News, Updates & Opportunities

October 2025

A very special shout-out and heartfelt thank you to:

• Our Gala of Dreams sponsors — we truly couldn’t do it without you! Your generosity and partnership make it possible for Birthday Dreams to continue bringing joy to children experiencing homelessness.

• The incredible volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this year’s gala so special. From setup to cleanup and every detail in between, your hard work and heart made the night shine.

• The Gala décor team, whose creativity and talent transformed the space and made the event both fun and inviting — your vision set the perfect tone for a night of celebration and joy!

We encourage you to support our sponsors' businesses and let them know you’re there because they supported Birthday Dreams. 

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. 

Help Us Keep the Story Going — Join Our Social Media Team!

For the past few years, a team of four incredible high school students brought Birthday Dreams to life online — sharing stories of joy, celebration, and hope. They’ve now moved on to college (we’re so proud of them!), and we’re looking for the next wave of creative voices to carry the torch!

If you love social media, storytelling, and making a difference, we’d love to have you on our Social Media Team. We’re looking for volunteers who can:

• Create engaging content (photos, short videos, stories, reels, posts)
• Help schedule and post updates on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Bring new ideas to showcase the impact of Birthday Dreams

Whether you’re a student, creative professional, or community volunteer, this is a fun and meaningful way to give back — and build real experience along the way.

If you’re interested, contact Chris Spahn at chris@birthdaydreams.org.

Let’s keep the celebration going — one post at a time! 

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

If you’re interested in joining the team or learning more, contact Brandi Martinez at brandi@birthdaydreams.org. 

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:

The Florence B. Kilworth Foundation - $1,000

Randall Morris Foundation - $4,500 

Wizards of the Coast

We are so excited about this new partnership! Thank you to Donna Mink for inviting Birthday Dreams to benefit from an afternoon of volunteering hosted by Shelly Mazzanoble at Wizards of the Coast. They graciously donated all the supplies for 300 birthday party goody bags including their own amazing games. Volunteers spent the afternoon decorating and filling the bags that will be sent to many future parties. 

Old Friends Club

Ann Verbeck provided this amazing opportunity for us to partner with the Old Friends Club on Mercer Island. Volunteers gathered to decorate birthday party hats. Their thoughtful work is appreciated, and the kids are going to love these hats. 

Shout Out

Thank you to Denise Mealy and her family for their thoughtful work making party hats and to Jenn Warrick and friends for making ribbons.

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:

• Emily Egashira
• Sally Eastey
• Boy Scout Troop 711
• Wizards of the Coast
• Pfizer Inc.
• Priyanka Gaurav
• Angelina Evans
• Andrea Bates
• Kari Blanton
• Dianna Madison
• Susan Holmberg
• Jill Slabey
• Laura Wilson
• Randal Morris
• Laurel Tomchick

Adele Anderson

Amanda & Keith Klein

Amanda Medhaug

Amer Ramovic

Amir Taherazer

Angie & Jimm Elliott

Anna Weber

Arika & Brooks Josephson

Armondo & Angela Pavone

Avnit Chand

Barbara Del Beccaro

BECU Seattle

Benjamin & Sydney Tyree

Bill & Kate Morris

Bill Ozuna Sr & Jane Ozuna

Binderiya Naimdii

Brad & Claudia Barton

Brandi & Gabriel Martinez

Brandon & Maggie Au

Bryan White

Cathy & Milt Footer

Cathy Miller

Christina & Mark Jarvis

Christina & Yung Lee

Christine Barnes

Christy & Sean Brogan

Cindy Tsend-Ayush Bayanmunkh

Clint Weber

Colleen Macaulay

Craig & Kari Hayden

Dana Visser

Darcy Exley

Dave Seymour

Dawn & JayDee Dohrmann

Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho

Dean & Sheila Josephson

Dee Burris

Derek Sciba

Diana Thronsen

Diane Lee & Jas Walia

Diane Tien

Dickson Harding

Eddie & Holly Jezek

Erin Medved Burnham

Erinann Childress

Franco & Jamie Phillips

Gagan Rekhi

Gail Clark

Greg Scott Jones

Guy Roberts & Sherry Ernst

Haleigh Whitehead

Hannah Knick

Heather Cartwright

Jamie Mark

Jason & Sherry Schluter

Jazmine Cabral

Jen Larsen

Jennifer Dressing

Jeremy & Tamara Paul

Jessica Nasset

Jim & Pauline Proulx

Joe & Michelle Sievers

Joe Wolf

John & Susie Shepard

Julie Hamm

Julie Sanborn

Karina Kawaguchi

Kathy Smith

Katie Trout

Keith & Lindsay McManus

Kelly Souza

Ken & Karen Johnston

Kenny Macdougall & Sylvia Hawthorne

Kim Thunen

Kurt Weber

Lance Stevens

Leah Battin

Linda Floyd

Lisa Elner

Marsha Lake

Mary Fischer

Mary Koontz

Mary Morales

Mary Wittman

Mechelle Lange

Mike Dalton

Morgan Charnley

Nicole & Paul Lowe

Noel Acab

Paul & Jennifer Warrick

Preet Rekhi

Randall & Amanda Morris

Renee Knick

Rick & Patty Hanson

Rick & Teri Katzer

Rob Sides

Robert Grey

Rong Choy

Ryan & Tamara Berndt

Sarah Dorscht

Sarah Rockwell

Sarah Smith

Sarah Wood Utter

Shelley Whelan

Sherry & William Weber

Simon Powley

Sooji Hartzell & Tim Large

Steve & Donna Wong

Sundee Scouta

Susan Barham

Sylvia Hawthorne

Tamara Paul

Tapco Credit Union

Tasha Irvine

Teresa Kuzmer

The Florence B. Kilworth Foundation

Thrivent

Torin & Amber Bainter

Tre Sorelle Salon

Vlad Moskalenko

Wynne Mentink

Volunteer of the Year | Laurel Tomchick

This basketball cake by Tasha Kammerzell scored big points with the birthday boy, who was turning 11. He also received a hoodie, fleece jacket, Gertie Ball, a foldable frisbee, puzzles, and Pokémon toys. Mae McMullin made the delivery.

This cake by Teri Feely said it perfectly for our 17-year-old birthday girl..."Let's Party!" And that she did with this tasty treat and gifts, including an Ulta gift card, assorted cosmetics, and a makeup bag. Richard Baze made the delivery.

The birthday girl, who was turning 11, received this fit-for-a-princess cake by Mary Reeder. Jordan Martinez delivered the cake and gifts, including hair accessories, Furzerts Plush, a jewelry box, and hand cream.

Pretty (and Pink) cake by Claris Winston.

Minecraft cake by Carolyn Weger.

Floral cake by Jen Falli.

Super "five" cake by Chris Wells.

Hot Wheels cake by Cherie Katana.

Gaming 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, Oct 19 from 2:30pm-4:30pm (must be 18+)
• YWCA Passage Point in Maple Valley | Wednesday, October 29 from 6pm-8 pm (we need volunteers!)
• LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, November 8 from 11am-1pm
• Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, Nov 9 from 2:30pm-4:30pm (must be 18+)
• YWCA Passage Point in Maple Valley | Wednesday, Nov 19 from 6pm-8 pm
• LIHI - Meadowbrook View in Lake City | Saturday, Dec 13 from 11am – 1pm
• Mary’s Place Regrade in Seattle | Sunday, Dec 14 from 2:30pm4:30pm (must be 18+)

Volunteer Orientation and Opportunities to Help

If you are interested in volunteering for Birthday Dreams or participating in community service projects/team-building events, please email our Community Event Coordinator, Leah Battin.

We offer 30-minute virtual orientations for new volunteers and welcome new and interested volunteers to schedule a convenient time to tour our Renton office. Please email Jordan Martinez, our Operations Director, to schedule a visit or to request a call to learn more about volunteering.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

A list of upcoming parties and party needs can be found here. 

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.