Why I Give Stories

Birthdays are like Halloween and the winter holidays – we all eagerly plan for, anticipate and celebrate them, but when it comes down to it, they’re really all about the kids. In our house, like many others, our children’s birthdays are always filled with gifts, treats, cakes, surprises, friends, family and love. It takes having a good lot in life to be able to make these things happen and to make birthdays special every year. 

Through a colleague at work, I met Anika Apollo, founder of Birthday Wonders. I knew I needed to get involved with her on a personal level the minute I met her and learned her story. Anika is a single mother who found herself in a very difficult financial situation and had to move into a shelter just to ensure that her children could meet their most basic needs. Being the incredibly bright and motivated young woman she is, she managed to complete her education and secure solid employment. Still, it stayed with her from having seen it first-hand how difficult and deflating it is for a child to be in a shelter over a birthday, and she wanted to do something to change that. Anika started Birthday Wonders, a non-profit organization that provides birthday celebrations for children experiencing homelessness.

Becoming involved in Birthday Wonders exposed and reminded me to the reality that many parents simply cannot afford to celebrate their children’s birthdays in a way that makes them feel as special as they are. Birthday Wonders works to bridge that gap, at least for one day – the most important day in the year for most children. 

Together with a dedicated group of caring people, we are raising $20,000 annually to create 50 birthday celebrations next year.

Each birthday celebration is taken care of end to end for the parents/guardians of these wonderful children; cake, party food, decorations, loot bags and of course a present!

Want to learn more...please ask me directly, and I'm happy to share more details about our committee and plans.

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