Birthday Buddies Meets Free the Children's Craig Kielburger
May 2010

YIPPERS Honour Birthday Buddies
May 2010

Coffee, Cake and Comedy
May 2010

The Artemis Charitable Foundation
April 2010

Birthday Buddies welcomes support from the The Forzani Group
April 2010

Birthday Buddies Recipient Sequoia Fraser
January 2010

Donating to Birthday Buddies Inc. is now just a Click Away!
September 2009

Birthday Buddies Inc. Attracts the Best
and the Brightest
June 2009

A Very Special Delivery
February 2009

Second Stage hits the BIG TOP
June 2008

Two charities make a perfect Park match
April 2008

Girl power is alive and well at Mills Haven
April 2008

Paperworkers Union Supports Birthday Buddies
March 2008

Birthday Buddy Bringing Cheer to Temporary Homes
March 2008

Birthday Buddies Celebrates 100th Birthday Giftpack
February 2008

Giving the gift of a
happy birthday
February 2008

Canada AM
October 2006

In the Community
Canadian Living
October 2006

Free the Children
September, 2006

Small Charities
Big on Passion
Winnipeg Free Press
March, 2006

Founder & Executive Director (volunteer) Jennifer Fast had the privilege of speaking with Craig Kielburger after his inspiring presentation at the Winnipeg Art Gallery May 12, 2010.

Among his many other accomplishments Craig is the Founder of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, and the sponsor of the ME TO WE Award presented to Jennifer in 2006 which recognizes ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things in their community.

Craig’s presentation was generously sponsored by Investors Group which has partnered with Free The Children and has itself created an extremely impressive corporate culture of caring for our communities.

Craig has shown the world that no one is too young to make a difference. His work has been featured on CNN, CBC, BBC, twice on 60 Minutes, 5 times on the Oprah Winfrey show, and has been profiled in The Economist, Time and People magazines. Under Craig’s leadership, Free The Children has changed the lives of more than one million young people around the world.

Founder & Executive Director (volunteer) Jennifer Fast was presented with a donation from the Winnipeg Boys & Girls Club Youth Council at the annual Youth in Philanthropy reception held at Canad Inns, Fort Garry.

1. Nathaniel Quon and Hope Akello (seen at left) met with with Jennifer Fast for a site visit to understand the positive impact that Birthday Buddies Inc. has on the lives of children suffering from the traumatic effects of domestic violence. Hope, with her award winning smile, is now Birthday Buddies’ biggest ambassador passing out company brochures to anyone within arm’s reach!

2. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg Youth in Philanthropy Team (seen at right) who attended the reception at the Canad Inns, Fort Garry.

Thank you to Lise Brown and Sarah Harrison for their guidance and support with this team of hard working Yippers!

About YIP - The Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) was established in 1999 to introduce high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both participating students and local charities. This year approximately 350 students, representing 23 high schools in addition to the Boys and Girls Club allocated more than $120,000 in grants to local charitable organizations based on areas of interest established by each student-led committee. Over the past eleven years YIP committees have granted almost $1 million into the community.

The Artemis Charitable Foundation™ is an organization comprised of forward thinking, socially conscious women striving to make a positive impact on their community by facilitating unique fundraising events that benefit a variety of local charities.
This year Birthday Buddies Inc. is the proud recipient of funding provided by just such an event.

The Gallery Calorie Tour is a self-guided walking tour of the restaurants and galleries on Calgary's 17th Avenue. Restaurants offer tour participants samples from their bars and menus, galleries offer samples of fine liquors or wines as well as catered menu items from participating restaurants. The Tour includes a Wrap-Up Party held in Tomkins Park, featuring live entertainment, silent auction, our 4th Annual Art Race, and a live band.

The Forzani Group Ltd. (FGL) is the largest and only national sporting goods retailer in Canada. The Company sells a vast assortment of sports-related products - from athletic footwear to athletic/leisure apparel to the equipment required for performing a favourite sport. FGL's merchandise mix includes brand name products together with a large complement of private-branded products. The Forzani Group Ltd. is proud of the Power of Sport for Kids community giving program. Introduced through Sport Chek stores nationally in October 2005, its purpose is to provide opportunities for sports, play and physical activity to deserving children who may not otherwise have the resources to take part. This is a program that benefits children and provides them with the chance to experience the joy of an active lifestyle. The physical, emotional and social benefits to an active lifestyle are a vital component to fostering healthy development in children and youth. Sport Chek employees are passionate about sports and want to see every Canadian kid enjoying sports regardless of financial or physical limitations.

Every December, donation bins around Calgary abound with food and new toys to wrap and distribute to families in need. But by January the gush of gifts is reduced to a trickle.

Margaret Scobie recognizes that kids need toys year-round. As the regional director of Birthday Buddies, a not-for-profit organization that provides birthday gifts to kids who might not otherwise get any, she takes over where Santa leaves off: shopping for, wrapping and delivering presents to Calgary children living in second-stage housing with their mothers, most of whom have escaped abusive relationships.

"It's incredibly empowering for these children to realize that there is a community of caring people who are truly rooting for them and who believe that they are worth their time and energy," says Scobie, who has donated her own time and energy for the past three years. "For most of these children, this is the only birthday celebration that they have ever known, and it's especially meaningful during their stay in the shelter."

Last fall, Sequoia Fraser was the recipient of a Birthday Buddies gift, balloons and a chocolate ice-cream cake for her 11th birthday. She asked for anything Twilight-related, and found the entire series of books, a poster and even a DVD of the first movie tucked inside a new backpack. "It was too cool," remembers Fraser, who loves reading--and Jacob.

Scobie shops specifically for each child, spending about $100 and bringing their wish lists with her to source out exactly what they want (or, in many cases, simply need). The splendidly wrapped gifts, balloons and cakes then arrive anonymously to much fanfare. Scobie never gets to see the kids' reactions, but receives thank-you notes and hears plenty of stories of days made special because of her efforts. Who says Santa only comes once a year?

For more information, or to support Birthday Buddies, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca.

Donating to Birthday Buddies Inc. is just a click away now that we have registered with CanadaHelps, a public foundation and registered charity, which will be accepting online donations on our behalf.

This is a fantastic option for small charities, like Birthday Buddies, that want access to e-donation technology but can't bear the full cost associated with operating a secure online donation website.

Birthday Buddies will be notified immediately of any donations received and all related donor information. The funds will then be electronically transferred, less a 3.9% processing fee, directly to our bank account. CanadaHelps will then issue a secure PDF tax receipt on our behalf for all donations received using their donation portal.

Just visit our company website at www.birthdaybuddies.ca and click on the Donate Now button to help brighten the lives of deserving children living in Second Stage Housing for abused women.

In addition, donors are able to make scheduled monthly pledges through the CanadaHelps website at www.CanadaHelps.org. Donations are still gratefully accepted by mail:

Birthday Buddies Inc.
206 Waverley Street
Winnipeg, MB R3M 3L2

Birthday Buddies Inc. would like to welcome Dawn Bury to the Birthday Buddies Team. Dawn will be responsible for coordinating the birthday GiftPacks for Sonshine House, a twenty four unit Second Stage facility in Calgary, AB.

As a mother of 3, she has always had a soft spot for issues concerning women and children. Dawn is very happy to be part of an organization which brings so much joy to children during such a challenging time in their lives.

"Birthday Buddies has provided me with a great opportunity to give a little something back to my community. It is always so disheartening to read stories about women and children struggling to escape a life of abuse. Facilities like Sonshine House are invaluable to these families as they build a new life for themselves. It feels wonderful to be able to play a small part in creating a positive experience for the children who call Sonshine House home. Every child deserves to feel special on their birthday and I'm very happy to be delivering the gifts and cake to help make that happen.

Shopping for the gift packs is so much fun! I try to meet as many of the requests from the child's Wishlist as possible - not just the items, but things like favourite color and character. One of the gift packs I enjoyed the most was for an 11-year-old boy who liked hockey and the color red. Calgary Flames mini hockey sticks were a must!

I've received some very positive feedback from staff members at Sonshine House. I was forwarded a lovely card once from one of the moms after her child enjoyed their birthday party so I know that Birthday Buddies is making a huge difference in the lives of these families."

Of course when you work as hard as birthday Buddies volunteers do, each and every GiftPack becomes very meaningful to us. By studying the children's Wishlists we can't help but delight in imagining what the birthday child is like. Those Wishlists enable us to enjoy a small peek into each child's personality and we want to please them so much with our GiftPacks that we become very invested in each delivery.
That being said, however, I am often asked if there was one delivery, besides my first, that stands out in my mind and of course the answer is 'yes'…...

I received an e-mail at 3:45pm on a Friday informing me that a young boy had just moved into Alpha House and that his birthday was the next day - a Saturday, when the office would be closed. The e-mail allowed as how we would simply 'have deal with it next week'.

My immediate e- reply was "Then you don't know me very well - I am on my way!"

The thought of having that poor boy wake up in a strange environment on his birthday without the kind of celebration that Birthday Buddies could provide was unthinkable.
I immediately recruited one of my own boys, who was the same age, and had him run to my storage cupboard and pick out everything that he thought that the birthday child would like to receive. He wrapped the gifts as I drove to pick up the cake and put in the correct number of candles enroute to the facility. We arrived at 4:55pm and in great anticipation rang the buzzer…no answer! (I found out later that the staff was involved in a meeting and therefore unable to assist me at that time.) Looking back at my son's face I just knew that this particular delivery simply HAD to happen.

I began randomly pressing the buzzers for the individual suites. Remember, this is a confidential and protected facility where people are not likely to answer a door unless they are expecting someone. Eventually I could vaguely see someone on the other side of the obscure glass. Fortunately my wrapped gifts and birthday cake were quite visible, and very non-threatening, and the door opened a crack. I explained who I was & why I was there and the door swung wide. I was greeted with a huge smile by a woman who told me that I had delivered her daughter's GiftPack the previous week and they were all so grateful to Birthday Buddies Inc. "Then you must be SpongeBob's mom" I said. To ensure confidentiality Birthday Buddies has requested that no names be used in the Program but we always find a way to identify a specific GiftPack in order to help personalize it for us. She said that she was indeed and assured me that she would be happy to see that the new family received this birthday GiftPack right away. Relieved, I headed back to the car where my son was anxiously waiting and watching. Knowing of my previous week's delivery he said pointing "Look Mom that must be SpongeBob's home"! Sure enough he had spotted an upper window decorated with the balloons that Birthday Buddies includes in each GiftPack.

What a very special experience for all of us!

Jennifer

Thanks to a very generous donation from Mr. Larry Pelzer, of the Optimist Club of Winnipeg, all the Birthday Buddies Families were invited to enjoy an exciting afternoon under the Big Top for the Royal Canadian Circus at the CANAD INNS Stadium lot this June.

Birthday Buddies Inc. is incredibly grateful to the Optimist Club for these tickets and we are so honoured to be associated with this outstanding organization. Optimist Clubs have a rich and generous history and have long been recognized as an organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.

The Optimist Club Mission Statement
By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

The Optimist Creed - Promise Yourself-
• To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
• To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
• To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
• To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
• To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
• To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
• To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
• To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
• To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
• To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

www.optimist.org

One charity meeting the needs of the community is a great thing, but when two charities decide to put together their resources to meet the needs of children, that’s just a positive thing all around.

The National Blankets for Canada Society, led by Sherwood Park resident Gwennie Simpson, and Birthday Buddies, Inc., led by Sherwood Park resident Ginette Wainwright in the Capital region, have come together to serve their community in a unique and better way.

"It’s a nice match," Simpson said. "A new marriage was made."

“We are so appreciative to have made this connection,” Wainwright agreed.

A few months ago, Simpson read an article published in the News about the newly-formed Edmonton regional chapter of Birthday Buddies, and decided to contact Wainwright to see if their charities were indeed a perfect fit for each other.

“We build blankets for those in need of warmth and shelter,” Simpson said, indicating that her charity has given out just under 2,000 blankets within the last year to various charities in the area, such as A Safe Place and The Mustard Seed.

The blanket charity knits, sews, crotchets and in the Edmonton and Lethbridge areas even quilts blocks of yarn and fabric together to build blankets, with each blanket including 48 blocks.

"We also receive gently-used blankets," Simpson said, sharing that her charity will reuse blankets that are in good, clean condition. “We put a label on each blanket that says it’s not for resale.”

After Wainwright met the group from Blankets for Canada during one of their monthly work bee meetings, she knew it would be a fantastic idea to include one of these homemade blankets in the birthday gift packs her charity gives out to needy children.

Birthday Buddies, which just began its chapter in the Edmonton area in early January, provides birthday gift packs for children living in Edmonton’s second stage housing for abused women, such as Wings of Providence and LaSalle House.

The gift packs include a variety of items from each child’s wish list and, of course, no birthday gift pack would be complete without cake, candles, balloons and now a homemade blanket.

"The children are most appreciative," Wainwright said. “The recipient of the first blanket always complained that she was cold. So, it was the perfect gift to give this child.”

Wainwright expects to hand out on average 40 gift packs a year, including the 40 blankets donated by Blankets for Canada.

"I feel it’s such a great partnership that we can also promote each other’s organization to our own volunteers," Simpson said, noting that her organization has about 30 registered volunteer workers, with about 16-18 volunteers coming out to each work bee.

"What is donated locally, stays locally," she said, noting that donations of fabric and yarn come in from all across the Capital region to build the blankets. "We rely on donations."

"Our volunteers are so creative with the scraps they put together to build a blanket," Simpson said, sharing that at each work bee they have a show-and-tell session where they match the blankets with a suitable organization, such as donating the children’s blankets to Birthday Buddies.

"Since we’re new to the area, we do need funds, and donations of money are always appreciated," Wainwright said, adding that her organization doesn’t need any new volunteers at this point, but, of course, donations are welcome.

"I really appreciate the community support," she said, noting it is through this support that both of these charities have garnered success.

For more information or to give a donation, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca or www.blankets4Canada.ca.

amyd@sherwoodparknews.com

It’s not every day that girl power when mixed with a yard sale produces an unforgettable birthday celebration for a child, who otherwise would not have the luxury of experiencing a birthday party, complete with cake, candles, balloons and gifts.

But, then again, this is no ordinary day, nor is it an ordinary group of girls.

The Power of Girls (POG) is a group of six female Grade 5 students from Mills Haven elementary school who came up with the bright idea last September to form a small club that would, in turn, yield great results.

Of course, one of those results is raising money to provide birthday gifts for children living in second stage housing for abused women.

Essentially, POG will resell used items at Mills Haven’s annual “I’ve Outgrown It and More Sale” on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the proceeds will then be donated to Birthday Buddies, Inc., a non-profit organization that supplies birthday gift packs to these needy children.

“They’ve collected used and possibly new items and they resell them, and they are going to use that money to go shopping for the wish list of gift items,” said Ginette Wainwright, volunteer district manager for Birthday Buddies for the capital region.

“We buy gifts customized to that child because they provide me with a wish list,” Wainwright explained, adding that the Birthday Buddies charity is still quite new to the Edmonton region, where they provide gift packs for children living in Edmonton’s second stage housing for abused women: Wings of Providence and LaSalle House.

POG is currently doing a bottle drive and selling items at the school sale to help raise funds for Birthday Buddies, and so far they’ve been able to raise $200.

Initially, the group began as any other girls’ club, but soon that changed.

“Each month they meet and do a different activity for team-building and learn new things, such as skating and swimming,” said Wendy Burr, parent organizer of POG and whose daughter is the co-founder of the club. “They also wanted to have a charitable component to it to do some fundraising.”

They picked Birthday Buddies as their charity because it’s local and it just seemed to be the perfect fit.

“They all have birthday parties, so it brought an awareness to them as well,” Burr said. “They’re really excited. Instead of just raising money and donating it, it (shopping) makes it more personal for them.”

At their March meeting, the girls made homemade birthday cards for the children as well, Burr said.

According to Wainwright, POG rented one of the 33 tables to be at the sale, and will be located close to the front doors at the Mills Haven school location.

The second annual yard sale will sell books, clothing, puzzles, games, movies and other household crafts, which are still in good condition, said Laurie Borle, the sale event organizer.

“We’re going to be raising funds for the Robin Hood Association, and we’ve also got the POG group, which will have a table as well,” she said, noting that last year they were able to raise over $1,000 in cash donations and collected toys for the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

“The dollars that are raised at the door all go to the Robin Hood Association,” Borle said, adding that admission is by change donations. “The dollars that are raised for the table rentals ($20 each) goes to pay for busing for field trips and things which will enhance student learning.”

“It’s really about community and doing something to recognize other groups -- this year being the Robin Hood Association,” she said, sharing that she hopes the school sale will continue on for future years. “This has been completely successful, and just one of those feel-good projects.”

For more information about Mills Haven school’s “I’ve Outgrown It and More Sale,” call Laurie at 417-2546, and for more information about Birthday Buddies, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca.

amyd@sherwoodparknews.com

After reading about the launch of Birthday Buddies Inc. in the Winnipeg Free Press Barb Jones felt compelled to help. As Chair of the Womens Committee for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Barb realized that they had the potential to have a real impact in helping to establish this new charitable organization.

The group was no stranger to Second Stage Housing in Winnipeg, having generously donated to these facilities directly in the past. It was a cause the Committee took to heart and through several months of fund raising was able to present a cheque to Jennifer Fast, Founder & Executive Director (volunteer) of Birthday Buddies Inc. this past March. Pictured left to right are: Cathy Maughan, Charlene Matheson, Jennifer Fast and Barbara Jones, Chair.

Birthday parties are something that most kids can take for granted. But for those who can't, a local woman is taking it upon herself to spread the birthday cheer.

Ginette Wainwright is the district manager of the Edmonton branch of Birthday Buddies, a non-profit organization started by Jennifer Fast in Winnipeg in 2005. The program provides gifts and cake for children who are living with their mothers in second-stage housing to escape abusive relationships at home.

Wainwright first read about the program a year ago in Canadian Living magazine and decided she would love to participate. She called Fast to ask if she would be interested in an Edmonton-area branch, and after a few chats and e-mails it became a reality.
Second-stage housing provides further protection and assistance when needed for mothers who have already stayed their maximum time in a safe house, which is generally about three weeks.

"It's very funny because I have to call people that I know to ask their children 'What's appropriate? What do kids like?' I also stop moms with children in the toy department and get opinions through them. So I'm using a lot of children's opinions at this point as to what is a cool gift."

"They've usually left someplace quite quickly to get into their first stage and they haven't been able to go get their stuff or anything, so then they end up in the second stage without too much," Wainwright says. "So that's why these kids are so appreciative and it's just amazing for them."

To kickstart the process, the second stage housing administration provides a wish list to each mother, and she and her kids fill in the list. This list is then relayed to Wainwright, who will go out and shop for the child. The program made its Edmonton debut this February.

"It's been very exciting to bring it to Edmonton," she says. "I just think it's a great opportunity to share with our local children here in the capital region and make their lives a little bit better."

Each child is given a gift pack valued up to $100, which includes candles, balloons, a card and a birthday cake. Also included is a backpack containing a selection of birthday gifts as well as a book, a writing journal and useful items like nail clippers or toothbrushes. All items are specific to the wants and needs of the particular child.
Wainwright technically does all the shopping herself, but sometimes she needs a little help.

"It's very funny because I have to call people that I know to ask their children 'What's appropriate? What do kids like?'" she says. "I also stop moms with children in the toy department and get opinions through them. So I'm using a lot of children's opinions at this point as to what is a cool gift, if the wish list isn't specific enough." She adds that all gifts are brand name and high quality.

For security reasons Wainwright cannot deal directly with the children, but she says housing staff have told her that mothers and children alike have been thrilled.
For now she's OK doing it all on her own, but Wainwright says she has plans to expand the program within the coming month and she's going to need some help.

"There's going to be a lot more driving, a lot more shopping, a lot more wrapping to do," she says. Her goal is to make sure that every child who has a birthday while living in second stage housing gets the opportunity to celebrate.
Wainwright is always looking for donations in the form of money, toys, gift wrap, cards and good quality personal items. Her mailing address can be found on the organization website, www.birthdaybuddies.ca.

Founder & Executive Director, Jennifer Fast, celebrated the delivery of her 100th Birthday Giftpack in Winnipeg with a pizza party for the residents of W.I.S.H. (Women In Second Stage Housing). Festive tableware and helium balloons generously donated by Party Stuff and U-Rent-It made for the perfect party atmosphere to mark this Birthday Buddies milestone.

The families really enjoyed the opportunity to get together and have some fun but it was an especially meaningful celebration for Jennifer. "Thanks go out to the staff at all of Winnipeg's Second Stage Houses for their support and encouragement in these early years."

Though childhood birthday parties are often a part of our fondest memories, there are some children who miss out on the yearly tradition and are forced to grow up prematurely.

As such, a local organization is ensuring that no child in the Capital Region will ever go without a birthday celebration again.

Birthday Buddies is a service for children living in "Second Stage Housing" with their mothers to escape abusive relationships inside their homes.

The goal of the program is simple: to give children a birthday they’ll never forget, even if mom can’t afford to provide one for them.

"We just want to provide children that have to live in that situation an opportunity to celebrate their birthday in style and to enjoy their day," said district manager Ginette Wainwright. "It relieves mom from the pressures of having to take the steps to prepare for their child’s birthday when, in reality, she’s dealing with situations in her own life."

On their birthday, children can look forward to a birthday cake, two or three personalized gifts and a backpack full of personal items, valued at $100.

Wainwright said that all the items are of good quality and are hand-picked by Birthday Buddies organizers to suit each child’s needs.

Children are even asked to prepare a "wish list" before the big day, so that the Buddies know just what to buy for him or her.

"The children are just overwhelmed by the whole process," Wainwright said.

Families in Second Stage Housing are those that have moved from a temporary relief shelter into a longer-term, affordable housing situation.

Wainwright said that Birthday Buddies is an extremely valuable service to those in times of crisis, as it brings a ray of sunshine into picking up the pieces of a life torn apart by abuse.

"The mothers find it a huge relief to have the expense and extra pressure removed from them to focus on other issues that they’re dealing with," she said. "They absolutely look forward to seeing this gift pack arrive for their child -- it means a lot to them."

And as much as the mothers look forward to the big day, the children do too.

"It’s just a dream," she said. "They’re so excited, just because of the fact that their situation could have meant there may not have been anything as special coming to them."

Birthday Buddies relies entirely on public support to bring smiles to little faces. Most of their donations come from fundraising events and corporate sponsorships. Wainwright said that the group is always on the lookout for further support to ensure that those candles keep getting lit.

"Birthday Buddies is an amazing program that’s offering children an opportunity to get excited about something in their life," she said. "Any assistance that we can have would be much appreciated, because these kids don’t even expect it to happen to them and we want to keep on surprising them."

To learn more about Birthday Buddies, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca

victoria@sherwoodparknews.com

Canada Am (CTV)
Canada AM- October 2006

Click Here to view commentary about Birthday Buddies that was broadcast on Canada AM, Monday, October 16, 2006

Jennifer Fast has taken the philosophy "It takes a village to raise a child" to heart. Two years ago, the full-time mom of three boys launched an organization that gives birthday gift packs to kids who live in second-stage housing, a place where children and moms who have escaped abuse can live safely together for up to a year. The gift packs are an initiative that is also educating the community about domestic violence.

After she partnered with a local second-stage housing initiative, Jennifer founded Birthday Buddies Inc. and set to work putting together gift packs based on children’s wish lists. Each pack includes a cake, candles, a card, balloons and small gifts, as well as a few personal items. Now in its second year, Birthday Buddies, which Jennifer runs on a volunteer basis, has provided gift packs to more than 60 kids. "Knowing that the gift packs are coming takes a huge burden off the moms during such a stressful time in their lives," she says. "It allows them to truly share in the excitement and anticipation of their child’s birthday."

Initially, Jennifer relied on the generosity of family and friends to fund her venture, but last year she started knocking on doors of local schools and small businesses, speaking about abuse and asking for donations. "Domestic violence was not something this community was talking about," she says. "I have been glad to heighten awareness of its effect on the lives of mothers and their children."

The community has warmly embraced her efforts. Schools donate their fund-raising proceeds, strangers spot her in hockey arenas and pull out their cheque books, and kids make items such as beaded bracelets to include in the birthday kits. "I have learned that there are so many wonderful people in the community that want to help," she says.

Jennifer’s Me to We Award money will help establish Birthday Buddies Inc. branch offices in Calgary, Brandon, Man., and other cities across Canada. For more information, visit www.birthdaybuddies.ca.

Dear Jennifer,

Congratulations on winning the 2006 Canadian Living Me to We Award for the In the Community category.

It is our honour to recognize you for your efforts and involvement in the community. The Me to We philosophy is about improving our lives and our world by reaching out to others. It involves focusing less on "me" and more on ”we” – our communities, our nation and our world.

You are an inspirational example of someone who lives life in the Me to We way everyday.

As a Canadian who is making a difference in the lives of others, you are encouraging positive social change. The genuine concern and compassion that you have shown for the less fortunate in your community through the Birthday Buddies project is an inspiration to all of us.

Congratulations once again for making an incredible difference in our world, and thank you for living the Me to We philosophy.

Sincerely,

Craig Kielburger, Founder and Chair
Marc Kielburger, Executive Director

SMALL is still big when it comes to charities. Rick Frost, executive director of the Winnipeg Foundation, said that while there are many charities that are national in scope and raise millions of dollars to devote to their particular cause, it doesn't mean that small local charities for specific needs aren't doing lots of good work, too.
"The small charity is passionate and dedicated to a very specific cause," Frost said recently.

"They bring a focus from a unique perspective, and that is very valuable."

But Frost said they do face one major challenge. "A lot of small charities struggle with resources," he said.

"You're trying to get on the agenda with citizens and funders."

This month's Philanthropy page looks at three small charities you might not have heard about before.

One is small and intends to stay small, one is small because it only recently arrived in this province and is just starting up here, and the last is starting out small, but hopes to grow to fill a large need.

CHARITIES don't come much smaller than Birthday Buddies.

Birthday Buddies provides children who are living in second-stage housing with a birthday party that has all the bells and whistles -- or at least the cake, candles, balloons and presents.

Second-stage housing is where abused women go to live after they have moved from the crisis housing to which they initially fled. Women have to meet certain criteria to be admitted, and women with children are given a higher priority. They get to live there for a year and manage their own suites. Because the children live in second-stage housing for a year, and they'll celebrate a birthday during that time, they're guaranteed to receive presents from Birthday Buddies.

"I just wanted to make a real difference," said Jennifer Fast, Birthday Buddies' originator and sole worker.

"So many ideas are too big for one person to manage, but this I can.

"When I came up with the idea of a birthday, I thought it was something I could manage by myself."

The charity provides birthday gift packs to children living with their mothers in Alpha House, W.I.S.H. Inc. (Women in Second Stage Housing), L'Entre-Temps Des Franco-Manitobaines and Memengwaa Place.

Fast said she puts together gift packs for children up to 18 years of age.

"Some people wonder why I do it for 17- or 18-year-olds, but I say if they're staying with their mom, they're helping her, so they should get a gift pack, too."

The birthday charity is still relatively new, having only begun on Jan. 1, 2005. Fast was able to surprise 35 children in the first year.

Glenda Dean, Alpha House executive director, said Birthday Buddies is a wonderful program.

"It's amazing the difference one person can make," Dean said. "It shows we all can make a difference."

Dean said the faces of both the children and their mothers light up when an unexpected cake, backpack and toys suddenly show up at their suite.

She said students at the school where her three children are enrolled -- St. John's-Ravenscourt -- have been very supportive, donating either their own money or organizing a fundraising carnival.

Money or toy donations can be sent to Birthday Buddies Inc., 206 Waverley St., Winnipeg, MB, R3M 3L2. Tax receipts will be issued to donors of $20 or more.

The most popular toys include Barbie dolls, footballs, skipping ropes, Lego, stuffed animals and paint sets. For a complete list, go to www.birthdaybuddies.ca and follow the links.