Cheerful Givers Celebrates the Lives of Over 124,000 Children in Need

Unique non-profit organization makes sure children's birthdays are not forgotten.

Eagan, MN (PRWEB) January 29, 2006 -- The mission of Cheerful Givers, a Minnesota-based organization, is a simple one: to brighten and celebrate the lives of families in need. Since 1994, it has been doing just that with toy-filled birthday gift bags for homeless or poverty-stricken children. In a state where, according to 2003 statistics, over half of the 351,000 residents living in poverty were children, the need is certainly great. Since its founding 12 years ago, Cheerful Givers has provided over 124,000 gift bags to food shelves and shelters for distribution to parents who would not otherwise be able to provide birthday gifts for their children.

The concept of Cheerful Givers came after a visit to a food shelf in 1993 by founder Robin Maynard, where she was stunned to learn that many parents would come by hoping to find a favorite cereal or canned vegetable to give their child for their birthday. She thought about what it must feel like for a parent to not be able to do what many parents take for granted: celebrate their child’s birthday. Recognizing an unmet need, she assembled a few bags filled with small gifts and dropped them off at a local shelter.

The compassion of one woman has evolved into an organization dedicated to reinforcing the self-esteem of both children and their parents with something as simple as a birthday gift – and the word is spreading. Cheerful Givers has been acclaimed in the "Your Life!" online magazine, Minnesota Monthly, and the March 2005 issue of People. It has been the only organization in Minnesota to receive a grant from the Women Helping Others Foundation in Dallas, and was selected for the State Priority Project for Minnesota Women for Today ’05-’06.

To date, Cheerful Givers has distributed birthday bags to more than 130 shelters, food shelves and human services agencies in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. In an effort to extend its services in other states, the organization has recently selected The Center for Career Services at the University of Washington as the host for a pilot program. A team of volunteers has been organized to assemble birthday bags for a Washington homeless agency, and plans are underway to form a second team.

Cheerful Givers has introduced its concept to many schools, churches, businesses and civic groups. It has held many successful fundraising and donation events, such as an online silent auction and “Birthday Bag Blitzes,” including one “blitz” where 50 women from the Marketing Department of General Mills held a day-out meeting and filled over 1,000 bags in one hour. Other fundraising possibilities include organizing 10k marathons or walks; encouraging local businesses or restaurants to hold Cheerful Givers Days and donate a portion of the proceeds; or organizing a group of performers to put on a fundraising benefit. "What we encourage people to do across the country," says Karen Kitchel, President of Cheerful Givers, "is to either make donations or conduct fundraisers to help support our efforts here, or to fill birthday bags wherever they are located and take them to their local food shelves or shelters and let us know what they've done."

For more information about Cheerful Givers, and how to donate or organize a fundraising event in a local business or community, visit www.cheerfulgivers.org.

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