Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelly Calvert. They and their team shared their story with us below:
A. History — We Love Birthday Parties was started in 2015 by a church youth group who wanted to help their community. Our executive director, Shelly Calvert, began researching ways to reach kids in need. Eventually, partnering with community centers and churches was the most effective way to reach the most children.
2015-2017–We Love Birthday Parties was a program of Centerpoint Christ Community Church under their 501(c)(3) status. We were overseen by their board of directors.
2017-2019–We Love Birthday Parties was a program of Isaiah’s Place, where we began to help foster families. We were under their 501(c)(3) status and under the direction of their board.
November 2019–We Love Birthday Parties became its own 501(c)(3) organization. We have our own board of directors and continue to develop the program to its full potential. Unfortunately, right after we received our own non-profit status, COVID hit, so 2020 was a year of flexibility and creativity. We were able to maintain some fundraising efforts, and we were blessed by increased donations of both party supplies and monetary donations.
2021–Returned to in-person birthday parties at all our locations and hired a part-time party leader.
2022–WLBP purchased the property at 410 N. Elm St., Troy, and began renovations. We replaced the roof and outdated HVAC system, updated electrical in several rooms, and renovated office space for WLBP, as well as two other offices, which we have rented to a yoga studio. All this while maintaining our mission.
2024–We continue to renovate. We have one room left to upgrade, and we are working on signage. We are “renting” (for a donation to our nonprofit) our large party room, game room, and garden cafe. This has been a successful vision: to provide much-needed family-friendly, kid-friendly space for parties, showers, corporate events/training, community events, and family gatherings. Sharing our space with the community for a donation to WLBP has given us a way to be more self-sustaining!
B. Our Programs
Monthly Birthday Parties — We reach kids who may not otherwise be celebrated by collaborating with local community centers, such as the Lincoln Community Center, Clubhouse, Troy Rec, and Reading For Change. The kids in after-school programs at these locations are identified as mostly “at-risk” children. It also gives us a place to hold our parties. We bring all the decor, healthy snacks, activities, presents, and treats. Since there is a group of kids at these locations, our celebrations feel like a “real” birthday party. Currently, we are reaching kids in all areas of Miami County and a portion of Montgomery County, from Piqua to North Dayton. Monthly birthday parties average $150 per party.
Birthday Boxes — We reach foster children and kids in the court system through Seeds of Hope and CASA/GAL of Miami County. We create “birthday boxes,” which contain everything needed for an in-home birthday party for families who wish to celebrate their kids but don’t have the resources. Case specialists and foster parents can bake a cake with the child, decorate, and give a present selected just for that child. This encourages the tradition of a family birthday celebration and allows for time together with the child. Positive feedback from foster parents and case specialists from both programs is heartwarming. They are the ones who get to see the smiles and joy that our birthday boxes bring to struggling children. Birthday boxes reach children ages one to 18. Birthday boxes average $60 per box.
Teen Parties —One of our goals for 2021 was to add teen parties each month. Kids in 6th-12th grade require more mature parties, which basically means lots of food, rowdy games, and less embarrassing attention on them individually. However, the message is the same: they are worth celebrating on their birthdays. Older kids need this message—and desire the affirmation that they are not forgotten—almost more than the younger kids. Teen parties average $200 per party.
Teen Volunteers — One aspect of our program that has grown substantially over the years is our teen volunteers. Students who need service hours love to help. We Love Birthday Parties. First of all, they recognize the importance of our program because they love celebrating birthdays! Secondly, what a fun way to earn services hours! Teen volunteers make a huge impact on our program by making candy treat bags (we go through 150-200 per month), by making fleece tie blankets, by creating toy drives at school or church for donations, and by helping out at our parties.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
“The most difficult part about fulfilling our mission has been locating children who need us the most,” Calvert said. “Most of us live in a bubble and don’t realize the conditions many children are living with. They are in every community and often “unseen.” It was a learning curve for me to realize what is actually going on with children in America.”
“We figured out that partnering with afterschool programs, shelters, and churches who are serving kids experiencing homelessness, poverty, or neglect was the best way to reach the kids,” she added. “We also partner with county agencies, CASA/GAL volunteers, teachers, and foster families.”
“We now have a program model that allows us to provide healthy snacks, games, crafts, and presents so that no child feels unseen on his or her birthday.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in journalism/public relations. I worked in the public relations and advertising industry in Columbus for many years while also freelance writing for local and national publications. After experiencing city life and traveling around a bit, I was ready to settle back into small-town life in Troy, OH, where I grew up.
I met my husband while I was consulting and writing, and we have raised two amazing children. While the kids were young, I wrote from home, but later took a position at their school as development director. It was during this time while leading a church youth group, that We Love Birthday Parties was born.
My career led me to another development position, this time at a foster care agency. This is when WLBP began supporting foster families and case workers.
In 2019, when WLBP was four years old, I applied for our own nonprofit status and committed full-time to helping kids in need through the simple joy of birthday parties.
By this time, I realized that birthdays are more than cake and presents; it’s a natural time to let kids know they matter, they have value, we need them, and they are worth celebrating! Birthdays are an important time to help kids who feel unseen know they are loved and seen by their community!
Not sure what sets me apart from others, but my passion for helping kids in need is unstoppable. Once you’ve seen and heard about the situations that way too many of our children are experiencing, you can’t unsee it. And for me, it’s my life’s work to bring awareness to the level of neglect, abuse, and trafficking that our society is allowing our kids to live (and die) from.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many community members, friends, volunteers, and my own family members have come alongside me on this journey!
I give all the credit and glory to God, who has equipped me from childhood through my own adversity to care deeply about children.
In 2022, we were fortunate to purchase a building for our office space and storage space. While banks don’t usually loan money to nonprofits, the building owner entered into a land contract with us. Now, we not only have a brick-and-mortar location, but the massive rooms in our building have been renovated, so we are able to rent space to families who can afford a venue for their child’s birthday or events like bridal and baby showers. The booking fee for our beautiful venue spaces is a donation to WLBP.
So many church groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, local builders, and businesses have truly made our location a community project by and for the community!
Contact Info:
- Website: welovebirthdayparties.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welovebirthdayparties
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welovebirthdayparties
Image Credits
We Love Birthday Parties
