With the motto “every child deserves a happy birthday with friends,” a new nonprofit organization with Lexington ties is leveraging Internet crowd-sourcing to bring a measure of joy to children who are bullied or have trouble making friends due to disabilities.
“Bullying is such a big deal in our society right now,” said Lexington resident Nina Wolgelenter, whose son has global apraxia and is nonverbal. Wolgelenter, a writer who moved to the city from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina for better access to services for her son, is the Kentucky contact for crowdFunnit.
Wolgelenter and eight other project members across the nation lead efforts to plan and host birthday parties for children who struggle to make friends.
Lisa Geng, founder and president of the Cherab Foundation, launched crowdFunnit in July after receiving a message from a mother who said her 10-year-old wanted a water balloon fight for his birthday party but didn’t have any friends to invite.
Geng created an open invitation page on Facebook page, linked it to the online community Reddit and watched the post go viral. About 350 people showed up at a park in Roanoke, Virginia, for the party and 500 cards came in from around the world.
“People drive for hours to come to these parties,” Geng said. “The last party we had, a family drove for four hours just to show support for the birthday child.”
After that initial party, Geng heard from dozens of parents facing similar struggles with their own child and crowdFunnit was born.
The group has hosted three parties so far, all three in Virginia, and hope to have more nationwide. Interested families can contact the group through its website, crowdfunnit.org.
“There is a process involved. Families put in referrals online. Board members talk to the families and interview them. We want to make sure parents are on board with helping out,” said Wolgelenter.
Parents are asked to solicit local businesses, fire and police departments for donations.
“We choose families that are in dire need, where the parents are deeply concerned about the child. We are looking for the kids who feel like people don’t like them, who are so grateful when someone writes ‘happy birthday’ on their Facebook wall,” said Geng.
So far, she said, the parties have had a great turnout.
“I really believe the parties are great not just for the birthday child but for the participants,” Geng said. “The message is one of understanding and compassion. You can help a child just by saying ‘hello’ or ‘happy birthday.’”
Community involvement is key to the success of the parties.
“We’ve had a DJ offer services at a reduced rate. A baker in town baked a three-tiered superhero cake. We’ve had photographers offer free services,” said Wolgelenter. “The party and the media attention it brings help fight bullying and the community connections last long after the party is over.”
Once a party is approved, the group sets up a GoFundMe site.
“We look to raise about $275 for each party,” said Wolgelenter.
The parties are announced via social media. Parties take place in public places – a park, a local party place and take about one month to plan.
“We find out the type of party the child wants and try to make it happen,” said Geng.
Local professional sports teams and mascots have shown up. Letters have been sent from President Barack Obama. Parties have had magic themes and super hero themes.
“This one little boy loved this author’s books, and the author sent him autographed copies of the whole series,” Geng said. “It means so much.”
“It makes the kids feel incredible to have all of this support,” said Wolgelenter. “We want kids to know that there are people out there who support them. Who cares if you’re weird? If you’re weird, embrace it! We would love to see this program grow.”
Being part of a special-needs community, Wolgelenter understands what children go through.
“I’m happy to be involved,” she said. “There are people out there who don’t realize the struggles that people go through.”
Wolgelenter writes a news release about each child’s story and puts it on the crowd- Funnit site.
“More awareness equals more compassion,” said Geng. “We put faces on a bullying story in a fun, positive way and it becomes education, a way of stamping out bullying.”
Geng does a lot of online outreach through the Cherab Foundation, a world-wide nonprofit organization working to improve the communication skills, education and advocacy for the verbal disabled; all those with speech and language delays or impairments.
She met many of the team members for crowdFunnit via social media. One active member is Richard Stripp, a retired special police officer who was bullied as a child and wants to be there for other kids in similar situations. He has driven up to 18 hours to attend the parties. Other members, spread across the country, have children who have been alienated or bullied and want to help.
“We’ve had beautiful comments from all over the world wishing these children a happy birthday,” said Geng. “The focus is on making it a happy, special day for the child.