. We will certainly put this $2,500 grant to good use!
Check out the TV segment that Chris Cashman produced, featuring our very own Chris Spahn.
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Other Donations
Thank you to the following companies for their donations last month:
- 8-Bit held a toy drive for us and donated 13 items. They have held 6 toy drives for Birthday Dreams since 2014.
- Amazon: Logistics for Good donated a $2,500 gift card
- Lolly & Company donated 31 toys and gifts. We appreciate their continued support!
Thank you to all the individuals who donated to our birthday children this past month as well!
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Onsite Parties
We are always looking for help at our onsite hosted parties. If you are able to help volunteer, please sign up to assist with one of our seven monthly parties. Since our newsletter last month, we have added one more hosted onsite party to our list.
Union Gospel Mission - Hope Place - Seattle | Leslie Feller as Party Coordinator: A variety of volunteers, including Executive Director Chris Spahn, have hosted parties at this location since August 2009. They transitioned to Birthday-in-a-Box from March 2020 through March 2022 due to Covid and then again in December 2022 through this month. Leslie will begin hosting this location in August 2023.
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Each month Birthday Dreams receives grant awards from our terrific foundation partners. Without their support, we could not do what we do. Over the past month, we received grants from the below partners. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity!
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Kids Helping Kids | NCL Lake Washington | |
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National Charity League (NCL) Lake Washington Chapter is a mother / daughter volunteer group who has volunteered with Birthday Dreams for several years now. They collected candy, donated party supplies, and made countless goody bags for birthday parties during Covid. Last summer, they were finally able to go back to in-person birthday parties and they say that they love it! Each month, four mother / daughter pairs volunteer to bring all the birthday party supplies to an onsite location and organize, set up, decorate, lead games, do face painting, monitor the bouncy house, sing Happy Birthday, pass out ice cream and cupcakes, give gifts to the birthday children (or child) that month, and pass out goody bags before they clean up. They have been running this hosted onsite party for a year now.
The Party Coordinator, Shelley Helms says, “We love coming in monthly to see the kids and their families and are so lucky that we get to celebrate their birthdays with them! The smiles on the kids and parents faces make our hearts so happy and have us looking forward to each time that we get to share with them and also makes us want to do more to help with Birthday Dreams.”
In addition to helping at the parties, their group has made party hats, goody bags, wrapped presents, collected and donated tons of candy throughout the year, and also plans to volunteer at the gala in October.
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Volunteer Spotlight | Daniel Brewis | |
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Daniel Brewis started volunteering for Birthday Dreams in February 2023 and has delivered for us every month since then, including seven times in April and thirteen in May. He has stepped up for us multiple times whenever we needed help, whether picking up a large donation or making deliveries at the last-minute, including a couple of large onsite parties. He has ever already signed up to deliver another large onsite party next month.
Here’s what he had to say about why he decided to volunteer for us and why he continues to do so… “Thank you! That's an honor to be considered. I am a retired builder. I have six grandkids that I spoil the heck out of. One of my daughters told me about Birthday Dreams and I checked it out. After making the first few deliveries it became clear that there are countless kids out there pretty much invisible to the public. They need love and respect like everyone else. I am more than happy to help deliver to these kids.”
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Awesome Cakes Delivered with Love | |
This rainbow cake was baked by Olivia and Kristy Berrett, a mother and daughter baking team, for a ten-year-old girl. Gifts included Scrunchies, Ribsy Book, Large Colored / Sketching Pencils Set, Sorry Board Game, Bubbles, and Dive Balls. Everything was delivered by Patricia Gloster. | |
This six-year-old boy got this Hot Wheels Cake (with racetrack and cars) by one of our newer bakers, Donna Jordan. Gifts included a Police Blocks Building Set, Vet Van Rescue Legos, Max Traxxx Marble Racer Vehicle, Turbo Wheels Die Cast Vehicles, Brain Teaser Puzzle, Football Jigsaw Puzzle with Matching Poster, and Melissa and Doug Monster Truck Kit Craft. Everything was delivered by Daniel Brewis, this month’s Volunteer of the Month. | |
This ten-year-old female artist got this colorful cake baked by Kristina Tomalesky. A Leotard, Arts and Crafts (Sketching Set, Sketchbook, Jumbo Mandala Coloring Poster, and Washable Markers), Unicorn Beauty Set, and LED Light Chain Décor were all provided by Rebecca Sosby. Everything was delivered by Sonja Banks, a new volunteer. | |
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Tie Dye Cake
by Kristen Nilsen
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Mandalorian Cake
by Maritza Garcia
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Rainbow Cake
by Carolyn Weger
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Hot Wheels Cake
by Jackie Muir
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Mermaid Cake
by Denise Mealy
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Spa Cake
by Karen Criddle
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Volunteer Orientation and Opportunities
If you are interested in becoming a Birthday Dreams volunteer, sign up to attend a brief in-person orientation by emailing our Volunteer Coordinator, Dalia Silverstein, at [email protected].
- Tuesday, July 11 from 6PM - 7PM
- Saturday, July 15 from 11AM - 12PM
- Tuesday, August 15 from 6PM - 7PM
- Saturday, August 19 from 11AAM - 12PM
Contact our Community Events Coordinator, Leah Battin, at [email protected] for team building and service project opportunities.
Cake bakers of all experience levels are needed! Contact [email protected] for details.
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 for our birthday children:
- Amazon Fire Tablets
- Ink Pens
- Video Games (PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One)
- RC Cars
- Board Games for all ages, but teenagers specifically
- LOL Dolls
- Slime Kits
- Hello Kitty Items
- Jewelry Making Kits
- Coloring Books for girls and boys
- Spring / Summer Toys (no bubbles please)
- Water Balloons
- Sprinklers
- Inflatable Pools (including baby pools)
- Slip and Slides
- Floaties
- Squirt Guns
- Beach Toys / Sand Toys
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/pouches)
- Large gift bags, clothing boxes and bows
- Gift Cards in $10 - $25 denominations
- Art Supplies
- Baby / Toddler Learning Toys
- Sports Balls (footballs, basketballs, and soccer balls)
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A big Birthday Dreams thank you to all of our new and renewing Birthday Club members this past month:
Adient Foundation
AnLee Cox
Bella's Cookie Co
CaSea John LLC
Chick-Fil-A
Congregation Beth Jacob & Irving Levin Jewish Center
Edrington
Fazlollah Arian
Gaurav Doshi
Herzl-Ner Tamid
Hubbard Family Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
John Berkeley
Kelsey Mejlaender
KM Foundation / Movement Mortgage
Lanette Allen
Priya and Kumar Priyadarshini
Southwest Investment, Inc.
Tacoma Rotary Fundraising
TEGNA Foundation
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Beta Delta Chapter
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A complete list of our 2023 Birthday Club Members can be found on our Birthday Club page. If you are not a current Birthday Club member and would like to join, please click here to donate. | |
Thank You Gala of Dreams Sponsors
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