About us
Mission
To create a fun and memorable birthday experience for children in homeless and domestic violence shelters
What we do
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Host parties for children at shelters
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Provide a Birthday-in-a-Box for the mom or shelter to provide the birthday memory
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Offer the mom or shelter the option to shop for a child’s birthday gift from our Amazon Wish List
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Offer gifts to new moms who give birth while in the shelter
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Deliver a Birthday-in-a-Class for the birthday child to share treats with their classmates
 A staged photoshoot image of the contents of a "birthday box," including the card game UNO and some |
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 A staged photoshoot image of a "birthday box" package, including Spiderman action figure and toys |
 Young black boy wearing Incredible Hulk t-shirt and putting on a party hat with a big smile |
How we started
While volunteering at a homeless shelter, Rolanda Finch noticed several children running around. She asked the director, “How do they celebrate their birthdays?” He explained, with some embarrassment, that because of limited resources, nothing is done. Rolanda felt these children deserved the same enjoyment she remembered from birthdays as a child. Rolanda loves to celebrate her birthday. It’s September 14, and she celebrates during the entire month of September! So, she started hosting birthday parties at the shelter.
She soon had quite the reputation, and the children in the shelter would get excited whenever the “birthday lady” arrived to make them smile on their special day. Unfortunately, that shelter closed after a few months, but Rolanda was determined to continue bringing smiles to children in homeless and domestic violence shelters. In 2014, It’s Your Birthday, Inc. was born!
Rolanda Finch
Founder & Executive Director
Gloria Robinson
President (interim)
Volunteer since 2014
Owner of Your Cleaning Service, LLC
Relunda Washington
Vice President
Volunteer since 2015
Public Service Administrator at State of Illinois, Division of Quality Enhancement
Jeff Lefton
Treasurer
Volunteer since 2015
Vice President, Digital Marketing at Psychological Associates
Kristi Schnelten
Secretary
Volunteer since 2020
Clinical Specialist – Chronic Pain Therapies at Abbott