Help Celebrate!RVA Make Birthdays Memorable

Birthdays are special. In fact, for kids, birthdays are almost magical.
But having a birthday bash can be pretty expensive and difficult for many families in Richmond.

celebrate!RVA’s mission is simple: to give disadvantaged children a memorable birthday celebration in a safe and fun environment.

The brainchild of local Richmonder, Julia Warren, who has been dedicated to service and volunteer work since she was in Middle School when she began volunteering at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. While many people see birthday parties as a given, Julia sees them as a calling:

I was always asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, and never told I just wouldn’t be able to have one. When I saw that children were not being celebrated and weren’t feeling the joy and celebration and love that every child should feel on their special day, it broke my heart. I knew what I needed to do.

Currently partnered with a local safe house, the Ronald McDonald House, and Oak Grove Bellemeade School; celebrate! RVA serves up birthday cheer to the safe house and Ronald McDonald House as needed and Oak Grove monthly.

The Richmond Police Department and the VCU Men’s Soccer Team have gotten in on the celebrations donating their time to help make kids birthdays something really special. “If you’ve never seen a child sitting in the driver’s seat of a police cruiser, its equally terrifying and hysterical.” Julia writes on the celebrate! RVA blog.There are easy ways to help Julia on her mission to bring birthdays to disadvantaged youth.Donate items in the celebrate!RVA wishlist (below), make a personal birthday card for the birthday kids – each child gets their own card so there is always a need for these (plus it makes a great rainy day activity) or donate money to celebrate! RVA via paypal.
If you are interested in donating your time, contact [email protected] for a volunteer application.