Blog
February 15th, 2012 | Giving, Volunteers
I am a student at the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension. I live in Santa Clara, California with my husband and 14-month old son. Something that my parents taught me very early on is the gift of giving with a cheerful heart. As I grew up, I always looked for opportunities to accomplish that. Life gets very hectic when there are multiple high priority items going on all at the same time. To continue contributing to the community, one day I was browsing for volunteer opportunities. Cheerful Givers caught my eye. I really liked the name and the idea and how Cheerful Givers enables people to contribute in a simple but a very powerful manner. I was excited by the idea of surprising kids on their birthdays with a gift from their parents – something that everyone deserves.
So far I have reached out to various educational institutions asking for groups to volunteer as well as organizations to help provide the much-needed in-kind donations. I am very fortunate to be a part of Cheerful Givers, and I look forward to contributing in my own way every single day.
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February 13th, 2012 | Birthdays, Children, Donations, Giving, Holidays
Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. If you’re one of the lucky ones to be remembered today, enjoy the feeling of being loved.
A birthday bag also sends a message of being loved, and makes one more child one of the lucky ones.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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February 9th, 2012 | Giving, News
March 31 – Cheerful Givers Day & The Great Minnesota Birthday Party (1-3 pm) at the Mall of America
April 23 –30 Online auction at www.cheerfulgivers.org
June 30 – Minnesota Twins Breakfast at Chart House Restaurant in Lakeville featuring Brian Duensing & additional players TBA
Sept. 16 – Minnesota Twins game tickets – vs. Chicago White Sox (100 tickets available at $22 each)
Sept. 20 – Zest! A Local Event of Global Cuisine – Lost Spur Event Center, Eagan
Contact karen@cheerfulgivers.org for details.
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February 3rd, 2012 | Giving, Team Building, Volunteers
“Everyone involved had a lot of fun and really appreciated that the event could be done on campus” commented Steve Thyren who helped to organize it. Employees from the AgHorizon’s and Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain North America (GOSCNA) groups assembled 1,000 birthday bags at their corporate headquarters in Minnetonka on Feb. 2nd.
“Multiple people mentioned that they hope we do it again in the future. Many thanks to Cheerful Givers for the fine work that you do! The magnitude that each bag represents for a child and parent was felt by all involved and it felt good to be a part of it.” Steve added.
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January 23rd, 2012 | Birthdays, Giving, Volunteers
Al, who is 91, looks forward to every Wednesday afternoon at 1 pm when he can do something that’s going to bring lots of joy to 50 more kids. Pauline recalls that “Growing up we lived on a farm and I didn’t realize that you got gifts for your birthday.” This amazing group of 78-91 year-olds at the Ecumen Seasons in Apple Valley talked about how “Filling birthday bags is teamwork and everyone cooperates.” When asked what they like the best, they all seemed to agree it’s “doing something for someone else.”
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January 17th, 2012 | Birthdays, Events, Family, Funding, Upcoming Event, Volunteers
On Saturday, March 31st from 1-3 pm, Cheerful Givers will once again host “The Great Minnesota Birthday Party” in Sear’s Court at the Mall of America.
We will be celebrating reaching our milestone of Half a Million Kids Receiving Birthday Bags since our organization began. We plan to have special guests fill the 500,000th birthday bag at the event, and the Governor is proclaiming it “Cheerful Givers Day” throughout Minnesota.
We will have a number of interactive elements this year that allows visitors to experience the Birthday Party in a way that resonates with each of them. The design will invite the passer-by to stop and engage while floor visuals grow throughout the event. Included will be a Join the Party opportunity, scavenger hunt, Knowledge Quest informational kiosks, Build a Birthday Bag Station and many prize drawings. We’re also asking everyone who has a March birthday to join us for the finale. It’s a free event with donations encouraged.
If you can’t attend, we sure hope you can send a gift. Donate today!
And everyone is invited to share your comments which will be posted and/or announced at the event. Simply fill in the blank. Why I support Cheerful Givers is because ____________________________________. Send to karen@cheerfulgivers.org
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January 16th, 2012 | Birthdays, Family, Giving, Volunteers
Between 1955 and 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. helped change America. Each year, on the third Monday in January, we celebrate his birthday. This is the first national holiday to honor an individual black American. The legacy of Dr. King lives in each of us who have dreams of a better world.
To celebrate his birthday on January 16th, you might take some time to help change America in a small way by assembling a variety of small new toys into gift bags at your own location. Then donate them to a local food shelf or shelter. Let us know how many bags you filled and where they were donated. Photos are also welcome.
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January 12th, 2012 | Funding, Giving
Support our cause by eating chicken wings, or whatever you choose, at the Buffalo Wild Wings at 1280 Promenade Place in Eagan, Minnesota on Saturday, January 14 between 12-4 pm. Mention Cheerful Givers and we will receive 10% of food sales.
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January 5th, 2012 | Birthdays, Volunteers
Each year our Board of Directors has the difficult task of choosing one person to represent the many dedicated volunteers who are the essence of Cheerful Givers.
Vicki Kline-Flores was chosen as our 2011 volunteer-of-the-year based on her tremendous work ethic and willingness to help wherever needed.
Vicki leads the Cheerful Givers volunteer team at Ecolab’s headquarters in St. Paul where employees periodically create birthday bags during their lunch time, and she’s been instrumental in reaching out to employees in their Eagan and Grand Forks offices which has resulted in more support. Each month Vicki also makes time to pick up specially made wooden toys and delivers them to a school where teens with disabilities assemble them into birthday gift bags. She has truly been a cheerleader in spreading awareness of our mission wherever she goes, and because of her, many children have been able to have a Happy Birthday.
To recognize her efforts, she was given the President’s Volunteer Service award from the Points of Light Foundation along with a letter of gratitude from President Obama.
Congratulations and many thanks Vicki!
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December 27th, 2011 | Birthdays, Giving, News, Press
Minnesota Vikings players joined Cheerful Givers volunteers on Dec. 27th to assemble 200 toy-filled birthday gift bags for less fortunate children in the community. Andrew Sendejo, D’Aundrae Reed, John Sullivan, Tyrone Mckenzie and Vikings Mascot Victor, along with Brad Madson, Director of Community Relations, and Lester Bagley, Vice President of Public Affairs, showed their support of Cheerful Givers by inviting our key volunteers to a birthday bag event held at their Winter Park facility.
Cheerful Givers was also pleased to receive a $1,000 grant
from the Vikings Children’s Fund. Along with the grant, a note from Mark
Wilf, Owner/President stated “We congratulate you on the vital
contributions you are making in your community and look forward to seeing the
continuation of your fine efforts in the future.”
