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Birthday cake, balloons, and hat wallpaper

About us

Mission

To create a fun and memorable birthday experience for children in homeless and domestic violence shelters

What we do

  • Host parties for children at shelters

  • Provide a Birthday-in-a-Box for the mom or shelter to provide the birthday memory

  • Offer the mom or shelter the option to shop for a child’s birthday gift from our Amazon Wish List

  • Offer gifts to new moms who give birth while in the shelter

  • 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

A staged photoshoot image of the contents of a "birthday box," including the card game UNO and some

A staged photoshoot image of a "birthday box" package, including Spiderman action figure and toys

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

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!

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Rolanda Finch

Founder & Chief Birthday Officer

Meet our Board

Professional headshot photos of board members

Delores Hardwick

President

Volunteer since 2016

Executive Director, Arthritis Foundation

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Arnita Jones

Member

Volunteer since 2020

District Manager, Safelite AutoGlass

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Towanna Tindall

Member

Volunteer since 2022

Founder & Principal Solutionist, IvyLink Consulting

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Attallah Sinclair

Vice President

Volunteer since 2020

Principal Consultant, Slalom

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Tamara Swanson

Member

Volunteer since 2018

Healthy Start Case Manager, SIHF Healthcare

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Taylor Gadus

Member

Volunteer since 2023

Student

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Jeff Lefton

Treasurer

Volunteer since 2015

Vice President, Digital Marketing at Psychological Associates

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Thad James

Member

Volunteer since 2015

Owner, Sammy J Balloons

Professional headshot photos of board members

Vickie Henson

Secretary

Volunteer since 2019

Chief Collaboration Officer, 2nd Thought Communications

Professional headshot photos of board members

Jittuan Allen

Member

Volunteer since 2020

Executive Office Administrator, Boeing

Meet our Leadership Council

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Nicole Roach

Assistant to the President Saint Louis University

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Dave Peacock

Chief Operating Officer,
Continental Grain

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Garon Holman

Civil Rights Unit Manager Officer of Professional Standards - Missouri Department of Corrections

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Niki Allen

Chief Information Technology & Operations Officer, Boeing

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John Vance

Retired

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Natalie Jablonski

Director of Communications,
Schnucks Markets

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David Weber

Executive Director, Room at the Inn

Meet our Birthday Squad

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