Cheerful Givers

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Cheerful Givers : Successes


With the help of incredible volunteers, Cheerful Givers has
grown significantly since 1994 when 700 bags were distributed. In 2002, Cheerful Givers provided 11,329 children with birthday bags and 18,580 children received bags in 2003.

In 2004 we reached 22,930 children and involved 925 volunteers in the process, Last year we reached 41,095. The uniqueness of our organization and our accomplishments have been profiled in People Magazine, USA Today “Hot Sites”, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota Parent Magazine, KARE 11TV live news coverage, FM 107 live radio interview and newspaper articles in The Catholic Spirit, The Metro Lutheran, and several local newspapers.

We received an Enterprising Community Award from the Dakota Electric Association in 2003 and Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award in 2004 and 2007. We were selected by UPN-29 TV as their Charity-of-the-Month and were featured every day in August 2004. In December 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008, we were designated as the holiday charity at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant at the Mall of America.

On June 12, 2005 and again on April 22, 2007, Governor Tim Pawlenty proclaimed the day to be “Cheerful Givers Day” in the state of Minnesota.

Additional Successes Include:

  • Delaware author wrote book about Cheerful Givers

  • Established on-line donations and a method for car donations

  • Presented President Bush’s Volunteer Service Award to two of our volunteer groups

  • Created e-birthday cards which are now available on our website

  • Selected by Kowalski Markets to be included in their “Groceries For Good Causes” program

  • Hosted a booth at the Twin Cities Volunteer Resource Center’s 85th Anniversary Event – A Celebration of the Next Generation of Community Leaders

  • Participated in the Heart of the City Half-Marathon with runners, pledges and an expo in 2004 & 2005

  • Held a “Big Birthday Bash” at the Mall of America in June 2005 and April 2007, which featured local celebrities in a “Happy Birthday Singing Contest”

  • Selected by Cities 97/Clear Channel for two weeks of on-air promotion in 2005 and 2007

  • Created and distribute monthly e-newsletter to more than 1,000 subscribers

  • Featured on a Community Volunteer Panel at St. Olaf’s College

  • Introduced Cheerful Givers to various schools, church and civic groups

  • Selected by Minnesota Women of Today as their State Priority Project for 2005-2006

© 2008 Cheerful Givers