All kids deserve to feel special on their birthdays, and a Wisconsin-based nonprofit is making sure no child misses the chance to blow out some candles.
Box of Balloons is a nonprofit organization with a goal of providing joy, hope and celebration for children on their birthdays. This happiness-creating organization started in Wisconsin, which now boasts twelve chapters — Cambridge/Deerfield, Madison East, Madison West, Monroe, Oak Creek, Pecatonica, Portage, Sun Prairie, Waterloo, Appleton, New Glarus and Platteville — and in total there are also twenty-nine chapters nationally in eighteen cities. The vision for Box of Balloons is to have a team in every major city throughout the United States, fulfilling birthday wishes and empowering parents.
Madison West co-chapter leader Cate Valenzuela gives more details.
So how does Box of Balloons work exactly?
Social workers contact us when they identify a child whose family would not otherwise be able to have a birthday party. The social worker lets us know what theme the child would like, some gift ideas, favorite colors and other details to help us customize the party.
Then I contact our volunteers through Facebook and our email list to start the party rolling. Typically, each volunteer signs up to take care of one part of the party, such as the cupcakes, or the decorations, or a party game. Sometimes we have a family or group that want to put together everything for the party. We love partnering with those groups.
Either way, party supplies are dropped off on Wednesday or Thursday on my front porch. I then check that we have everything and put it all together in a box. Friday mornings, we deliver to the social worker, and then the social worker gives the box to the family.
What’s included in the birthday boxes?
The birthday boxes include everything a family needs to give their child a birthday party — tableware, decorations, party favors, party game, a dozen cupcakes and candles and a gift for the child.
What inspired you to get involved?
I had donated to adopt-a-child-type Christmas programs before and I was looking for a way to share that spirit of giving with my daughter, Penny, year-round. I was happy to find Box of Balloons because it’s a fun way to help families in need. I like knowing that what we do makes life a little less stressful for a parent who’s having a hard time. Now that my daughter is almost six, she’s able to help a lot with picking gifts for the boxes, thinking up party games and filling the loot bags. She gets really excited to hear what birthday themes have been requested.
What is the most memorable birthday moment from your own childhood?
One year for my little brother’s birthday party, I was in charge of creating a scavenger hunt. I loved being in charge of the planning and leading the little kids to the prize.
Is there anyone who sticks out in your mind that benefited from the Box Of Balloons program?
One of my favorites is the family featured in this video. You can see some of the Madison West volunteers putting together this box.
What are aspirations for your chapter of Box Of Balloons in years to come?
We’re looking forward to being able to serve more of our area schools. The agencies we work with now generally serve younger children, so we’re working on adding schools to our roster.
How can community members get involved, in Madison and beyond?
We love working with groups and individuals! You can get started by filling out a form. You can also contact us on Facebook or by email
If you’d like to learn more or get involved, please visit boxofballoons.org/wisconsin, where you can search for the chapter nearest you and contact the chapter leader, visit the chapter’s Facebook page or fill out a volunteer form. You can also support the organization by buying the children’s book Box of Balloons, written by the nonprofit’s founder Nicole Moll. Proceeds from the book go directly to the organization.
– Megan Kulick