SEATTLE —
This year marks 15 years of nonprofit Birthday Dreams, a nonprofit started by two Renton moms that aims to bring joy to kids experiencing homelessness on their birthdays.
The group collects birthday supplies, including a birthday cake and presents, then quietly delivers it to a family so the parents can get the credit.
“We don’t want to take credit for this, it’s the parent who is the hero who is doing the best they can in the hardest situation they can imagine," said Development Director Jarod Drozdowski. "So we are that secret force that comes in, helps the parent provide that moment of joy, hope and smiles for their kid. And let the child see them as the one providing it."
Since its inception, they’ve delivered birthday supplies to 15,000 children in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
While they usually provide the items discreetly, they do occasionally make a show of it, and KING 5 was there when two former Seattle Seahawks players helped make a special delivery to a 17-year-old named Paul at the YWCA in Seattle.
Randall Morris, who played for the Seahawks from 1984-1988, has partnered with Birthday Dreams for a few years now, making financial donations to fund the parties and also riding along on occasional deliveries.
This time, Morris brought fellow teammate Alonzo Mitz, who played for the Seahawks from 1986-1989.
“Their life isn’t like, say Alonzo and our kids. They've had a hard time, they’ve had a hard life. Let’s give them something they can be thankful for,” said Morris while driving over.
“Everybody wants to be wanted, everybody wants to know that they’re cared for, know that they mean something. And this shows them they do,” agreed Alonzo.
When they arrived, Paul was surrounded by siblings and other kids. The two athletes quickly connected with them and played a game of catch before pulling Paul and his older brother aside.
“If you keep saying it, you just gotta speak it into exist. Just have that mindset that I'm going to make it, no matter what, I'm going to make it,” said Morris to the two young men.
After the pep talk, Paul looked at the athletes and told them this was his first birthday celebration ever, then asked how he can repay them.
“The way you pay me back: keep up the good work in school. And score a lot of goals in soccer,” said Morris.
Birthday Dreams is planning its annual Gala of Dreams fundraiser for Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Museum of Flight.
Randall Morris is also hosting fundraisers this summer, including a celebrity poker tournament in Tacoma on June 22 and a celebrity golf tournament on Sept. 9.