Foster Fete: Birthday Magic For Kids Who Need It Most
Birthday celebrations for foster children bring days of joy and love
Photos courtesy of Foster Fete
For many children, birthdays are a day of joy, celebration and love. But for kids in foster care, birthdays often pass unnoticed.
Renee Schneider, the founder of Foster Fete, couldn’t shake the thought of that reality when she first read about it.
“I have a 9-year-old daughter and, as a mom, I know how much birth- days mean to kids,” Schneider says. “When I learned that many foster children never get their birthdays celebrated, I knew I had to do something.”
What started as a small idea quickly turned into something much bigger. Schneider expected to organize about 20 parties in the first year. Now, just four years later, Foster Fete has celebrated nearly 1,500 birthdays.
“Recently, we celebrated a 16-year-old’s birthday. She had never had a party or even a birthday cake before,” Schneider recalls. “She was new to foster care, and we were able to bring her some joy on her big day. That’s what it’s all about.”
THE GIFT OF BEING SEEN
Foster Fete’s mission is simple: make birthdays bright for kids in foster care.
“Being a teenager is already tough. Imagine it’s your birthday, and you see other kids getting gifts and celebrating while you feel invisible. We want these kids to know that they are seen, loved and supported by their community,” Schneider explains.
Foster Fete partners with Denver Human Services, and word about the party organization spreads through caseworkers and an inner circle of foster parents. Each birthday celebration is customized based on the child’s preferences.
“Foster families fill out a form on our website with the child’s favorite color, interests and needs,” Schneider says. “We provide cakes donated by incredible local bakeries and ensure every child receives high-quality, meaningful gifts.”
The nonprofit relies on donations to personalize each child’s birthday experience. “The best way for people to help is through cash donations,” she says. “We want to be able to give kids exactly what they want; if a teen asks for size 9 purple Nikes, we want to get them exactly that.”
Foster Fete also has Amazon wish lists for kids on their website and accepts new and unwrapped toys from toy drives as well as handmade birthday cards.
THE LASTING IMPACT
Schneider’s connection to the foster system runs deep: Her grandfather and great-aunt were foster children in the 1920s. She grew up witnessing her great-aunt create magical holiday celebrations for their family, inspiring her to pass that same kindness forward. “She made us feel so special,” Schneider recalls. “I want these kids to feel that, too.”
Looking ahead, Schneider has set a new goal: celebrating 365 birthdays in a single year—one for every day of the year. However, the joy that Foster Fete brings goes beyond a single day.
“We hear from foster parents all the time about what these parties mean,” Schneider says. “One foster mom told us that her 18-year-old, who had been resisting care, finally felt like things might be OK after his birthday celebration.”
With community support, Foster Fete is providing a sense of belonging and joy in a child’s life—one birthday at a time.
800 S. Jason St., Denver
303-898-2280
Holly Shrewsbury loves bringing big ideas to life, crafting stories that connect people. When she’s not creating campaigns or building partnerships, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors with her family, coaching dance to local youth, or planning her next adventure.
