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News, Updates & Opportunities
June 2026
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Join Us on the Course!
There's still time to register for Birthday Dreams' inaugural Par-Tee Golf Tournament on Monday, June 15!
⛳ Washington National Golf Club
🕜 1:30 PM Shotgun Start
🍽️ Dinner Included
🎟️ 50% Off with Promo Code Team50
Enjoy a memorable day on the course featuring oysters, cold brew, contests, prizes, and a great day of golf—all while supporting homeless children.
| | | Looking for additional visibility for your company? Only five hole sponsorship opportunities remain. Contact our Development Director Jarod for more information. | | |
Gala of Dreams | September 26
Join us for an evening of blue jeans and bling at the Museum of Flight on September 26 as we bring our community together to raise funds for children experiencing homelessness at our Denim and Diamonds Gala of Dreams.
Our sincere thanks to individuals and organizations below for sponsoring this year's Gala. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact our Development Director Jarod.
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Join us at the Randall Morris Celebrity Poker Tournament
Birthday Dreams is honored to be one of the beneficiaries of the 8th Annual Randall Morris Celebrity Poker Tournament on June 27th from
5:00-9:00 pm.
Enjoy an evening of celebrity guests, poker, prizes, and community impact while helping support local charities, including Birthday Dreams.
♠️ Tickets are still available!
Whether you're playing or attending as a spectator, your participation helps bring joy to children experiencing homelessness.
Click here to reserve your tickets today: Celebrity Poker Tournament.
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Miles for Smiles Recap
The finish line has been crossed, and thanks to our amazing participants and supporters, we raised an impressive $8,437! AND – there is still time to bump that up a bit through company gift matching. So, if your company has a gift matching program, be sure to submit your donations for a match!
Thank you to all of our participants in this year’s event! And congratulations to our award winners:
- Top Individual Fundraiser: Loya Brown
- Top Fundraising Team: Loya and Maalik Fitness Team
- Photo Scavenger Hunt Winner: Bridget Billotti
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who participated and supported Miles for Smiles! And an extra big THANK YOU to all of our amazing event sponsors:
| | Birthday Dreams On the Air | | | |
New Day NW with Kelly Hanson
Every time someone shares the Birthday Dreams story, more people learn that there are children in our community who have never experienced a birthday celebration of their own.
On June 2, Development Director Jarod Drozdowski joined Kelly Hanson on New Day NW to talk about the impact of Birthday Dreams and our upcoming Par-Tee Golf Tournament and Gala of Dreams.
| | | A heartfelt thank you to Kelly for helping us share our story with viewers across the Puget Sound region and for serving as emcee for this year's Denim & Diamonds Gala of Dreams. | |
K-Love's Closer Look
Recently, Birthday Dreams was featured on K-LOVE's Closer Look, where our Development Director, Jarod Drozdowski, shared how our community is helping bring birthday celebrations to children experiencing homelessness across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.
We are grateful for opportunities like this to raise awareness about the challenges facing homeless children and the impact that volunteers, donors, bakers, drivers, and supporters make every day.
Thank you to K-LOVE and Air1 for helping us share the Birthday Dreams story with listeners throughout our region and beyond.
🎙️ Listen to the interview at bit.ly/BDKLOVE
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Recently, we were able to help a mother experiencing homelessness after she and her son were abandoned following years of domestic violence. Struggling both to get back on her feet, and to provide her son with joy and hope, this is what she had shared about her and her son's experience with Birthday Dreams.
"It renewed his hope, he felt like life can be better and there are still people who care about him despite being abandoned. He was so excited [to have a birthday celebration]. It was lovely and memorable. 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.
| | Volunteer Spotlight | Lisa Wiley | | |
At Birthday Dreams, we believe it takes a village to bring joy to children experiencing homelessness. But every now and then, a volunteer joins our village whose deeply personal connection to our mission reminds us exactly why we do what we do.This month, we are thrilled to spotlight Lisa Wiley, a volunteer for whom the Birthday Dreams mission is deeply personal.
Lisa experienced housing insecurity as a child, was couch surfing at 11, and spent time in foster care. She said, "I understand the importance of birthdays and what it feels like not to be celebrated. I can't change what I went through, but I can make things better for others."
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Lisa discovered Birthday Dreams years ago during a casual search for local volunteer opportunities. While the mission immediately resonated with her, a demanding work schedule limited her availability. However, after a layoff at the company she was with, Lisa saw an open door to turn a challenging career transition into a beautiful community contribution – she decided to start by helping with birthday party deliveries.
Recently, she helped at a group birthday party, an experience that hooked her instantly. And when we approached her about taking on an important open role, Party Coordinator at The Glen, she agreed! She said, "I'm excited to be expanding my involvement and getting to see the kids being happy!" Lisa hopes to extend her volunteer activity to include "custom cake baker" in the near future.
To those considering getting involved, Lisa said, "Do it! Don't delay! There are so many different ways to help and it makes a huge difference in the lives of these kids. Birthdays hold so much meaning and importance for kids, and everyone deserves to be celebrated on their special day."
Lisa resides in Bellevue with her long-term partner Eric. She enjoys being a super cool Auntie. Her hobbies include reading, video games, and playing piano. She is interested in mycology, cultivates oyster mushrooms and enjoys foraging. Travel is another passion of hers, she has visited over 20 countries so far.
Birthday Dreams extends a big thank you to Lisa for all she does to bring joy and hope to the children we serve.
| | Kids Helping Kids | Ariana Moreno | | |
We love celebrating young people who help make birthday magic happen. This month, we’re excited to spotlight Ariana Moreno, a Bellevue Big Picture student finishing 10th grade, whose kindness, creativity, and dedication brighten our office every time she walks in.
Ariana first heard about Birthday Dreams when a teacher mentioned that we were looking for an intern. Providng birthday parties for children who are unhoused or struggling felt “really sweet,” she says, and she knew she wanted to be part of it.
During her time with us, Ariana has taken on all kinds of tasks that keep our celebrations running smoothly. She organizes supplies, makes candles and goodie bags, wraps gifts, and even helps pick out presents for upcoming parties. These small tasks add up to something big. “It feels pretty rewarding because I feel like I’m making a difference when I’m helping prepare for birthday parties,” she shares. And we feel that difference too.
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For Ariana, volunteering isn’t just about the work, it’s about the people. She loves the friendly, funny, supportive environment in the office and appreciates the sense of community that comes with being part of the Birthday Dreams team. Ariana’s advice to other kids thinking about volunteering: “Do it.” She believes volunteering is one of the most important things you can do for your community and says, “It’s not as hard as you think…it’s really fun and rewarding.”
Ariana has big dreams of attending Cal Poly in the future. She loves fashion, watching movies, and spending time with friends and she brings that same sense of style, creativity, and warmth into her work with us.
Thank you Ariana for bringing your fresh insight and a trendy outlook to our daily operations. We appreciate you!
| | Community Support and Recognition | | We are so incredibly thankful for our amazing community and the support you continue to show. Birthday Dreams relies on the generosity and dedication of people like you to make our mission possible. From assembling goody bags, to crafting party hats, to organizing toy drives and so much more — your time, energy, and effort truly make a difference. We appreciate you more than words can express. | |
Birthday Dreams Named Best Non-Profit in Renton!
We are thrilled to share that Birthday Dreams was voted Best Non-Profit in the Best of Renton 2026 awards! The awards were presented by the Renton Reporter and Renton Chamber of Commerce.
This recognition belongs to our incredible community of volunteers, donors, bakers, drivers, agency partners, board members, and supporters who make our mission possible every day. Because of you, children experiencing homelessness receive the joy, hope, and sense of self-worth that comes from being celebrated on their birthday.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone in our community who took the time to vote for us. We are honored by your support, grateful for your belief in our mission, and proud to serve such a caring and generous community.
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Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church
Beginning in 2012, the Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church Day of Service brings together hundreds of volunteers to give back to their local community. It has grown to be a large interfaith and community event that they plan to continue annually as a way to lift up those in need. Victoria Miles included Birthday Dreams as part of this meaningful day of service. We are so grateful for the many birthday party hats they made and for their very generous donation!
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Tahoma High School Birthday Dreams Club
From Maya Tengis: Birthday Dreams at Tahoma has been a club since the 2024–2025 school year, and we have loved partnering with Birthday Dreams on a variety of service projects throughout the year. So far, our club members have helped with projects such as candy sorting, making birthday hats, and creating friendship bracelet kits for children celebrating their birthdays.
Birthday Dreams provides the supplies, and we bring the projects to our high school so students can come together to help complete them. Students are also able to earn community service hours while making a positive impact in our community. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support Birthday Dreams and help bring joy to children and families. It has truly been a pleasure working with Birthday Dreams!”
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Alaska Air
We were thrilled to be invited back to Alaska Airlines! Once again, this team generously donated supplies to make 300 birthday party goody bags. We love it when our mission is supported by teams who understand how much a simple birthday celebration can mean.
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Salesforce
When the phone rings and it’s Cathleen O’Neill on the other end, we know we are in for something special. Partnering with Salesforce is always an opportunity we look forward to, and this event was no exception. Fifty volunteers took time out of their day to make more than 150 birthday party goody bags with supplies generously purchased by Salesforce. As a longtime partner, Salesforce continues to support Birthday Dreams in ways that are both meaningful and memorable.
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University House
We are so happy to be partnering with many of the Era Living retirement communities. Our latest visit was to University House, where residents put together 100 birthday party goody bags with supplies they generously purchased. We heard they had a wonderful time working on them, and we truly enjoyed meeting everyone. Thank you to Ashley Walton for inviting Birthday Dreams into their home and helping to make this meaningful visit possible.
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Keller Williams
Thank you so much to Carol Steifer for inviting Birthday Dreams to Keller Williams to work with this amazing team. RED Day is Keller Williams’ annual day of service, founded in 2009 to uphold their philanthropic commitment to the communities they serve and to recognize the May 12 birthday of former CEO and culture champion Mo Anderson. This team went above and beyond, making party hats, friendship bracelets, and bows for our goody bags with supplies they generously donated.
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Westside Seattle School
Thank you to Westside School in West Seattle for including Birthday Dreams in their day of service in May. The 8th graders were given several nonprofits to review, and they chose us! They donated both supplies and time to make more than 400 birthday party hats for the children we serve. We are so impressed by their generosity and excited to see students choosing to make birthdays brighter for others.
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NCL Mercer Island
From Mia Harrington: The National Charity League (NCL) Mercer Island Class of 2027 recently gathered for an afternoon dedicated to spreading joy through art. Our Ticktockers (NCL teen volunteers) hand-crafted and decorated vibrant cards for Birthday Dreams, filling them with bright messages to ensure local youth felt celebrated on their special day. This project was a wonderful opportunity for our members to lean into their creativity. We value our partnership with Birthday Dreams and look forward to many more opportunities to support their mission in the future!
| | | Jen Falli made this beautiful Llama for a birthday girl turning 15. Jacob Hearen delivered the sweet treat along and birthday gifts: Diamond Dotz kit, Taboo board game, books, a rainbow loom and a charm bracelet. | | This unicorn pony adorned princess cake was made with love by Tanvi Gupta for a little girl turning seven. Hailey Wong delivered the cake and gifts including National Geographic mini animal replicas and animal playset, a Science Wiz light, Tic-Tac-Surprise and a Flower Garden sensory toy. | | Claris Winston made this beautiful Mermaid cake for a lucky girl who was turning four. The birthday girl also received a Doc McStuffins book, Baby Alive Lil Snacks, Play-Doh and Play-Doh accessories, and a Bluey backpack. | | Sport cake by Tomio Stoner. | | Hello Kitty cake by Holly Mihalyo. | | Lego cake by Lauren Yasuda. | | Minnie Mouse cake by Glynda Steiner. | | Checkered Racing cake by Karen Criddle. | | Batman cake by Cathy Footer. | | | | |
Our Birthday Club members are part of a special community of people who are transforming the lives of homeless children. Their generosity brings joy, dignity, self‑esteem, and hope to every child who receives a birthday celebration.
Learn more about our Birthday Club giving levels
Make a Birthday Club donation
Thank You to Our June 2026 Donors
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Andrew Lossing
AvalonBay Communities
Banner Bank
Becky Nickels
Boeing Company Gift Match
Catherine & Mark Cole
Doug and Shannon Luedtke
Global Federal Credit Union
Greg Gildea
Gregg Kats
Heather Kurtenbach
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Jason and Teri Parker
Kel Malaga
Kevin Trent
Kroger
Miter Charitable Foundation
Noble Metal Solutions
Paula Jellison
Peace Lutheran Congregation
Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church
Shelly Son
Vistex, Inc.
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Start a Birthday Dreams Club at Your High School
Interested in bringing Birthday Dreams to your school next year? Students can now apply to start a club and join this growing movement of young leaders making a difference.
Apply HERE or reach out to youthoutreach@birthdaydreams.org.
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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
- June 14 from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- July 12 from 2:30 PM - 4:30
- August 9 from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- LIHI Meadowbrook View Seattle
- June 13 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- July 11 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- August 15 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- YMCA Passage Point in Maple Valley
- June 24 from 6:00 PM - 8 PM
- July 29 from 6:00 PM - 8 PM
- August TBD
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The Glen (dates subject to change)
- June 28 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- July 26 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- August 30 from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
A list of upcoming onsite parties and party needs can be found here.
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Upcoming Volunteer Orientations
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to join the Birthday Dreams family!
If you’re interested in getting involved but not sure where to start, we offer virtual and in-person orientations for new volunteers. Please contact Jordan Martinez, Operations Director, to schedule a virtual orientation or RSVP to attend one of the below sessions:
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Saturday, July 11 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Wednesday, July 22 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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Saturday, August 8 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Wednesday, August 19 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
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Other Ways to Help | Office and Party Supply Needs
Our Amazon Wish List is updated weekly with items Birthday Dreams kids are hoping for — including toddler toys, scooters, art supplies, and sports balls. Click the link or scan the QR code to see what’s needed now.
You can also support us through Subscribe & Save by setting up a monthly automatic donation shipped directly to Birthday Dreams.
Please include your name and email with your Wish List purchase so we know who to thank.
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Donate Stocks
Did you know that you can donate stocks to Birthday Dreams? Donating stock can provide significant tax benefits for donors. 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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