Birthday Buddies Of Western New York Inc

As a retired teacher, Erin Grady wished to continue working with children as a way to give back to the community which is her home. She reached out to family and friends who encouraged her to pursue her vision. With the help of DeLynn Walker, her sister, Birthday Buddies of Western New York, Inc. was born!

This nonprofit project is a year long monthly birthday program for children in a residential shelter. It is designed to foster children’s self-esteem by providing a special day and recognizing that all children should have the simple joys of life and life’s rites of passage. This project provides an entire birthday celebration for children ages 1-18.

All residents of the shelter are invited to participate in the event. This includes a decorated party space, age appropriate games and activities, music and song, a specialized cake, a personalized birthday photograph, candid pictures throughout the event, and presents selected to fulfill the celebrant’s birthday wishes.

We believe that an investment in our most important resource – our children – the future of Buffalo and Western New York is essential.

To bring happiness and joy to homeless children through the gift of a birthday celebration.

We work with several shelters for women and children that are homeless or need protection. On a monthly basis we receive a list of birthdays and some information and wishes of the child. We provide a birthday celebration with everything from wrapped gifts, a cake or cupcakes and beverages, and all the decorations and supplies for a festive party. We started by actually setting up the parties and facilitating them. When Covid hit, we were prevented for celebrating the birthdays in person, and so we created our "birthday in a box" concept and delivered everything to the shelter in a box.

We believe that when a family is experiencing difficult circumstances, we can still help make a difference in a child's life by acknowledging their birthday and making sure that it is special and memorable. In our three year history, we have provided close to 200 birthdays for children from age 1 to 18 in the shelters we serve. Each child receives toys or gifts from his wish list, a book(s) appropriate for his/her age, as well as a new pair of pajamas and a new outfit. We have received very positive feedback from the agency representatives who have shared how much these birthday celebrations have meant to the children and parents.