Birthday Buddies

Does Your Child Need a Birthday Buddy?

Parents – click the button below to submit a referral.

Program Overview

Birthday Buddies is a program for kids in foster care with upcoming birthdays, who have been identified as likely to receive very few or no gifts for their birthday. As a Birthday Buddy, you donate to grant the birthday wishes by purchasing gifts online. Kids under 5 years old receive $50 worth of gifts, kids between 6-12 years old receive $75 worth of gifts, and kids 13 and older get $100 worth of gifts. Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition purchases the gifts that the children requested and they are shipped directly to the child in time for their birthday.

Children Needing Buddies

Birthday Buddy Gifts for Serenity

❤️ 7 year old

Serenity is a bright and beautiful 7-year-old with a bold personality that lights up any room. She’s sassy, funny, and a mac and cheese connoisseur! For her birthday, Serenity would love a Target gift card so she can pick out special items for back-to-school.

Birthday Buddy Gifts for DeMarco

❤️ 19 year old

DeMarco is on the path to success, having just completed his Hi-Set GED test and will proudly graduate this August. He’s hardworking and committed, balancing school with his job in the Seafood Department at Schnucks. For his birthday, DeMarco hopes for a $100 Amazon gift card to help him get items he needs as he takes his next steps in life.

Birthday Buddy Gifts for Ariana

❤️ 9 year old

As the oldest of three siblings, nine-year-old Ariana is a sweet and stylish girl who loves to shop. Target is her happy place, and this year, her birthday wish is for a Target gift card so she can enjoy a fun and carefree shopping trip.

Birthday Buddy Gifts for Malik

❤️ 2 year old

Two-year-old Malik is full of curiosity and adventure. At daycare, he loves riding on the toys and pretending he’s off on big adventures. For his birthday, Malik would be overjoyed to receive a riding toy of his own to use at his foster home so he can ride and explore to his heart’s content.

Birthday Buddy Gifts for Maverick

❤️ 1 year old

Maverick is a joyful baby who’s always smiling and loves to “bee-boop” along to music! His face lights up when he hears a tune, and musical toys are his favorite. For his birthday, he’d love a Little Tikes riding toy or anything that plays music.

Birthday Buddy Gifts for Miracle

❤️ 7 years old

Full of energy and always on the move, Miracle is a joyful child who adores Sonic the Hedgehog and Bluey. She loves basketball, outdoor adventures, and anything that keeps her moving! Help us celebrate her birthday with Sonic-themed toys, a handheld game, and fun surprises she’ll love.

Referrals

For a foster parent/case manager to enroll their foster child in the “Birthday Buddy” program:

The foster parent/case manager must complete and submit the application below.
The child MUST currently be in foster care (not adopted or guardianship).
The foster child must be likely to receive nothing or almost nothing for their birthday.
Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the child’s birthday.
Applications must be submitted no more than four months before the child’s birthday.

Your Information

Name

Relationship to Child

Cell Phone

Home Phone

Work Phone

If you are a Case Manager who wants Gifts Mailed to the Caregiver, Provide First and Last Name of Caregiver:

Caregiver Name

Address Where the Gifts Should be Mailed

Street

City

State

Zip

Caseworker Information

Case Worker Name

Case Worker Phone

Foster Child's Information

Child's First Name

Child's Last Name

Date of Birth

Age of Child on Birthday

Gender

Race

How long has this child been in foster care?

Birthday Information

Is this child likely to receive little or nothing for their birthday?

YesNo

What would the child like for their birthday? Please be specific. Teenagers will receive $100 in gifts, younger children will receive $50 in gifts. If clothing, please specify size.

Describe the child's personality, talents and interests. Give specific examples and detail:

By completing and signing this application, I hereby request to enroll the foster child in my physical custody in the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s Birthday Buddy program.

I understand there is no guarantee that my foster child will be matched with a Birthday Buddy. I understand that I will be contacted if the child is matched;
I understand that the Birthday Buddy program is completely dependent on the generosity and responsibility of others. I understand that even if my foster child is matched with a Birthday Buddy, circumstances beyond the Coalition’s control may prevent my foster child from receiving presents through the Birthday Buddy program.
I promise to inform the Coalition if the foster child is removed from my physical custody before their birthday.
I promise that we will write a thank you note to the Birthday Buddy within 14 days of receiving the birthday present. I will send the thank you note to the Coalition, to be forwarded to the Birthday Buddy.
I attest that the information in this Birthday Buddy application is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

By typing your full name below, you electronically acknowledge reading and understanding the above information. You state that all of the information you provided is true.

Full Name (Electronic Acknowledgement):

Questions?

Contact Madison Brown at (314) 806-2556.

*We try to ensure that as many foster children as possible receive gifts on their birthday. On rare occasion, we may pull gifts from an extremely generous donation to share with another foster child who has not been matched with a Birthday Buddy.