Regifting From the Heart: Family Donates Son's Birthday Presents

By C.J. Hirschfield

Every once in a while, I need to stop and remind myself how much good there is in the world. A special Fairyland birthday party gave me a delightful opportunity to do just that last week.

Fairyland is known for making magical memories: 197 birthday parties were held at the park in 2018. Now, in 2019, it’s only April and we’ve already booked about 50 parties. Last week heralded the official opening of our catered birthday party season, which lasts all the way into October. We’re ready—with lots of helium, goodie bags, and sparkly tablecloths.

Children love to celebrate their birthday at Children's Fairyland!

One of our longtime member families held a party on our opening weekend for their turning two-year-old son. They told their guests that any gifts that were brought for the birthday boy would be donated to a local charity. This was a new one to us—what a lovely gesture to acknowledge and support those who have less than us.

After the festivities were over, the family asked us to suggest a worthy organization serving children that could receive the toys.

We immediately thought of Building Futures, who’ve been partners of ours for two years as part of our homeless family initiative program.

Their mission? “To build communities with underserved women and children, where they are safely and supportively housed, free from homelessness and domestic violence.” For over 30 years, they’ve operated programs and services throughout Alameda County to help achieve this mission. Impressively, their residential programs include 127 housing units in total.

Funded by grants, we began offering park passes to them in 2017 for families who are staying in their three housing sites. When we told them about the toys, they couldn’t have been happier, or more appreciative.

The Monday after the party, the Building Futures’ caseworker came to collect the 30+ unwrapped toys for both boys and girls, catering to a variety of ages. Corinna Rezzelle, our program director and birthday party queen, helped transport the four huge Ikea bags to the car, in the rain. The next day, she received an email from the caseworker saying how happy the children were, and that they’d been able to use one gift as a birthday present that same day. “It made my heart just burst,” says Corinna. “It really touched me.”

I have probably witnessed literally millions of parents in action at Fairyland over my 17-year tenure at the park. The main thing I’ve learned is the critical importance of parents modeling good behavior, and the positive impact it has on kids.

And the parents who regifted their two-year-old birthday boy’s presents? That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

Ready to book a birthday party at Fairyland? Great! We host fully-catered parties April through October. Head over to our website to learn more and to secure your date.
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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 17 years as executive director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation’s oldest storybook theme park.