“The kids really enjoyed this project and it was a great way for them to
help children in their community who are less fortunate” commented Shannon Martin, parent.

Cheerful Givers is now being featured on Groupon.com  with a G-Team campaign running from Aug. 23-25.

 As you may know, Groupon is a website that features daily deals (50 to 90% off) on local goods, services and cultural events in more than 500 markets and 46 countries worldwide. G-Team is a community outreach initiative within Groupon that brings communities together to do good, have fun, and make an impact. G-Team has been working in the Twin Cities to help mission-driven organizations like ours raise money and  raise awareness, channeling the collective buying power of Groupon followers and our local supporters.

 
If you’re not currently a member of Groupon, sign up at (http://www.groupon.com/subscriptions/new) and confirm your city as Minneapolis/St. Paul. Then check your daily Groupon email, or you can go here to support our cause and encourage your friends to help.

We need 50 people to donate a minimum of $10 to get the funding. The result will be 50 less fortunate kids get to have a Happy Birthday!

Because some of these kids have had similiar experiences in growing up without birthday celebrations, it is especially meaningful for them to be able to help others. 

“We are a Positive Behaviors & Support School” commented Hetland, “and Cheerful Givers symbolizes that idea.  We are excited to expand our involvement in the fall to our Idea/Sun satellite programs.”

Joanne Koester, Special Education Professional, leads this group of dedicated workers, who she says “love doing it.”  They each have their own special job, such as inserting a book into each bag or adding a ribbon, and they also like having a variety of jobs. Their goal is to assemble 1,200 bags every month, and they are well on their way to reaching it.  Hank Magnuson, who was also instrumental in setting up this program as part of the South Washington County Schools, said “It’s a perfect project for our kids, and they are very proud of what they do.”

Cheerful Givers is very fortunate to have this wonderful help from such dedicated givers!

To every person who helped in any way, we want to shout out our THANKS!

Many thanks to everyone who continues to support our mission — and may you have a very Happy New Year!

Special guests, Kathryn Knuttila, Miss Minnesota 2010 and Sergeant Billy Todd of the U.S. Army helped to make a difference.  This event was made possible with the support of sponsors including Thomson Reuters, Lifetouch and the Northern & Southern Dakota County Chapters of Thrivent Financial along with many donors and our great volunteers.  A big  thanks to all!

Check out our videos on You Tube.

Today Cheerful Givers volunteers will join mentors and mentees with the Kids ‘n Kinship program to assemble 1,500 toy-filled birthday gift bags for less fortunate children.

If you’re not participating in an event today and want to make a difference, you can make a donation at http://www.cheerfulgivers.org/give/ and more kids will be able to celebrate their birthday.

Early in September Jamie made another presentation to the congregation including pictures from the first event and then received donations from the congregation and local community. On Oct. 15th,  Jamie hosted a Reverse Birthday Party in the youth room at Linwood Covenant.  The event was open to all ages.  Six youth and ten adults participated.  They “ assembled 50 gift bags, played party games, ate birthday cake, and prayed over the gift bags.”  Their next event will be early in the spring.

Two year-olds through kindergarten age children who participate in the Sunday School program at Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church earned their own money by doing chores, sacrificing a trip to McDonalds and saving their allowance to purchase birthday gifts which filled 62 birthday bags.  One young girl even used her own birthday money.  Bre Pilon, who organized the event, said “The response is amazing even at such a young age.  Thank you for giving us this opportunity to teach our children to think beyond themselves…”