Kyra's 18th Birthday Project
AN END OF YEAR CELEBRATION FOR SOME INCREDIBLE TEACHERS!
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My goal was to hold an end of school year celebration for the teachers who have taught me so much more than just what they are required to. The past twelve years have shown me how incredible teachers truly are but the past year has been especially challenging and all of my teachers have stepped up in such amazing ways.
Before I closed the door on this chapter within the Cherry Creek School District, I wanted to unmask a whole bunch of gratitude for the teachers I have had at Antelope Ridge Elementary, Thunder Ridge Middle School and Eaglecrest High School!
It was an amazing celebration!
Thanks to the support of SO many community members, we were able to throw a big party, provide free lunch and gift some very special teachers with some very special gifts of gratitude!
thank you
To each and every teacher out there
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Thank you for all you did during the pandemic to help support us kids, for all you will continue to do in this world that looks a little different and for all you've always done.
You truly make a difference.
Our friends at CBS helped us to celebrate our teachers! Check it out by clicking HERE!
A special thank you to:
North of the Border Grill for your generous support of feeding our teachers!
Nest Salon and Boutique for your generous support of our teacher gifts!
WHAT'S NEXT?
It's been life changing to use my birthday and Christmas celebrations to give the gift of giving. My One Birthday has been a way to encourage others to give and my biggest hope is for that to continue. There is no gift you can receive that feels as good as giving. At the same time, I've been blessed to receive and have always had family and friends to celebrate my special day. Not everyone has that. And everyone deserves it. So My One Birthday will start to turn the focus to those less celebrated because everyone matters and everyone deserves happiness.
MY PAST PROJECTS
Thanks for stopping by to take a look at the past projects I've done. This is to show you what's possible by choosing the gift of giving! You can get creative and support anything that speaks to your heart!
Since 2011, Justin has led an organization called Fight for the Forgotten and has provided nearly 3,000 acres of land and 25 water wells to the Pygmies in the Congo of Africa.
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His goal is to Defend the Weak, Love the Unloved and Empower the Voiceless.
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Visit his website at
PROJECT 1 - SHOES AND CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICA
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My first project was when I was nine and I asked Santa for money to buy shoes and clothes for children in Africa. I saw a commercial on TV and was moved to do something. Santa granted my wish and I was able to buy some clothes and shoes for children in a village in Congo.
My friend Justin Wren went on a mission trip and carried a backpack packed full of the clothes and shoes to the village. This video is after he presented the children with the clothes - this video changed my life because I was able to see the impact my gifts had.
PROJECT 2 - Donations to Support the Ronald McDonald House in Aurora
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I liked the feeling of giving at Christmas so much that I decided to do it again for my birthday. Instead of asking for specific items for myself, I asked my party guests to bring laundry soap, paper towels, cleaners, food storage items and gift cards to local stores.
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The outcome was fantastic! I had three wagons full of much needed items to deliver to this amazing organization.
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Ronald McDonald House facilities are located across the country and provide temporary housing to keep families with sick children close together. If you are looking for an idea to make your One Birthday, click below to see if there is a location near you to support!
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PROJECT 3 - Blankets and Meals for the Homeless
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The issues of homelessness has always weighed heavy on my heart. For my third project, I chose to ask Santa for blankets to distribute to the homeless and asked my family for items to support making sack meals to hand out with the blankets.
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My friends Molly and Jhorden joined me on distributing the gifts in downtown Denver and the response was so heartwarming. The recipients were so appreciative. Click on the News Story link to watch the delivery in action!
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This is an easy project for you to do for your One Birthday! There was no delivery coordination - we just picked a Saturday and went downtown!
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PROJECT 4 - Firestation TV
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A local fire station was instrumental in saving the life of a very dear friend of ours Mande, who also happens to be the wife of our Board Treasurer! I heard that their television broke and there was no budget to replace it so I decided to ask for WalMart gift cards for my birthday gifts so that I could go shopping and buy the fire station a new TV.
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My good friend Trennah, who is also Mande's daughter, decided she too wanted to join in as her birthday is right after mine. So she also supported this cause by asking for gift cards and between the two of us we raised over $1200 and bought the station a television and wall mount to hang it on! Click on News Story to see how much fun we had at the fire station.
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After Trennah used her birthday gifts to give to the fire station, I decided I wanted to start My One Birthday. I realized that with a little encouragement and support, other kids would want to also join in on experiencing the gift of giving.
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PROJECT 5 - Food For Our Furry Friends
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I am a true animal lover. My dog Todd was my first very best friend and so for my next Christmas project, I wanted to help other furry friends out. We partnered with a local organization called PawsCo and I was able to raise over $1,000 to spend in addition to the gifts from Santa, my family and friends for much needed animal supplies.
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I had help from a friend and my little sister to deliver the treats to PawsCo. You can watch that delivery by clicking on the News Story link.
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PawsCo is a 100% volunteer run organization dedicated to helping animals through three programs - spay/neuter, pet food drives, animal fostering and adoptions. Check out their website at https://pawsco.org
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PROJECT 6 - Chemo Care Packages
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I wanted to do something for my 13th birthday that supported patients who were going through treatment for cancer. Cancer has affected my family and friends directly so it's a cause near and dear to my heart. After talking to friends the idea of a chemo care package came about. A bag filled with items - some helpful, some fun and some inspiring.
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Watch the video that I made using only my iPhone to ask for support of this cause.
You can easily make videos too!
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I asked for and received donations from multiple companies of items to put in the bags. Using those items, the gifts I received for my birthday and the donations to a GoFundMe, I donated 100 chemo care packages to the University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center as highlighted in the News Story .
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It was an emotional day of delivery. I was so fortunate to meet a special patient, Tess and her beautiful baby, Grace. Tess is a young mom fighting her way through treatment for breast cancer. She was so inspiring to me and so grateful for the donation. It was a gift for both of us. The News Story link highlights this visit and delivery.
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PROJECT 7 - Home Away From Home
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Asking for my Christmas gifts to benefit the Aurora and Denver RMDH turned into and incredible show of community support. Friends, family and even strangers all came together to provide an incredible donation.
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Our sweet friend Christine at 9News captured the gift of giving and a very special family who will be directly impacted by the generosity of all who chose to support this campaign. Click the link under the picture to meet this incredible family and their fighting son Delbert.
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I had supported the Ronald McDonald House before and recently volunteered through a school community group so I was well aware of the impact this organization has in our community.
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Empowering Colorado's sex trafficking survivors with the resources and skills they need to experience a future filled with hope.
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Providing a sanctuary for girls rescued from sex trafficking as they reclaim the life they were created to live.
PROJECT 8 - COMMITTED TO A CAUSE
After hearing the heartbreaking story of a family friend who experienced the manipulation of their 15 year old daughter being forced into sex trafficking, I wanted to take action. Not just in helping the survivors but creating awareness about sex trafficking.
For my 16th birthday and for Christmas I asked for much needed items to support two incredible organizations - Sarah's Home and Covered Colorado. Both of whom are critical in the recovery process for survivors of sex trafficking.
In addition, My One Birthday held an awareness event where representatives from both organizations spoke to parents, teens and teachers about the warning signs of trafficking and how to get help. A birthday and Christmas celebration that will keep on giving for years to come.
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Visit the sites for either of these organizations if need help or worry that a loved one may be involved. You can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888.373.7888 or text "info" or "help" to 233733.
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PROJECT 9 - HERO CARE PACKAGES
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to do a mid-year project of making care packages for our heroes in the hospital who are both mentally and physically providing extraordinary care for our sick families, friends, co-workers and neighbors.
Having several friends who are nurses and respiratory therapists, I had heard the stories of what these front line staff are experiencing. I decided to put together just a little package of love to show that we are here - rooting for them and feeling gratitude for the work they do every day.
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A BIG thank you to all of the Aurora community who came together to support the project. The bags ended up in the hands of the incredible ICU clinical team at the Medical Center of Aurora.
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PROJECT 10 - EDUCATION ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
For my 17th birthday I asked for donations to support Hype Freedom School whose mission is to empower people with the knowledge they need to be successful and self-sufficient. They accomplish their mission by providing parents and their children with access to education enrichment activities outside of normal school hours. They specifically support children from Houston's most disadvantaged communities.
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What did I get for my birthday?
An amazing collection of books, school supplies and headphones to support the Hype Freedom School program!
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Thinking you saw Kyra was supporting Respire Haiti? She was and is saddened to report she is now unable to follow through with that support. And all of those donations of Clorox Wipes and pens will be re-purposed and given to the above organizations. Unfortunately Haiti has been on a Level 4 advisory with a governmental recommendation of Do Not Travel and an order of the departure of all non-emergency U.S. personnel due to crime, civil unrest and kidnapping. Because of this risk Kyra is unable to travel to Haiti to make her donation.
Thoughts, prayers and deep hope for the return of peace are with Respire Haiti and all of the employees, children and volunteers who are doing such incredible work there.