At Brooke It Forward, we believe there’s a lot of power in this box. We work to make birthdays a little happier — and a lot more meaningful — for children whose special day might otherwise be forgotten. Through the help of generous volunteers and donors, we assemble Birthday Boxes: carefully curated kits that provide everything needed for a full birthday celebration.
Each box helps create a joyful moment for a child facing the trauma of abuse or the uncertainty of neglect — reminding them that they matter, they are loved, and their life is worth celebrating.
Each Birthday Box is filled with the essentials for a celebration: cake mix, icing, candles, plates, and napkins. Then we add special touches — fun treats like cookies, candy, small toys, notebooks, stickers, or other creative surprises — plus a thoughtful gift just for the birthday child.
Every box also includes a personal birthday card to honor their special day.
But the box is so much more than what’s inside — it’s a whole birthday experience. It invites the child’s family to gather, bake, laugh, and celebrate together. This shared joy plays a real role in the child’s healing journey, helping restore a sense of normalcy, connection, and hope.
Brooke It Forward currently serves nearly Mission Partners over 24 parishes in Southeast Louisiana and four counties in Florida. Counselors and volunteers gift the Birthday Boxes to the children near the time of their birthdays.
If you'd like to learn more about out our Mission Partners, click here.
The children we serve are navigating incredibly heavy circumstances. Honoring their birthday may seem like a small gesture — but it’s actually a powerful act of affirmation.
A Birthday Box tells a child, “You are seen. You are celebrated. You are worthy of joy.”
Beyond the cake and candles, these boxes nurture self-esteem, strengthen family bonds, and remind each child that the world is brighter because they were born. It’s a moment of light and laughter that can become part of their healing from trauma.
A “Birthday Bash” is our fun name for a collection drive/ Birthday Box Assembly! It’s a wonderful way for groups, businesses, schools, or individuals to get involved.
If you’d like to host one, send us a message, and we’ll guide you through the planning process, help you promote your event, and even provide custom birthday cards and “birthday swag” to make your boxes shine. Once your Bash is complete, we’ll coordinate getting the boxes into the hands of the birthday kids who need them most.
A Birthday Buddy is a special kind of supporter — someone who gives monthly to help ensure that every child Brooke It Forward serves is celebrated on their birthday.
Monthly gifts provide steady, reliable support that allows us to plan ahead and meet the growing needs of our Mission Partners. More importantly, they help guarantee that no child’s birthday slips by unnoticed.
When you become a Birthday Buddy, you’re not just donating — you’re creating moments of healing and hope. Each month, your generosity turns into birthday boxes that remind children who’ve faced abuse or neglect that they are seen, valued, and loved.
Even a small recurring gift has a big impact. For about the cost of a fancy coffee, you can bring smiles, laughter, and light to a child’s special day — all year long.
Absolutely! Donations are always welcome from anywhere.
If you’d like to bring the power of the Birthday Box to your community, send us a message. We’d love to explore how you can help spread the celebration.
Yes. Brooke It Forward Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code.
Tax ID#: 84-2137707
Your contribution is deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
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Every share, every box, every act of kindness helps us bring more smiles — and more healing — to children who need them most.
