By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
A program that provides birthday parties for Yukon students is seeking sponsorships and donations so it can expand next year.
Having started seven years ago in Duncan, the Beautiful Day Foundation came to Yukon Public Schools last fall.
Beautiful Day will celebrate about 1,400 students’ birthdays during the 2019-20 school year.
Beautiful Day is presenting monthly birthday parties for fourth and fifth graders at Lakeview and Independence elementary schools.
Lakeview and Independence will become intermediate sites for the 2020-21 school year when the new Redstone School opens. All three schools will house fourth, fifth and sixth grades.
“We’re now raising funds to expand next year so we can be in all three intermediate schools,” said Sarah Hays, Beautiful Day’s Yukon team leader. “Our ultimate goal is to provide birthday parties for all fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Yukon.”
But Beautiful Day must first reach its fund-raising goal for this year of $19,100.
The goal is to raise funds not just for this school year, but to create generational sustainability for Beautiful Day.
The Beautiful Day Foundation’s program does not judge people by their backgrounds or economic status. These birthday parties focus on celebrating all students equally.
Young celebrants sit at a special table decorated with balloons, birthday cards, “Beautiful Day” bracelets, plates, and napkins. A pizza lunch and cupcakes are provided through donations.
Beautiful Day volunteers sit at the birthday table to interact with the children.
“Each birthday party allows adult volunteers to mentor students,” Hays said.
Volunteers also are critical to the success of the program, according to Hays. The goal is to have 80 volunteers signed up per school.
Volunteers don’t need to be at every monthly party but must be available for three hours when they are there.
To volunteer or donate, visit Beautifuldayfoundation.net
For more information, call Sarah Hays at 474-7247, Gracie Kroutil at 822-0405 or Julie Simeroth at 650-7450.
