Posts by category: News
November 16th, 2010 | Donations, Events, Giving, News
MAX your contribution to Cheerful Givers today
November 16, 2010 is “Give to the Max Day” in Minnesota and we’re asking our supporters across the nation to participate by making a donation today. Last year more than 38,000 donors gave over $14 million to more than 3,000 charities and nonprofits in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day.
We are participating so that we can increase the number of children we serve whose parents can’t afford to recognize their child with a birthday gift. Our board members have provided matching funds for the first $1,300 raised. In addition, Minnesota Twins player, Michael Cuddyer is donating an autographed pair of his cleats as well as some autographed t-shirts, and The St. Paul Hotel is offering deluxe hotel accommodations for two (valid thru 2011) which will be given as a thank you in random drawings of those who make donations to Cheerful Givers.
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October 24th, 2010 | Giving, Kids, News
“Kids Helping Kids” was the theme of our Make A Difference Day event where Cheerful Givers volunteers partnered with mentors and mentees from the Kids ‘n Kinship program to assemble 1,870 birthday gift bags.
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.
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October 4th, 2010 | Birthdays, Book, News, Press
The book “A Glove of Their Own” – the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Children’s Book Award winner – inspires people from all walks of life to help disadvantaged children. An article now appearing in Baseball Digest features Michael Cuddyer of the Minnesota Twins, reading the book to his son, Casey.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will help provide birthday gifts for less fortunate kids when using the code CHG132 at the time of purchase at “A Glove of Their Own” website.
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October 1st, 2010 | Giving, News
Today is the twelfth Word Smile Day and we are urged by its organizers to “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.” We can get behind that goal as we have been trying to do just that by providing toy-filled birthday gift bags to food shelves and shelters since 1994.
Smiles are important to us, as you may have noticed by our smiling balloon logo. We believe that the smile on the face of a child in poverty whose parents have been able to get her a birthday present is one of the best smiles around.
How will you celebrate this special day? Why not consider a donation of $10 to Cheerful Givers? That act would equal two smiles — one for a child who may not otherwise have any birthday gifts and one for you for making a difference.
That smile will then go on to impact others. Mother Teresa once said, “Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” We hope that whatever your day brings, it includes a smile.
We provide toy-filled birthday gift bags to food shelves and shelters so that parents living in poverty can give their child a birthday gift.
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September 20th, 2010 | Events, Funding, News
Michael Cuddyer and Jesse Crain of the Minnesota Twins hosted a pancake breakfast on Sept. 20th, answered fans questions and announced 20 prize drawing winners at this Cheerful Givers fundraiser. Our board of directors shared the Cheerful Givers story with the 128 guests followed by Claudia Cuddyer and Becky Crain explaining why the Minnesota Twins Wives have chosen to support our cause. A fun finale had Michael Cuddyer as auctioneer for a bat which he had signed by all Twins players for this event and which was won by Josh Ruppert.
Thanks to the Southern Dakota County and Central Minneapolis Chapters of Thrivent Financial for providing some matching funds.
Michael Cuddyer, Josh Ruppert & Jesse Crain
Following the event, we heard from some of those who attended with comments such as Matt who said “ I attended this event as a wedding gift from my soon to be wife. It was an experience I will never forget.”
Kathryn Hauser seemed to capture it all beautifully — “This was the greatest idea! Hope you have another one like it in the future! Giving children the gift of excitement on their birthday is irreplaceable. For our own MN Twins, Jesse Crain and Michael Cuddyer to get involved is brilliant. They are able to raise money from fans in ways Cheerful Givers couldn’t alone, and I, myself, was more than happy to get involved. Big thanks to Michael and Jesse for gracing us with their presence, and for being such humble and inspirational idols.”
NOTE: We have some additional autographed wavers, homer hankies and baseball cards which we will send as a thank you for any additional $50 donations made by 10/15 at http://www.cheerfulgivers.org/give/ Feel free to forward to friends.
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September 1st, 2010 | News, Press
Our president Karen Kitchel was featured on the latest episode of Cities 97‘s Twin Cities Insight (broadcast on 8/29/10). Spoke about how we provide over 360,000 less fortunate kids with toy-filled birthday gift bags and our plans to raise funds with a Pancake Breakfast with MN Twins Michael Cuddyer & Jesse Crain.
[audio:http://www.cheerfulgivers.org/site/audio/cheerfulgivers-cities97-083110.mp3]
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July 19th, 2010 | Giving, News, Press, Volunteers
228 less fortunate children will have Happy Birthdays thanks to the great support of the Minnesota Twins Wives and players who filled birthday bags following their winning game on July 18th. Special thanks to Claudia and Michael Cuddyer for helping to organize this fun event.
Watch for some great autographed Minnesota Twins items to be auctioned off during our Social Summer Online Fundraiser throughout August.
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June 24th, 2010 | Children, Funding, News, Press
Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 23
The cold and rain didn’t keep 100 Cheerful Givers fans from cheering on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 12. Tickets to the game were sold as a fundraiser to help the charity provide toy-filled birthday gift bags for less fortunate children in Minnesota.
The group also enjoyed wavers featuring right fielder Michael Cuddyer, which were provided by Animal Fair/Sports & Entertrainment. 
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June 21st, 2010 | News
Chase Community Giving is letting people help decide where Chase will donate $5 million. 200 charities will receive donations. You can vote for Cheerful Givers along with your other favorite charities at http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/
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June 8th, 2010 | Book, Donations, News
Baseball fans everywhere recognize the name Yogi Berra, former major league baseball player and manager who played most of his career for the New York Yankees, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, and is regarded as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history. “It ain’t over till it’s over” is probably his most famous quote.
We were excited to learn from Bob Salomon, promoter of the book “A Glove of Their Own” that he has gained the support of this legend at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center.
A Glove of Their Own is a children’s book that is touching hearts across the nation. When ordering, choose Cheerful Givers on the drop-down menu, and $3.00 per book will be donated to Cheerful Givers.
The next great catcher Bob would like to add to his amazing list of supporters is Joe Mauer. Spread the word!
