Below are brief descriptions of the Celebrations options that CFC provides. For more detailed information, please click on the appropriate documents below.

Families

Celebrations Planning Guide for Parents and Families

Celebrations Planning Guide for Teens

Celebrations Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program Brochure

Celebrations Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program Planning Toolkit

• Make a monetary donation - Help under-resourced schools get the educational materials they need by cutting back on party expenses, and donating the savings to Children for Children. Baking instead of purchasing the cake, adding one less item to the goody bag, and having the party at home instead of renting a special event space are great ways to cut back on party costs. You may also ask guests to bring a monetary donation in lieu of or in addition to a traditional gift. Your family’s contribution will be combined with other donations to help schools in need get essential classroom resources. For families, who select this option, Children for Children is happy to arrange for the celebrant to visit the recipient school and organize a project with the students.
  
  
• Donate books and/or school supplies. - Donate school supplies and/or books to CFC for classrooms in severely under-resourced schools by asking party guests to bring age-appropriate books and/or new school supplies as gifts. Families who select this option may elect to provide the celebrant with a traditional gift from the family and allow the birthday boy or girl to select three books and donate the rest. Please remember that introducing your child to the joy that comes from giving of oneself is equally as important as the amount of books and/or school supplies you collect. The celebrant is invited to visit the school that receives the materials, to read the donated books to the students or use to the donated supplies to complete a service project.
  
  
• Run a hands-on service project as part of the special event. - Provide the necessary supplies and encourage party guests to make craft items benefiting others. Some examples include, making birthday cards for the elderly, creating party decorations for children in the hospital, and decorating book marks for young people at underserved schools. Whether this is the primary activity or only one of the many projects at the celebration, is entirely up to you. The important thing to remember is that all children learn from and benefit from giving to others. For project ideas, please visit: Celebrations Hands-On Service Project Ideas.




• Decorate with Celebrations Book Baskets.^SM - Decorate more formal celebrations with Celebrations Book BasketsSM, purchasable at www.storytimebaskets.com. Donate these to under-resourced schools upon your celebration’s completion.
  
  
• Incorporate community service into the celebration. - Make a service project your celebration’s primary activity. Host a dance-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or carwash to raise money for the celebrant’s favorite charity; do a park clean-up in a neighborhood park; visit a local soup kitchen; or collect supplies for an under-resourced school, visit the school, and do a project with the students. A traditional celebration can be incorporated into these programs. For example, if your child selects to do a park clean-up, you can have snacks and cake in the park.

Schools

Introductory Brochure for Schools

Celebrations Planning Guide for Schools

Below are ways to get active at school with Children for Children's Celebrations Program.

• Make a monetary donation. - Cut back on costs for Homecoming, Prom, and other special events, and donate the remaining funds to Children for Children. Adding one less item to the goody bag, and having the party at the school instead of renting a special event space are great ways to cut back on expenses. All of the money donated will be distributed to underserved schools desperately in need of educational resources. Please remember that engaging students in giving programs is equally as important as the size of the donation.
  
  
• Run a hands-on service project at the special event. - Provide the necessary craft supplies and encourage the kids to make decorative pots for senior citizens, scarves for the homeless, or other hands-on service activities (CFC can help find appropriate recipient organizations). These projects can be incorporated into classroom lessons. For project ideas and lesson plans, please visit: Celebrations Hands-On Service Project Ideas.




• Donate books and school supplies. - Parents, teachers, and students can organize a book and school supply drive. These educational materials will be distributed to schools in need of resources. Students may work with Children for Children to organize a project with the recipient school. Please remember that teaching students the joy that comes from giving of oneself is just as important as the number of educational materials donated.
  
  
• Decorate with Celebrations Book Baskets. - Decorate more formal celebrations, such as Prom and Awards Dinners, with meaningful book baskets, purchasable at www.storytimebaskets.com. After the special event, donate the book baskets to an under-resourced school in your area. CFC is happy to provide a list of schools seeking books.
  
  
• Incorporate community service into the celebration. - Make a service project part of Field Day, Prom, or other school celebrations. Host a dance-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or carwash to raise money for a charity selected by the students. Encourage students to organize and participate in a Day of Service. Students may want to do a park clean-up, visit a local soup kitchen, or spend time with senior citizens at a local nursing home.
  
  

Children for Children welcomes you to adapt this program to fit your family's needs by using one, or a combination, of these ideas. Or, craft your own variation. Be sure to take this opportunity to discuss the needs of others, as well as how everyone can contribute, even the very young.

The actual contribution is not as important as involving your child in the process and helping others as part of the celebration. Each year you repeat the tradition helps set a lifelong pattern of giving. Fill out the Interest Form, contact CFC by phone at 212.850.4170 or e-mail celebrate@childrenforchildren.org for more information or to sign up for the Celebrations Program.