Pilot Program

Background
Cheerful Givers expanded to the state of Washington in late 2005. Since then, with the help of over 250 compassionate volunteers, 2,600 deserving children in the Seattle area have received a toy-filled birthday gift bag on their birthday!

Coordinator
Briana Keller first heard about Cheerful Givers through a People magazine story about the organization’s founder. When she learned that Cheerful Givers only operated in Minnesota, she asked for permission to bring Cheerful Givers to the West coast. Today, she serves as the Puget Sound Coordinator for Cheerful Givers’ first expansion pilot project. “I believe children deserve to be recognized. Cheerful Givers provides an easy, fun, tangible way to make a huge difference,” she says. Briana can be reached by email or by phone at 206-618-5215.

Teams
A variety of groups in Puget Sound have created Cheerful Givers teams and hosted Blitzes since November 2005.  A few teams include the UW Career Center, UW Counseling Center, UW Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Department, Husky Bags, Burhani Women, Faith Lutheran Youth Group, and Eastside Catholic High School.  If you’re interested in creating a Cheerful Givers team and hosting one or more events in the Seattle area, email Briana Keller.

Events

University of Washington Blitz (11/13/08)
Cheerful Givers was featured in the University of Washington Combined Fund Drive’s monthly Meet the Charities series in November. Nearly 50 faculty and staff assembled 300 birthday bags in the HUB. View photos on Flickr.

Community Blitz ( 10/11/08)
Nearly 50 volunteers gathered at Sammamish Regional Library to make 300 birthday bags. View photos.

Community Blitz (5/17/08)
Nearly 30 volunteers ranging in age from 11 to 65 helped assemble 300 birthday bags at the Redmond Regional Library on May 17th. The bags were donated to Hopelink in Bellevue, where they will be distributed to families in need. Thanks to AMC Sales, Marianne Richmond Studios, Stampin-with-Denise, Everything Party, and Larry’s Market for providing discounts or donations to help make the event possible. View photos.

Community Blitz (01/12/08)
Briana Keller, the Puget Sound Coordinator for Cheerful Givers, celebrated her 30th birthday in January by hosting a community birthday bag blitz. She spent three months collecting money and toy donations from friends, family members, co-workers, and even total strangers! She received $2366 in cash from 43 donors and a variety of toys from 9 additional caring people. On January 12th, 50 volunteers of all ages met at a local library to assemble 500 birthday bags. Briana was amazed at how many people showed up, how eager they were to help, and how fast they worked! The bags were delivered to an agency called Hopelink, which will distribute the bags through food banks and transitional housing programs.

Outreach

• UW Charity Fair (10/15/08)
• Eastlake High School Community Service Fair (9/08)
• Faith Lutheran Church Social Ministry of the Month (5/08)
• Eastside Volunteer Fair (5/3/08)
• Eastlake High School Community Service Fair (10/08/07)
• Eastside Volunteer Fair (04/21/07)
• Redmond Kiwanis Meeting (10/17/06)
• Eastside Volunteer Fair (04/20/06)

Press

• University of Washington’s University Week (11/13/08)
• Hopelink Reaching Out Newsletter (Summer 08)
• Redmond Reporter (01/16/08)
• Redmond Reporter (01/09/08)
• University of Washington’s University Week (04/12/07)
• Public Service Announcement

Recipient Organizations

• Hopelink - Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Shoreline
• Healthcare for the Homeless – Tacoma
• Sharing Security - Woodinville

Learn More

• Subscribe to the Cheerful Givers Washington email list
• Sign up for the Cheerful Givers e-newsletter (see box to your right)
• Find more information about the organization