Group
Helps Children In Crisis Mark Special Day
By
Tory Gillis
 There's
not much to celebrate when a family is in crisis. But every
kid deserves a special birthday, complete with cake and presents
that suit their style.
That's
the idea behind Birthday Buddies. The nonprofit program provides
gifts and other birthday items to children while they live
in safe housing. It has chapters in Calgary, Winnipeg and
Brandon.
"Generally their birthdays can go missed, because the
moms (may not have any) money, the facilities have no money
(for birthdays). I was told that in the past, they might have
had a leftover cake donated ...," said Cheryl Goossen,
operator of the Brandon program for about five years.
"It's a wonderful way to just honour the kids because
they've really just gone into this, from nothing on their
part. It's just circumstances of their life, and it's a great
way to help the mom honour their kids on their birthday."
The one-woman operation has a fluctuating number of clients
each year, because it depends on whether a child's birthday
falls within their time spent in shelter. Goossen said in
her busiest year, she packaged 13 gifts for children of all
ages and personalities.
Each child gets standard items, including a birthday cake
and card, a backpack, a book, a writing journal and pens,
and personal hygiene items. Depending on their age and what
they're into, children get a selection of birthday gifts that
suit their tastes.
Goossen says the children receive the value of $100 worth
of items in their backpack, but some of it comes from donations
like tickets to sports games or swim passes. The best part
for her is when she receives cards with thanks from the children
and family members.
 According
to Barb McNish, women's counsellor and coordinator of Samaritan
House's safe housing program, the families who receive gifts
from Birthday Buddies are consistently grateful.
"It's
awesome. I've seen moms cry. I've seen children get so excited.
I try to deliver them to mom and sometimes the kids aren't
there. So I go back when mom's given them to the children
and they're just so excited. They go ‘Oh, Mommy, thank
you, thank you!' They understand that it's from another program,
but they also understand that Mommy is part of that,"
McNish said. "This provides a wonderful,wonderful need
and the kids and moms are always appreciative."
YWCA Brandon executive director Karen Peto says that about
150 women seek shelter in the city each year, bringing 250
children with them. The Brandon program received help from
Winnipeg's Birthday Buddies in the past, but Goossen started
ramping up her own fundraising last year with a comedy, cake
and coffee fundraiser in a local church.
This year's fundraiser is set for Thursday, Aug. 25, and Goossen
is taking it in a new direction. She's planning a beach volleyball
tournament with entertainment and a social at Mulligan's Driving
Range. Local band Effect and Cause, which includes her son,
will perform live at the event.
Corporate teams or casual teams can sign up by contacting
Goossen at cheryl@birthdaybuddies.ca. Goossen says volunteers
for the program or the fundraiser can also get ahold of her
that way.
For
more information on Birthday Buddies or to donate, go to birthdaybuddies.ca.
tgillis@brandonsun.com
Birthday
Buddies Inc. Creates the Ultimate WIN WIN for the Community
 By
taking advantage of the timeless ritual of Spring Cleaning
Birthday Buddies Inc. managed to turn gently used household
items, of every sort, into fabulous Birthday GiftPacks for
deserving children living in Second Stage Housing for abused
women.
After
weeks of collecting, cleaning, repairing, sorting and pricing
gently used household items donated by the community, Birthday
Buddies volunteers loaded 1,000 cubic feet of ‘treasures’
into a truck and headed off to Oxford Heights Community Centre
for a giant Charity Rummage Sale. Ultimately taking three
days to sell off the massive inventory the event proved to
be a huge success.
Many
thanks to all those who scoured their basements, garages,
book shelves and toy boxes. A big thank you also to Lora Deighton
at Oxford Heights Community Centre for donating the use of
such a fabulous facility and to the Marks family and friends
for all their assistance helping to manage the event.
Jennifer
Birthday
Buddies Honoured with a Winnipeg Foundation
Youth in Philanthropy Grant
May 2011
 Birthday
Buddies was once again honoured with a Winnipeg Foundation
Youth in Philanthropy grant - this year through Glenlawn Collegiate.
Jennifer
joined her student team members Gordon Chandler & Marissa
MacCorby at the YIP year end celebration on Tuesday May 10th
to receive her certificate.
Congratulations
to all YIPPERS on another successful year!
Birthday
Buddies Calgary Receives Sonshine Award
May 2011
 Sonshine
Centre is a one-year residential facility in Calgary for women
and children fleeing domestic violence. Each year Sonshine
recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a valuable
contribution to the centre. For 2010, Birthday Buddies Calgary
was among three recipients of the Partners in Service Award.
On April 26, 2011 Dawn Bury, who coordinates the Birthday
Buddies service for children residing at Sonshine, attended
the Sonshine Community Services Annual General Meeting and
was presented with a plaque to commemorate this honor.
Shown
Left to right: Joy Johnson-Green (Executive Director,
Sonshine Centre) - Dawn Bury (Birthday Buddies Inc.) - Bruce
Daze (Board Chair, Sonshine Centre)
Local
student pays it forward and receives nomination
The Herald - April 20, 2011
By:
Adrian Alleyne
 Murdoch
MacKay Collegiate student Michelle Mark has been nominated
for a Women of Distinction award.
Witnessing
the impact that the efforts of volunteers had on her ailing
mother inspired Michelle Mark to want to help others. Mark’s
mom, Diane, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and has received
a flood of support from members of the community in dealing
with her condition. Mark was so inspired by the support her
mother received that she decided to do the same for others.
"I
want to give back, the way that she’s had it given to
her," she said. "I just like helping people, and
I want to make a difference in the community." Mark’s
commitment to her school and community recently earned her
a nomination for the 2011 Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of
Promise. The award is presented annually by the YMCA-YWCA
of Winnipeg as part of the its Women of Distinction Awards
program.
Young
women must be enrolled in a school in Winnipeg and be graduating
from high school in 2011 in order to be eligible for the award.
It is presented based on the contributions an individual
has made to their school and community.
Mark
volunteers with Birthday Buddies, Teens Making a Connection,
and a number of committees at her school. She also helps at
Concordia Hospital and with Take Pride Winnipeg. Birthday
Buddies is a Winnipeg-based non-profit agency that provides
birthday presents to kids living in second-stage housing.
While visiting Birthday Buddies last year as part of a school
trip, Mark was inspired to make a difference.
Mark
organized Run for a Reason, and is co-ordinating a community
garage sale in support of the organization. Jennifer Fast,
a River Heights resident who founded Birthday Buddies, was
thrilled to learn of Mark’s nomination. "There’s
lots of people who come and look at what I do...But to have
somebody follow up, good for her for acting on it," Fast
said.
Mark
was nominated for the award by Murdoch MacKay principal Darwin
MacFarlane. The nomination came as a pleasant surprise, she
said. "Everything I’ve done, I haven’t really
thought anything about it. I was more doing it because I want
to, not because I wanted to be recognized," Mark said.
"I
was really surprised and shocked, but I was happy at the same
time." Mark said she hopes that she’s made a small
difference in her community and inspired others to do the
same.
"We’re
given a lot of opportunity, and there’s lots of people
out there who don’t have the same opportunities,"
she said. "I think everyone should be equal in that sense."
The
Women of Distinction Awards will be handed out on Wednesday,
May 4th, 2011 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com
Some
kids counting on Birthday Buddies
December 6, 2010
 WHAT
THEY DO:
Founded
in 2005, Birthday Buddies ensure kids living with their mothers
in second-stage housing have a special celebration on their
birthday. Women living in these apartments are escaping abusive
relationships.
HOPES
FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
Birthday
Buddies represents a bright spot in the lives of many children
in this often-difficult situation by providing a backpack
full of age-appropriate toys and toiletries, ranging from
bubble bath and lip gloss to razor blades and deodorant, a
book and, if they're eight years old or older, a writing journal
and pens.
Now
in its sixth year, Birthday Buddies has delivered specialized
backpacks to more than 500 children, but the non-profit volunteer
organization needs help to cover its expenses. Each backpack
costs about $100.
"I
wanted to help disadvantaged kids on their birthdays,"
said Jennifer Fast, founder of Birthday Buddies.
Fast
truly is a one-person show. She does all the buying and deliveries,
stores everything in her house, runs her own website (birthdaybuddies.ca)
and issues tax receipts.
There
is no government funding for endeavours like Birthday Buddies,
so Fast knocks on the doors of family, friends and schools.
One
group recently held a toy drive for her, but Fast finds she
can do even more with cash and a little strategic buying.
"If
somebody donates 10 Barbie dolls, some of them will sit on
my shelf until I have a girl age four to nine who's having
a birthday. If I get a run on boys, those Barbies will sit
on my shelf a little longer. If I get cash, I can be a pretty
frugal shopper. I buy after Christmas and Valentine's Day
so I can stretch my dollar," she said.
Sometimes,
however, it truly is the thought that counts. "I've always
said, if you have a 12-year-old daughter who wants to donate
something that's really meaningful to her to Birthday Buddies,
that's what she should do," Fast said.
HOW
TO HELP:
Fast
accepts cash and toys dropped off or mailed to her house at
206 Waverley St. in River Heights and her website is set up
to accept Paypal and credit card payments, too.
Donations
don't just come from adults, either. Fast said Birthday Buddies
frequently gets a hand from philanthropic children who happily
turn over their birthday money rather than accept gifts themselves.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
"TO
INFINITY & BEYOND"... All the way
to Second Stage Housing!
November 2010
 Woody
and Buzz Lightyear completed another amazing mission –
making birthday dreams come true for children living in Second
Stage Housing for abused women in Winnipeg.
They
had a lot of help from Mission Control where Karen Richards
and the school community of Ecole Bannatynne generously hosted
a Toy Story 3 Movie Night & Toy Drive in support of Birthday
Buddies Inc.
The
excited children braved the first snowfall of the season and
piled in wearing p.j.’s, & fuzzy slippers and toting
blankets, pillows and fabulous toys for the deserving children
who are living with the traumatic effects of domestic abuse.
What
a fun fun evening! Thanks to all the gang at Mission
Control for supporting Birthday Buddies Inc.
Birthday
Buddies Meets Free the Children's Craig Kielburger
May 2010
 Founder
& Executive Director (volunteer) Jennifer Fast had the
privilege of speaking with Craig Kielburger after his inspiring
presentation at the Winnipeg Art Gallery May 12, 2010.
Among his many other accomplishments Craig is the Founder
of Free
The Children, the world’s largest network
of children helping children through education, and the sponsor
of the ME TO WE Award presented to Jennifer in 2006 which
recognizes ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things in
their community.
Craig’s
presentation was generously sponsored by Investors Group which
has partnered with Free The Children and has itself created
an extremely impressive corporate culture of caring for our
communities.
 Craig
has shown the world that no one is too young to make a difference.
His work has been featured on CNN, CBC, BBC, twice on 60 Minutes,
5 times on the Oprah Winfrey show, and has been profiled in
The Economist, Time and People magazines. Under Craig’s
leadership, Free The Children has changed the lives of more
than one million young people around the world.
YIPPERS
Honour Birthday Buddies
Tuesday
May 11, 2010
Founder & Executive Director (volunteer) Jennifer Fast
was presented with a donation from the Winnipeg Boys &
Girls Club Youth Council at the annual Youth in Philanthropy
reception held at Canad Inns, Fort Garry.
 1.
Nathaniel Quon and Hope Akello (seen at left) met with with
Jennifer Fast for a site visit to understand the positive
impact that Birthday Buddies Inc. has on the lives of children
suffering from the traumatic effects of domestic violence.
Hope, with her award winning smile, is now Birthday Buddies’
biggest ambassador passing out company brochures to anyone
within arm’s reach!
 2.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg Youth in Philanthropy
Team (seen at right) who attended the reception at the Canad
Inns, Fort Garry.
Thank
you to Lise Brown and Sarah Harrison for their guidance and
support with this team of hard working Yippers!
About
YIP - The Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy
(YIP) was established in 1999 to introduce high school students
to philanthropy and community development. The program provides
hands-on experience that benefits both participating students
and local charities. This year approximately 350 students,
representing 23 high schools in addition to the Boys and Girls
Club allocated more than $120,000 in grants to local charitable
organizations based on areas of interest established by each
student-led committee. Over the past eleven years YIP committees
have granted almost $1 million into the community.
Coffee
Cake and Comedy
May 2010
The
Artemis Charitable Foundation™
April 2010
The Artemis Charitable Foundation™ is an organization
comprised of forward thinking, socially conscious women striving
to make a positive impact on their community by facilitating
unique fundraising events that benefit a variety of local
charities.
This year Birthday Buddies Inc. is the proud recipient of
funding provided by just such an event.
The Gallery Calorie Tour is a self-guided walking tour of
the restaurants and galleries on Calgary's 17th Avenue. Restaurants
offer tour participants samples from their bars and menus,
galleries offer samples of fine liquors or wines as well as
catered menu items from participating restaurants. The Tour
includes a Wrap-Up Party held in Tomkins Park, featuring live
entertainment, silent auction, our 4th Annual Art Race, and
a live band.
Birthday
Buddies Inc. gratefully acknowledges the generous support of
the The Forzani Group Inc. through their national Power of Sport
4 Kids Program.
April 2010
 The
Forzani Group Ltd. (FGL) is the largest and only national
sporting goods retailer in Canada. The Company sells a vast
assortment of sports-related products - from athletic footwear
to athletic/leisure apparel to the equipment required for
performing a favourite sport. FGL's merchandise mix includes
brand name products together with a large complement of private-branded
products. The Forzani Group Ltd. is proud of the Power of
Sport for Kids community giving program.
Introduced
through Sport Chek stores nationally in October 2005, its
purpose is to provide opportunities for sports, play and physical
activity to deserving children who may not otherwise have
the resources to take part. This is a program that benefits
children and provides them with the chance to experience the
joy of an active lifestyle. The physical, emotional and social
benefits to an active lifestyle are a vital component to fostering
healthy development in children and youth. Sport Chek employees
are passionate about sports and want to see every Canadian
kid enjoying sports regardless of financial or physical limitations.
Birthday
Buddies Recipient Sequoia Fraser
January 2010
 Every
December, donation bins around Calgary abound with food and
new toys to wrap and distribute to families in need. But by
January the gush of gifts is reduced to a trickle.
Margaret
Scobie recognizes that kids need toys year-round. As the regional
director of Birthday Buddies, a not-for-profit organization
that provides birthday gifts to kids who might not otherwise
get any, she takes over where Santa leaves off: shopping for,
wrapping and delivering presents to Calgary children living
in second-stage housing with their mothers, most of whom have
escaped abusive relationships.
"It's
incredibly empowering for these children to realize that there
is a community of caring people who are truly rooting for
them and who believe that they are worth their time and energy,"
says Scobie, who has donated her own time and energy for the
past three years. "For most of these children, this is
the only birthday celebration that they have ever known, and
it's especially meaningful during their stay in the shelter."
Last
fall, Sequoia Fraser was the recipient of a Birthday Buddies
gift, balloons and a chocolate ice-cream cake for her 11th
birthday. She asked for anything Twilight-related, and found
the entire series of books, a poster and even a DVD of the
first movie tucked inside a new backpack. "It was too
cool," remembers Fraser, who loves reading--and Jacob.
Scobie
shops specifically for each child, spending about $100 and
bringing their wish lists with her to source out exactly what
they want (or, in many cases, simply need). The splendidly
wrapped gifts, balloons and cakes then arrive anonymously
to much fanfare. Scobie never gets to see the kids' reactions,
but receives thank-you notes and hears plenty of stories of
days made special because of her efforts. Who says Santa only
comes once a year?
For
more information, or to support Birthday Buddies, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca.
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