They’ve delivered 500 birthday packages and counting. Recipients also receive a birthday bag customized for them, containing gifts such as clothing, toys, sports equipment, movie tickets or gift cards. The group provides a large cake and all the party supplies for a community celebration, complete with balloons, party hats and decorations.

“We want them to feel that their existence matters in the world.”

“People aren’t having parties because of affordability,” Sonika says. Enlisting her brother and cousins, Sonika formed the Birthday Giving Program, a nonprofit that brings birthday parties to kids and families in need. When she learned there were other children in the Chicago area who didn’t get the same consideration, she wanted to help. Sonika Menon throws a serious birthday party.īirthday blowouts are a tradition for this 15-year-old and her family. Sonika Menon, The Birthday Giving Program Nearly every piece of equipment has #20, his late coach’s number, written on it. Today, Max and his group have collected close to 10,000 pieces of equipment, and expanded to include chapters in six states – all led by teens. At the time I had no idea the magnitude or the effect that it could have.” “Teaching them baseball, it hit me like a brick,” Max says. The group also supports Kenyan baseball teams and tournaments. Max has traveled from his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Kenya several times to deliver equipment and teach baseball to school-age children. The result is Angels at Bat, a nonprofit that collects and distributes baseball equipment for children in rural Kenya. He’d been searching for a way to honor an inspirational coach who passed away suddenly in 2012, so he jumped in with both feet.

Inspired by the Ugandan team’s pride in representing their country – despite having very little equipment – Max, now 18, decided to help. Many players in countries like Uganda, however, don’t have access to the equipment it takes to keep a league going. After watching a Ugandan team make history as the first African squad to play in the Little League World Series, it was clear to Max that these kids loved the sport too.

Age of wonders 3 max number of heroes