Former Foster Youth Bakes 700 Cakes for Underserved Youth in Fresno Community

Fresno, California (June 4, 2024)  Longtime Fresno resident, Roberta Parks, spent her teen years in foster care and knows first-hand the emotional toll that comes when childhood trauma leads to living with a family you’ve never met before. A family who not only isn’t related but doesn’t know what you’ve endured or how to help you heal. Today, Roberta channels that experience into every cake she creates with Cake4Kids, a national nonprofit providing free birthday cakes for underserved youth. Roberta is set to bake and deliver her 700th birthday cake in the Fresno community.

“As a child in foster care, my heart was hardened, I didn’t want people to know how hurt I was inside,” Roberta explained, “when I deliver a cake I want the child’s heart to melt enough to feel worthy of a moment created just for them.” It’s in this lived experience where Roberta found her inspiration. She shares her love and talent of baking and decorating with today’s underserved youth, something she has realized helps her heal. She began volunteering with Cake4Kids in 2018 and has been baking around 115 cakes per year ever since. Roberta will deliver a red velvet cake for a 14 year old, her 700th custom cake and delivery with Cake4Kids.

Remembering her teen years in foster care as a time when her desires never came to fruition, when she bakes for youth today she has a deep understanding of how important it is to personalize the decorations and flavors exactly as requested. “When I was 16, my foster Mom got me a cake. It had my name on it in lavender, and purple flowers because purple was my favorite color. It’s the only cake I remember receiving as a child.” The cake made Roberta feel like she was worthy in that one moment in time. As she bakes and decorates each cake it is her mission to pass along a lasting, positive, memory for each youth to carry with them through life, a memory of someone caring about them and feeling like their life is meaningful.

Since she first heard about Cake4Kids 6 years ago, Roberta instantly connected with its mission to make every youth feel seen and valued, lifted up and supported. “I like to go above and beyond with the cakes I bake and decorate, not for the compliments that I receive, but to let the children know just how valuable and wonderful they are. I remember the first cake I baked, it was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme, I remember the name of the child and the date I delivered it.”

Kindness, Creativity…and Cake

By Kate Walter Thursday, May 30, 2024

Volunteer bakers around the country are stirring the batter and spreading the icing to ensure that at-risk kids living in foster care, shelters, and group homes have a birthday or graduation cake.

While bakers need a good level of decorating skill to write on the cake, they don’t have to be pros, explained Alison Bakewell, executive director of Cake4Kids, a national nonprofit that matches bakers with underprivileged kids wanting a  birthday cake. She says many volunteers are at home hobby bakers and there are a couple of retired pastry chefs. However, even a box cake with canned frosting can put a much-needed smile on a kid’s face.

“We have a lot of retirees finding great joy and delivering smiles to underserved children as volunteers,” says Bakewell of Cake4Kids.  “One of our most prolific bakers is 83. This is a great opportunity for seniors.”

Since Cake4Kids was started in 2010, their bakers have made and delivered 61,000 cakes. The nonprofit organization now has over 5,000 volunteers spread over 27 chapters in 20 states and partners with 1,100 social service agencies.

Read the complete story

Cakes4Kids working to make sure every kid has a special cake for their birthday

By Andy Dahn and WBBM Newsradio Staff

May 21, 20244:49 pm

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Many kids look forward to everyone gathering around a cake to sing “Happy Birthday.” One organization has a chapter in Chicago that is ensuring everyone gets something sweet on their birthday.

"We started baking and delivering cakes to the youth here in Chicagoland. Kids in foster care, homeless shelters, refugee groups, group homes, things like that," said Emily Gyure, who is the Volunteer Ambassador for the Chicago chapter of the organization Cake4Kids.

Cakes4Kids was founded back in 2010 and brought to Chicago 10 years later.

Read the complete story

Cake4Kids provides a small gesture that comes with big feelings

by Sergio Garcia: Special to The Desert Sun

Macaroni and cheese, yin and yang, Donny and Marie, cakes and kids — they all go so well together. You might assume that every child gets a birthday cake on their special day. But sometimes, that’s not what happens. Cake4Kids tries to fill that gap for children that may otherwise go without.

“It’s inconceivable to me that a child might not get this recognition on their birthday,” said Coachella Valley Cake4Kids ambassador Ray Biller. “But many children in our community don’t. It’s like a wake-up call, and it’s at the heart of what we do. We make these kids smile and build their self-esteem. It impacts their families, too. They would love to give more to their loved ones but are stretched so thin financially.”

Cake4Kids partners with local children's services agencies. They identify when a child might not be able to receive a cake on an important day, like a birthday, graduation, neighborhood welcome, special holiday or unique achievement. Volunteers bake cakes, cookies, cupcakes and brownies and deliver them to agencies, who in turn present the treats to children. Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs, Olive Crest, Shelter from the Storm, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Rio Vista Elementary all currently participate, and Cake4Kids is looking to expand that roster.

Read the complete article

Cake4Kids Ambassador Ray Biller poses with volunteer baker Cathy Walker Montgomery and her husband, Ron.

Pittsburgh area junior helps bring the non-profit Cake4Kids to Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Sometimes the biggest impact can come from things that are so small and one teenager is making things just a little sweeter for those who need it the most. 

Whether it's pies, cupcakes, cookies, or chocolate cake topped with fresh berries, these desserts look like they would be behind a glass case inside a high-end bakery. 

However, they are not. 

They are made by 17-year-old Ishaan Sharma, an ambassador for Cake4Kids. 

"It's always a thing that makes people happy, I've never seen someone sad when they got a cookie or something like that," he said. 

For the Upper St. Clair High School junior, when the pandemic hit and he was stuck at home, he was looking to stay busy. 

While he didn't give a specific number, he said he spends a lot of time perfecting his cupcakes and other sweet treats. 

His first major undertaking was a two-tiered birthday cake for his brother. 

"He definitely loved it," Sharma said. "It was just a simple yellow cake with chocolate frosting."

"He really seemed to enjoy it, he always enjoyed food," added his mother, Priyanka. 

Priyanka quickly saw that this was becoming more than just a hobby for her son. He ended up working with an agency to bake cupcakes for an after-school program. 

"He was like, 'No, mom, I don't want to fundraise, I just want to give them cupcakes, it brings them joy,'" she recalled. 

"I got letters from every single kid that was telling me just how much they loved it," Ishaan said. 

Not long after, a friend told Priyanka about the national non-profit Cake4Kids. 

The organization works with various agencies to provide free cakes to foster children and at-risk youth. 

After learning that there was no Pennsylvania chapter, Ishaan and Priyanka decided to start one. 

"Both he and I thought this was the right thing to do," Priyanka said. 

So far, they've recruited more than a dozen people to volunteer to bake cakes or any dessert that is requested.

The experience so far has been rewarding for both mother and son. 

"When you see children's lives you can impact, it makes you keep going," Priyanka said. 

"It surprised me just how much kids don't get that joy," Ishaan added. "Just how much of an impact that makes when they do get to experience it." 

And that...is pretty sweet. 

Next month, they'll deliver their first cake and they want to do more, but they're still looking for additional volunteers. 

Service Spotlight: Cake4Kids

The Smile Project: Service Spotlight on Cake4Kids

I am thrilled to share this week’s Service Spotlight as it highlights two of my favorite things: service and baking! Meet Alison Bakewell, Executive Director of Cake4Kids a California-based organization that operates across 19 U.S. states.

Liz: Let’s start in traditional Smile Project fashion. Give me a “Happiness is!”

Alison: Happiness is knowing we have brought a little light, hope, and joy into the lives of youth.

Liz: Tell me about Cake4Kids.

Alison: Take a moment to imagine going through your childhood being overlooked or neglected with no one remembering let alone celebrating you, your birthday, or your accomplishments. For youth experiencing homelessness, recovering from abuse or trafficking, moving through foster care, or living at the poverty line this is their reality.

Every day Cake4Kids is changing this reality, providing at-risk youth with positive, critical childhood experiences that build their self-esteem and help guide them toward a bright future—their very own cake in celebration of birthdays, graduations, adoptions, and academic awards. The simplest gesture of being seen and celebrated makes a world of difference.

Liz: What is the driving force behind what you do?

Alison: There is a staggering number of youth experiencing homelessness, recovering from abuse or trafficking, moving through foster care, or living at the poverty line in the United States, and there are hundreds of thousands of kids, teens, and young adults who need our support. We recognize that the underserved youth we serve require food, shelter, safety, and education first and foremost, but those elements are simply not enough to create a positive childhood and guide them into successful adulthood. 

With every cake delivery we are creating critical childhood experiences and social support that make youth feel whole and help carry them through their trauma. Each cake is a reminder that they matter; there is a community standing with them.

We often hear from the youth who generously share their stories about what their cake meant to them. For many, it’s their first-ever birthday cake or cupcake whether they are 6, 14, or 21. For most, it’s the first time someone took the time to make them feel valued or special. 

One sixteen-year-old said, “The cake was really delicious and the only thing I wanted to do was give you guys my blessing for a healthy and happy life, because you don’t even know the people that you give a cake to but still you baked them, leaving them feeling special because that’s how I felt. That there was someone that didn’t know me but they still baked a cake just for me making me feel special, loved, and happy. And I know there’s a lot of people who feel the same way as me. Thanks for everything… for making us special, for making us happy, for making us feel like someone cares about us.”

These are the stories that motivate us every single day!

Liz: What does service mean to you?

Alison: For us, service means lifting up those around us through small acts of kindness. The joy on the face of a child holding their cake shows the profound effect each of us can make by taking some time out of our day to show others they matter. 

Liz: How can people get involved? 

Alison: Anyone can get involved with Cake4Kids and help make an impact in communities across the country. No matter where you live or how much time you have to volunteer, there’s a way to make a difference!

Volunteer: 

• Give your time and talents to bake and deliver homemade cakes, cupcakes, or cookies: Sign up at https://www.cake4kids.org/volunteer

• Help with fundraising, events, web development, or Salesforce development: contact Cake4Kids at info@cake4kids.org.

Donate: 

• Make a financial gift to Cake4Kids and help fund the work to positively impact underserved youth

Spread the word: 

• Follow Cake4Kids on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn

Liz: Anything else you'd like to add?

Alison: Cake4Kids has been delivering hope and smiles to youth since 2010. We’re an ever-growing nonprofit with chapters coast to coast, each with a thriving community of volunteers, supporters, partners, and more. We joke that we’re small but mighty! Our core team is 8 staff and we work on everything from strategy to social media, agency partnerships to fundraising, and volunteer recruiting to decorating emergencies. With a small team, everyone wears many hats! But we couldn’t do this work without the support of our chapter ambassadors and our operations volunteers! Our Ambassadors volunteer to lead each Cake4Kids region and help build a thriving community of volunteers and supporters in local communities, assist in fundraising, and build and manage agency partnerships. They are a key part of our organization! We also have a team of over 100 operations volunteers who help with local events, social media, tech support, and volunteer support in their chapters.

Liz: Do you have a favorite quote or piece of advice to leave us with?

Alison: Our favorite quotes come from the youth who receive our service. Their words inspire our work and remind us all how a seemingly simple gift makes a difference.

“Birthdays are bittersweet for me ever since I was younger and when I received this cake as a surprise from my team I began to cry. The cake was decorated with everything I like, and the cake tasted amazing. I am so thankful for people like you and thank you for making my birthday special again. I enjoyed sharing my cake with the other kids in here and with the staff that care for us as well. Thank you again." - Adrian

Cake4Kids gives bakers the sweet gift of helping others and treats to those who need them

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Across the country -- and here in Chicago -- there is an army of bakers.

 Their mission?

 To put smiles on the faces of kids going through rough times.

The bakers are part of a nationwide organization called Cake4Kids.

 The Chicago chapter recently delivered its 1,000th cake. CBS 2 met one of the bakers as she was making her latest treat.

Lisa Swanson is making a birthday cake for a child she will never meet.

"This particular young lady wanted basketball, so I decided to make it look like a basketball."

 Swanson is a volunteer baker for Cake4Kids.

It's a national network of bakers who make treats for children in difficult circumstances like those in foster care. 

"That's a need that needs to get filled, and I'm happy to do a teeny tiny part," Swanson said.

For privacy reasons, Swanson doesn't know the complete identity of the little girl who will get this cake, but Swanson's ok with that.

"I just always have a feeling that there's a kid out there, and I see him smiling; that's what I take out there," Swanson said.

There are photographs of kids who received a special treat made for them from a baker, just like Swanson.

"They don't have much, and I can just do a little bit; that's what makes me feel good," Swanson said. 

Cake4Kids started in California in 2010.

 The founder heard about a foster kid who finally had her own birthday cake after not getting one for years. 

The bakers pay for all their supplies themselves, so it's not just a donation of time but resources as well. 

 Swanson takes her cake to Arden Shore Child and Family Services in Waukegan.

 The organization helps about 2,000 children.

 It would be hard to do it themselves, so they rely on Cake4Kids to make birthdays special.

"It would be impossible for us to deliver it to the families," said Dora Maya, President of Arden Shore.

"I've seen smiles. I've seen tears. Overall, it's joy," added Arden Shore Placement Case Worker Brittney Kirkwood. 

 After dropping off the cake, Swanson heads back home to make another one for a child she will never meet.

"They may not get a cake from anyone else, but they'll get a cake from me," Swanson said. 

Program matches volunteer bakers with kids in need to gift birthday cakes

NBC News Chicago: The Cake4Kids program matches volunteer bakers with foster children and at-risk youth to gift free birthday cakes.

Cake4Kids delivers its 1,000 cake for underserved children in Monterey County

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) - Cake4Kids is spreading smiles to underserved kids and frosting to cakes in Monterey County. On Tuesday, the non-profit delivered its 1,000 cakes.

"Kids need to know that they're loved and valued, and I think that's what these cakes are doing," says Jen Ibarra, the volunteer ambassador for Cake4Kids

Cake4Kids says it's the little things that mean the world to kids who don't grow up with the simple luxuries in life.

"On the surface, it's just sugar, right? It's just a cake. But I guarantee you it's way more than that to these kids," said Ibarra.

The Monterey chapter for Cake4Kids started back in 2020.

"A lot of these kids are in situations where they might be left behind and forgotten. And to have one day where someone recognizes you and cares about you and to know that a complete stranger went out of their way to do something special for you that really makes a difference in these kids' lives," said Alison Bakewell, the executive director for Cake4Kids.

The 1,000th cake is going to Walter Turner's daughter who is turning 12.

"I appreciate what the shelters done for us and everything they have on remain for us," said Walter Turner,

He and his daughter are staying at the Casa De Noche Buena Shelter in Seaside.

"I think it's God's blessing just to live another day. So when I look at my daughter and how beautiful she's growing and how. Well, she's adapting towards life. I think that that's god's blessing and blessing wisdom upon her and upon our family," said Turner.

These cakes are not the generic ones you pick up at a grocery store.

Members of the non-profit do some digging on what flavor the person they are celebrating likes and then it is made by volunteer bakers like Claire, who had the honor of baking the 1,000th cake.

"I was really shocked when they called and said, this is going to be the thousandth cake. I mean, because there are at least a hundred bakers in the group, you know. so I was excited to do it for this child today," said Claire.

"It just feels amazing that that's 1000 kids who have felt that love in their community," said Ibarra.

Jen says they are always looking for more bakers. They get about 30 to 40 requests for cakes a month, so if you're interested you can contact Cakes4kids.

Jen also tells us they are always looking to partner with local agencies as well to hand out more cakes to children.

Delivering birthday cakes to underserved youth with Cake4Kids

DC News Now showcases Cake4Kids Northern Virginia and shares the impact of our service for underserved youth.

Birthday Cakes for Kids Living in Shelters

American Voices Podcast with Senator Bill Bradley

The Cake4Kids interview begins at 27:28

Senator Bill Bradley · The music of Peter One! Plus, birthday cakes for kids living in shelters

Baking Changing Lives into Your Business Model

By Dan Winter and Amy Vodarek

April 6, 2023

In this episode, Dan Winter and Amy Vodarek discuss how Cake4Kids makes birthdays memorable for kids across the U.S. 

Allison Bakewell is the executive director for Cake4Kids, a multistate volunteer-powered organization that delivers free custom birthday cakes to at-risk children and youth around the country. 

Cake4kids' unique business model ensures birthday cakes are baked and delivered to kids in foster care, kinship care, group homes, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, and those living in low-income housing with or without parents, or experiencing homelessness.

Originally a volunteer baker, Alison realized she could be more valuable in operations and in helping to scale up the whole organization. While expanding rapidly to cities across the country, she found that the most important thing is finding the balance between growing more, preserving the organization’s ethos, and ensuring they have the right leaders and volunteers to create new chapters and ensure they thrive.

‘’Our mission is to make the child happy with the cake and give the baker a seamless volunteer experience. ‘’

Alison is looking at the horizon of new possibilities. The company started with 13 cakes in its first year and has grown to make 12,000 kids smile with their custom birthday cakes. Cake4kids is developing the infrastructure, processes, funding, and membership to deliver 50,000 cakes per year. 

‘’I definitely see kids who have had birthday cakes and are now in a situation where they don't get one. So they know the importance of someone remembering their day and making a big deal about them, celebrating them. And then you have kids who have never had a birthday cake. We've had 22-year-olds who've never had a birthday cake in their entire life. And the first time they get it, it's like, ‘Wow, someone cared enough to take the time out of their day to do something for me. They don't even know me; I must be special if someone's willing to do that for me.“ 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Check out Cake4kids here: https://www.cake4kids.org/
If you’re interested in starting Cake4Kids in your area, learn how to Start a Chapter!

Icing on the Cake: Local group helps make children’s birthdays special

By Jaya Patil/For InsideNoVa

April 6, 2023

Christopher was very impressed with his birthday cake.

Many organizations deliver flowers, fruit, packages and personal messages, but one in Northern Virginia delivers love – along with cakes.

Libby Gruender founded Cake4Kids in California 13 years ago to provide homemade cakes to local children on their birthdays. Volunteers expanded the nonprofit across the state, baking and delivering cakes to children who otherwise might not have one.

Cake4Kids partners with schools, agencies and individuals to serve children who are in foster care, low-income homes or experiencing homelessness or other difficulties.

Fair Oaks resident Mary Campbell read about the organization while looking for more to do close to home. “For a lot of these children, it may be the first cake they ever received,” she said.

For Campbell’s kids, volunteering was essential when her husband was an active Navy captain and they were moving frequently. “It's a great way to help them have roots, which is hard when you're a military child.”

She asked Cake4Kids leadership if she could start a chapter in Virginia. After more than a year of logistics and paperwork, Campbell founded Cake4Kids Northern Virginia in April 2019, the first chapter outside of California.

One of the cakes made by volunteer baker Phyllis Maggio, one of the 30 Cake4Kids volunteers in Prince William County.

The chapter now has more than 600 volunteers and has partnered with over 100 local agencies. Cake4Kids Northern Virginia has baked some 3,600 cakes since 2019, with over 200 cakes in January alone. Each of those cakes has affected at least one child.

“[Families] don't have to choose between paying a bill and celebrating their child's birthday. We make that possible for them,” Campbell said.

Volunteers involve their families, too. Campbell’s husband, Bill, and their adult sons, Tyler and Nolan, complete deliveries sometimes.

Volunteer Farah Syed joined Cake4Kids at the start of 2020 after moving from New York to Ashburn. She was looking for ways to get involved in her new community when she saw Cake4Kids on Facebook.

She dove into baking when she left her teaching career. “Once I had my daughter, I had to put a lot of things aside, but baking was always there,” she said. “That helped me when I was not teaching.”

When her son was born, she was too busy to bake, but Cake4Kids brought it back to her.

For some volunteers, baking is their forte. Bristow resident Phyllis Maggio bakes for local school shows and events and crochets for charities when she’s not volunteering for Cake4Kids. For others, it’s one way to help.

But volunteers do not need to be expert bakers or commit to a certain number of hours, although Cake4Kids will reimburse bakers up to $100 a year for classes.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves because we want to deliver the most amazing thing … but [the kids are] happy … if their name is on it, it’s all theirs, and they picked it,” Campbell said.

“It seems like a very simple thing,” she added: a cake for a kid. But Cake4Kids’ impact extends from volunteers to their families, from kids to their case workers, and more.

“It’s not only me, it’s the whole community getting together and making this one child’s day,” Syed said.

Maggio noted that at a minimum just a box of mix and some icing will remind a child that they matter. “It costs you nothing to be kind, but it might be worth everything to the person you help.”

Syed said that by providing the cakes, the organization builds children’s self-confidence and sense of belonging in a community.

“The main goal is to make sure that all children are feeling loved and special,” she said. ““No matter what you’re going through, someone is caring about you.”

7News Helping Hands, Easterns Automotive Group surprise Cake4Kids with $2,200!

By WJLA

March 27, 2023

Thousands of children around the DMV experience their birthdays without a birthday cake. In fact, some say they have never received one. That's why one Fairfax county nonprofit called Cake4Kids is working to change that.

It's something you might not think of, but unfortunately it happens all the time.

"It never occurred to me that children go without a birthday cake and that broke my heart," said Mary Campbell, owner of nonprofit Cake4Kids. "It's homeless children, it's children in domestic violence shelters, it's foster children, it's children in immigration services, and it's children with free and reduced lunch. We do a lot of Title I schools."

That's why Campbell is making a difference in her Fairfax County kitchen through her nonprofit.

"I thought, 'How would I feel if it was my child's birthday and I wasn't able to provide something?' So I wanted to be able to bring something here," Campbell said.

She does that with the help of 650 local volunteer bakers – many who say they aren't really bakers at all.

Patt Rossini, a volunteer said she had the chance to bake for a kid who has never had a cake before.

"It was a last-minute request for a Fort Nite cake, and later I got a 'thank you' picture with the child and that killed me," Rossini said.

7News and Easterns Automotive Group were inspired by Cake4Kids' mission and decided to surprise the nonprofit with a 7News Helping Hand.

"Cake4Kids is an amazing organization. You guys do something that many people take for granted by supporting those kids who might not have a cake for their birthday," said Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive Group. "Using that secret ingredient of baking extra love into it and then delivering it to their home is an amazing way to support the community. We want to help you guys continue to do that by donating $2,200 so you can continue baking all of those cakes across the DMV."

Campbell was extremely grateful for the surprise donation. She says everything (and everyone) helps their goal of giving kids cakes on their birthdays a success.

"I say it all of the time, I am a small part of it," Campbell said. "It's all of us and everybody cares and that's the beauty of it."

Birthday cake delivery nonprofit hits major milestone

By John Franchi

March 6, 2023

SALT LAKE CITY — A local nonprofit organization is celebrating a milestone.

Cake4Kids of Northern Utah recently delivered its 1,000th cake to a child in need.

Becky Carroll began the northern Utah chapter in 2021 as a way to honor the memory of her grandparents who dedicated their lives to helping foster children. They passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I just wanted a way to honor their service,” Carroll said.

Cake4Kids delivers homemade birthday cakes to children who likely would not receive a cake on their special day without these donations.

The creations are intricate and no request from a child is impossible.

Cakes with different themes like bowling, Disney, and Lego are just a few examples of the delicious treats that helped children smile on their special day.

The effort requires a small army of volunteer bakers.

What began with about a dozen volunteers two years ago has grown to 250.

“We have a lot of moms like Alyssa and I that can't do a lot of things outside of the house, but I can bake a cake and deliver it to someone and still fit in time for my family,” Carroll said.

She was referring to Allysa Johanson who baked a candy-filled cake for a teenager.

Johanson has baked and donated about a dozen cakes since joining Cake4Kids.

“It warms your heart,” Johanson said. “There is nothing quite like knowing that somebody else is going to hopefully have that wow moment when they get their own cake.”

The cake baked by Johanson was delivered to the Children’s Service Society, a Utah organization with several missions including providing services to children in need of permanent families and assisting families caring for a relative’s child.

“I think about the girl that cake is going to and it almost brings me to tears because I know what it will mean to her,” said Alyssa Craven, the grand families director at Children’s Service Society.

Cake4Kids partners with several organizations like CSS to identify children in need of a birthday cake.

“We thought it would be perfect to get cakes into homes where children are usually experiencing trauma and working on healing,” Craven said. “The caregivers – the last thing on their mind is putting together a dessert.”

While volunteer bakers never get to meet the children who receive their delicious works of art, they know the time they spend in the kitchen is making a difference and that’s why they are ready to bake their next 1,000 cakes and beyond.

“I can't go in and stop bad things from happening, but you can spread joy,” Carroll said. “It’s really important to do little things that make people happy and that just brightens the world.”

Cake4Kids serves children in Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Tooele and Salt Lake counties.

Sweetest Surprise

By Cailtin Fillmore

Winter 2023

Everyone has a birthday—a special day dedicated to the moment that they entered this world. Birthdays carry symbolic significance and are celebrated with enthusiasm in most global cultures. But many children living in Monterey County do not experience the warmth, love, and individualized celebrations that most of us enjoy on our birthdays.

Cake4Kids began in 2010 with a sweet and simple mission: making sure that all children can celebrate their birthdays with cake. Since then, the nonprofit has delivered 40,000 cakes to children in refugee camps, group homes, foster care, and other settings associated with the 750 Cake4Kids partner agencies across the country. In Monterey County, children have blown out candles on 700 Cake4Kids creations since Jen Ibarra took the leap to start a local chapter of the nonprofit in 2020.

Ibarra serves as an operations manager for Cake4Kids and is a volunteer ambassador for the newly formed Monterey region of the Sunnyvale-based nonprofit. Ibarra got hooked on cake decorating after attempting a Winnie-the-Pooh cake for her first child’s first birthday. In the years that followed, Ibarra made birthday cakes for her four children’s special days as well as for other local children from her church or community who didn’t have a birthday cake.

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared and many volunteer opportunities were unavailable, Ibarra discovered Cake4Kids and quickly established the Monterey chapter. “We recognize these kids have bigger needs, but that’s not all that’s needed for a child to have a full and happy life,” explains Ibarra. “They need to know they matter. During the [first waves of the] pandemic, one of our agencies told me it was the single most important thing they did because they were cut off from the kids as well. [The cakes provided] a crucial bridge to kids.”

More than 160 Monterey-area volunteer bakers sign on to an online portal to review the types of cakes that children have dreamed up.

Birthday boys and girls can choose the theme, colors, icing, and flavors they want, and the child’s name is always on the cake.

Volunteer Kiska Icard discovered Cake4Kids as a way to improve her baking skills while helping others during the initial waves of the pandemic. Icard was impressed with how simple it was to make a difference and cherishes the thank-you sentiments she received from a teen who loved her red velvet creation. “Go to the website and register. Do it now,” says Icard. “There is zero downside. You may volunteer as little or as much as you would like. It will make you a better baker, and a better person.”

Bakers of all skill levels come together to do something special for a child they will never meet. Instead, agency partners, such as Lori at Rancho Cielo, deliver the Cake4Kids creations on the volunteers’ behalf. Lori explains that many of the children she works with either never experienced getting a birthday cake or never received one that they did not have to share with other children in their group-living environment.

For Lori, Ibarra’s work to organize Cake4Kids in Monterey was perfect timing, as the children had become increasingly depressed and isolated during the pandemic’s shutdowns. A cheerful cake celebrating all of the child’s favorite things, from sharks to social media, was helpful. “A thank you is not enough,” says Lori about the volunteer bakers, who put so much love into the birthday cakes. “It can be hard for these kids to share emotions,” she says. “When you surprise them with something they’re not expecting . . . that they’re not forgotten, and someone did something just for them . . . wow, what an amazing feeling.”

For more information, visit cake4kids.org.

LInk to the article

Volunteer bakers, donations needed to fulfill birthday cake wishes of underprivileged children

By Jennifer Franco
July 28, 2022 9:15 PM

Cake4Kids is in need of volunteers and donations as it prepares for the busier fall months.

The non-profit organization provides cakes for underprivileged children who may not normally receive a cake for special occasions.

“We not only bake cakes for the birthdays and graduations, but certainly as holidays come up if the agencies have a need they’re going to throw some parties or a fundraiser, we’ll also bake for those occasions as well,” said Ray Biller, Ambassador for the Coachella Valley Cake4Kids chapter.

Cake4Kids works with several partner agencies that deliver homemade cakes directly to children, after they are baked entirely for free by volunteers.

These agencies include Olive Crest, CFLC Sheltering Palms Foster Family Agency, Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, The Boys and Girls Club in Cathedral City, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, among others.

“In earlier years in my career I worked with at-risk youth, with children in disadvantaged homes and communities, so I felt I’ve been missing that and this was a perfect opportunity for me to connect with them and give back,”said Elizabeth Campos, a volunteer baker with Cake4Kids.

Elizabeth Campos, Cake4Kids volunteer baker

Cake baked by Elizabeth Campos

The non-profit launched locally in March 2022 and has been well-received since then, according to Ray Biller, Ambassador for the Coachella Valley Cake4Kids chapter.

“When I first started seeing if there was really a need out here in the valley I wasn’t quite sure what I’d find, but I was a little overwhelmed by what we discovered,” said Biller.

“I discovered that 60% of the kids in the school districts out here in the valley live underneath the poverty line,” he added.

Cake4Kids is holding its first fundraiser in the Coachella Valley on Wednesday, August 17 at One Eleven Bar in Cathedral City. Anyone interested in the event is invited to attend.

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Cake4Kids on NBC Palm Springs

Thalia Hayden from NBC Palm Springs recently interviewed Cake4Kids’ Coachella Valley Ambassador, Ray Biller, about Cake4Kids! Check out the interview below!

If the video below doesn’t work, you can view it here.

Now that takes the cake — to underserved kids

By Mike De Felice For the Review
June 25, 2022 1:30 am

Underprivileged children associated with family shelters, the foster system, domestic violence or human trafficking agencies, or food banks are among those who receive birthday cakes from Cake4Kids. (Courtesy photo)

Swirling pink, purple and blue frosting on the unicorn cake was a huge hit when an 8-year-old Bainbridge Island girl opened her eyes and saw the colorful creation at her birthday celebration.

The mother of the second-grader beamed and said, “She was super excited to see all the colors, candles and decorations. It was a blessing.”

Designs on the unicorn cake were so impressive that they led to a tiff between family members. “The family got into an argument over what was the best way to cut the cake to preserve the decorations, but we all knew we wanted to eat it!” the mom laughed.

Leading up to her daughter’s birthday party, the single mom of two girls, who found herself stressed and strapped for cash, turned to Cake4Kids for help. The nonprofit has volunteer bakers who make special treats for children who otherwise may go without a birthday cake on their special day.

“At Cake4Kids, we say that no child should go without a birthday cake,” said Dawn Snider, Kitsap County lead for the nonprofit. “We all grew up getting birthday cakes every year, and we remember. We don’t realize there are children in our neighborhood and our community that may have never had a birthday cake. Our mission is to bring joy to these children.”

The nonprofit works with agencies serving youth to locate kids who could use a birthday surprise. Underprivileged children associated with family shelters, the foster system, domestic violence or human trafficking agencies, or food banks are among those benefited by Cake4Kids, Snider noted.

Once a service agency selects a young candidate, the group puts out the referral to its volunteer bakers who pull out their mixing pans and heat up their ovens. Goodies whipped up by chefs include birthday cakes, cupcakes, cookies and brownies. “It’s whatever the child requests,” said Snider, of BI.

Bakers often create theme cakes – examples include dinosaurs, skateboarding and popular movies like Disney’s “Frozen.”

A baker who accepts a job is responsible for buying all the ingredients and getting the finished product to the referring agency. “For privacy concerns, we never see or meet the child,” Snider pointed out. “While they don’t meet the client, oftentimes the volunteer baker gets a thank-you card and sometimes gets a picture of the smiling child with the cake.”

Volunteer bakers

Cake4Kids began in California in 2010 and has expanded to 40 chapters across 11 states. The nonprofit expanded to Kitsap County last fall. Agencies wishing to make referrals can contact Snider at dawn@cake4kids.org. Volunteer bakers can go to cake4kids.org.

Cakes4Kids has 14 bakers in Kitsap County. The group primarily is active in North Kitsap, Snider said, but the group is looking to expand to the central and south county and is looking for volunteers in those areas. “Our bakers are people who love to bake, have the time and love helping children,” Snider said.

Local bakers range from a scientist and a counselor to people in marketing and the tech field. Retirees also have signed up. They all learn in the process.

“[Our bakers] have some competency in the basic ability to decorate cakes but you don’t have to be a professional. Like myself, I can do basic decorating, but I thought it would be fun to learn how to be a better decorator,” Snider said.

Bakers sign up to make as many desserts as they want. “Some bakers are very active and bake one or two times a month. Others do one or two a year,” she said.

Kim Fox of Bainbridge Island has been a Cake4Kids volunteer baker for several months.

“My grandmother made me decorated cakes growing up,” Fox said. “I have fond memories of that. Now, I’m addicted to watching YouTube videos to learn about cake decorating.”

Fox, a retired software executive, finds her volunteer kitchen work satisfying. “I feel good about delivering a cake. It’s not like writing a check — this is much more personal,” said Fox, who recently finished making a Sonic the Hedgehog cake for a lucky child.

Dawn Snider of Cake4Kids: “Our bakers are people who love to bake, have the time, and love helping children.” (Courtesy photo)

Dawn Snider of Cake4Kids: “Our bakers are people who love to bake, have the time, and love helping children.” (Courtesy photo)

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Cakes celebrate milestones for kids in shelters, foster care

Cake4Kids volunteer baker Tina Sampson was recently highlighted as an Everyday Hero by ABC Denver7! Watch Denver7’s segment about Tina and Cake4Kids below!

By: Kevin S. Krug
Posted at 10:15 PM, Jun 19, 2022
and last updated 6:49 AM, Jun 20, 2022

It takes a lot of practice to become an expert cake decorator. Luckily for the bakers who are part of the Northern Colorado chapter of Cake4Kids, they have bakers like Tina Sampson to help give them a hand.

ARVADA, Colo. – It takes a lot of practice to become an expert cake decorator. Luckily for the bakers who are part of the Northern Colorado chapter of Cake4Kids, they have bakers like Tina Sampson to help give them a hand.

Over the last year and a half, the 300-plus bakers who are part of the chapter have made more than 1,000 cakes for kids who are in foster care, shelters and other programs where they might not always get a special cake for graduations, birthdays and other milestones.

Of those 1,000 cakes, Sampson has baked and decorated more than 30 herself.

“I think it doesn't hurt, right, to put a little extra love in what you're doing so that the kids can feel that too,” she said with a smile. “One of the cakes that I baked last year that I'll always remember was for a 5-year-old girl who was in a domestic abuse shelter. And I did get emotional when I was making her cake.”

There are more than 20 Cake4Kids chapters across the nation, but only one in Colorado right now. Executive Director Alison Bakewell said the volunteers put their own time, money, and love into what they baked because they know if the kids’ birthdays aren’t getting celebrated, there are probably other important milestones in their lives that aren’t getting celebrated either.

“What we're really trying to do is making sure that they know someone who doesn't even know them cares — that they're worth the time and effort a volunteer takes and puts into the cakes or cupcakes that they back,” she said.

• To learn how you can volunteer or donate to Cake4Kids, click here.

The kids who receive the cakes can request any flavor and any decoration. Sampson said cakes with swirled flavors and red velvet cakes are some of the most popular cakes being requested right now. Whatever the flavor, whatever the theme, Sampson puts a little something extra in it from her heart.

“I feel like the giving for me is also putting the love and the energy into the product so that the child receiving it might feel that energy and that love coming from the baker," she said.

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