For Clara’s 3rd birthday, she got a tree house and Project Linus got $227.00

No stopping this girl.  Already providing warmth and comfort at age three!

Clara says she chose to support Project Linus, “Because children didn’t have blankies.” Clara adores the quilts made by her Great Great Grandmother and her Great Grandmother Imogene that she sleeps with every night. Her Grandma Imogene also makes quilts for the Linus Project. For her birthday, Clara wanted to help other children get their own “blankies.” Project Linus gives handmade blankets to ill and traumatized children that are in need of a little extra comfort. When we offered the choice between giving blankets or helping children who needed more food, Clara said, “Why can’t I do both?”  Clara’s Mom says she loves that Clara is learning about helping others – inspiring her generosity at such a young age.

Clara is getting a tree house in her backyard that her parents are building for her from new and reclaimed materials. Hopefully, it will be a little retreat for her for many years to come.

Happy birthday sweet Clara.  Your ECHO will certainly be heard far and wide.  Wishing you many
wonderful hours of dreaming up new ways to improve the world in your new tree house.

ECHOage Loves Summer Camp

ECHOage loves to support camp! The more camps we support, the happier we are each summer. Kids from across Canada and the U.S. who also love camp have chosen to help send even more kids to camp this summer simply by ECHOaging their birthday parties. As a result of these amazing ECHOage birthdays, children living with cancer, children with developmental disabilities, and children who are visually or hearing impaired will have a chance to experience the sunshine, canoeing, skiing, campfires, songs, spirit and friendship that makes camp so memorable.

One of the camps that ECHOage supports is Camp Awakening.  This amazing camp is full of kids with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy. Camp Awakening makes camp a place of freedom.  After all, camp really is a place for kids to unplug from the constant buzz of cell phones, computers and video games and have the chance to make genuine face-to-face connections, discover the wonders of nature, and challenge perceived limitations.

Another camp that ECHOage supports is Lake Scugog Camp.  Some kids can’t go to camp because of their financial circumstances and the majority of Lake Scugog’s campers come from shelters, foster care, or families with limited financial means. Lake Scugog is a place where campers are able to feel no judgement, feel safe and have fun while experiencing the true joy that comes from swimming in a cool lake or eating a roasted marshmallow for the first time.

View all of the camps ECHOage supports here: ECHOage Camps

A Little Drama Goes A Long Way at Norah’s 9th Birthday Party.

Norah got $255 for an iTunes gift card and WWF Got $255.

For Norah’s 9^th birthday she and all her friends had a great drama party at The Stage Door Academy. They played really cool drama games, freeze dance, ate pizza and celebrated with birthday cake!

Her present was an iTunes gift card and 3DS games. In her words, “I love to listen and sing to music.”

For her ECHOage birthday, she chose to support  WWF.  When asked Norah how she felt about her contribution, “I LOVE animals and I wanted to help Polar Bears because they are getting endangered and I want to protect their Arctic Home.”

Norah, we are so proud of you and the ECHO you have already started at such a young age. We can’t wait to see what you do for your second act!

Happy, happy birthday, Norah from everyone at ECHOage.com

It’s Earth Day! Four Tips On How Your Birthday Party Can Give Back To The Planet.

It’s not really about throwing a green birthday party but rather throwing a party that is in keeping with the times.

A few mindful choices will let you and your guests feel proud about making the world a better place, one fabulous birthday bash at a time.  Where to begin?

1) Say adios to stamps! And hola to e-invitations.

Sending e-invitations eliminates paper, ensures speed of delivery and  allows your guests to RSVP, right away.  Sending Thank You notes becomes a joy, not a chore, when you personalize them with photos from the party with a press of the ‘send’ button.   No emissions, no paper cuts and no searching for mailing addresses required.

2) There’s no place like home.

Dorothy said it best when she tapped her heels three times…

Bringing your birthday party into your home allows you to reduce the need to use paper goods and disposable decorations.  Setting your table with your own dishes, cutlery and glasses not only makes the party feel special, it helps to keep the recycle bin from over-flowing.  Collect flowers or rocks from the garden to make place card settings extra special.

3) Work smarter not harder.

Giving group gifts is efficient, resourceful and best of all, is likely to result in a gift that will last and be treasured for years to come.  Let’s be real. If you asked your wee one who gave the LEGO set for their 5^th birthday, chances are you would still be waiting for that answer. If you asked who gave them their first baseball glove (iPod, scooter or camera) you will likely get a very clear and resounding – all of my friends!

Group gifts are also a sure fire way to get the friend-of-the-year award (while saving on gas and aggravation). Imagine telling your guests that they can give online, in seconds, and still give little Johnny the gift he has been dreaming about – while never leaving home.

4) The only thing better then giving one gift, is giving TWO.

Amp up the meaning of any birthday party by  including a charitable component (no gift wrap required).  Not only will you be teaching your kids that giving can be done at any age, you will be giving your child the gift that can ONLY come from helping others in need. Make it easy, make it fun and most of all, magnify the lasting impact the choice to give back will have on others.

Green, for sure.  Smart, you bet. Birthday parties of today, certainly can keep up with the time.

ECHOage your next birthday party.  Or, sign up for your FREE reminder.

A gift of music and love of animals made Elana’s 11th birthday, music to our ears!

For Elana’s 11^th birthday, she got a FLUTE and WWF got $317.00.

Ever since Elana was a toddler she’s had a strong interest in whales and marine life.  In fact, this summer she had the opportunity to see many varieties on a whale watching trip on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. WWF was just a natural charity choice for her, as well it fit with her party theme of exotic animals.

Elana has been playing the flute since she was 8 years old. She loves the flute for it’s beautiful sound.  Elana wants to pursue learning to play and perform into high school and getting a brand new flute for her ECHOage birthday was just the thing she needed to take her to the next level.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• -conserving the world’s biological diversity
• -ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• -promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Elana, you already are instrumental in making the world around you, a better place.  A giant happy birthday from ECHOage, to you!