Birthday Parties That Give Back
Have you seen a friendly new piggy bank big or small around town? Piggy banks are a universal symbol for kids and savings. Over the past 120 years at Children's Mercy, piggy banks also have been a vehicle for giving back to support our community's children. Recently, Children’s Mercy launched the Small Change – Big Difference campaign to help encourage families to teach kids about the importance of giving back. The piggy bank shows kids how small change dropped into a bank can help make a big difference in someone’s life.
More and more, families want to forgo gifts at a birthday party and instead do something that helps others. To support the idea of giving back, families now can host a virtual birthday party to benefit Children’s Mercy. In lieu of gifts, party attendees can make donations to help purchase needed items for the Child Life Department at Children’s Mercy. This department has a variety of programs and tools to help make hospital experiences easier and more comfortable for patients and their families.
Party hosts can visit the gift gallery to create their gift wish list, then guests select things on the wish list, from a video game to art supplies to treats for therapy dogs, donating the value of their selected items in honor of the birthday child. Nearly 50 items starting at just $10 make for lots of great options to fit every budget.
Moms and Dads, here’s the great part: It’s so easy! Simply head to ChildrensMercy.org/birthday to register and get your party started. Fill out a few more details and, voila! Your party is set up and guests can donate directly online. What a great (and easy!) way to give back to the community! Families who set up a birthday party will receive a birthday kit, including a ceramic piggy bank and paint pen for birthday guests to sign. Get social with your party! Share photos of your child giving back through the party and through other ways with #smallchange and on the Children’s Mercy Facebook page – you might even get a fun surprise from Children’s Mercy
Don’t let the giving back stop with the end of the birthday party! Continue the discussions with your children throughout the year. It’s never too early to discuss acts of generosity. For lots of great tips on how to involve your family in giving back to the community, visit ChildrensMercy.or If you have ideas, share them with us on social media, including #smallchange in your posts – we’d love to hear from you!
Margaret Sarver lives in Lenexa with her husband and two daughters. She loves her Children’s Mercy piggy bank!