How This Birthday Box Makes Birthdays One to Remember for Underprivileged Kids

The OC Non-Profit That Brightens Children’s Birthdays

A young girl was transferred to yet another foster home the day she turned 12 years old. As it dawned on her that her last four birthdays had gone uncelebrated and forgotten, her eyes welled up with tears—until her new foster father surprised her with a birthday box. Birthday Box Underprivileged Children

Credit: Vu Bui at LR Creative

The gift box was ornate and festive, filled with toys perfect for a girl her age. It came from Project Giving Light, a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Harry and Kim Bagramian. Project Giving Light creates memorable birthday parties and delivers gifts to homeless and unstably housed children in Orange County and beyond.

“I felt like these children were not being celebrated.”—Harry Bagramian Birthday Box Underprivileged Children

Initially made up of the Bagramians and their two young children, Project Giving Light had small, humble beginnings. The idea was born after the couple spent time helping children deemed homeless by the county at Skyview Elementary. “I felt like these children were not being celebrated,” Harry Bagramian explains, noting the obvious difficulties of their life circumstances.

“For some reason, it just hit us. We, too, had children who were young, and I said, ‘I think these kids need to be celebrated on their birthdays.’”—Harry Bagramian

Over the last four years, Project Giving Light has celebrated over 1,500 kids on their birthdays. Their most formidable endeavor over the last eight months has been their new birthday box program, which permits volunteers to fill decorated, corrugated boxes with items for boys and girls of varying age ranges. Once filled, volunteers can send them directly to Project Giving Light, and their team will deliver to one of their many locations all across California.

Credit: Vu Bui at LR Creative

While the efforts of many non-profits have been at a standstill during the pandemic, Project Giving Light has defied all odds by expanding, providing desperately needed PPE (personal protective equipment) like N95 masks and sterilized gloves to Orange County hospitals as well as establishing a monthly grocery store gift card program to help over 100 local families.

“We’ve been trying to be adaptable, agile, and as helpful as we can to local families during these difficult times,”—Harry Bagramian

With help from the Orange County Foster Care Agency, Project Giving Light gave out 200 birthday boxes in August 2020. “We’ve heard such great feedback from some of the social workers. It really gives you perspective on what these kids are dealing with on a daily, weekly or yearly basis,” Bagramian adds.

To tackle poverty, Project Giving Light expanded to Los Angeles and partnered with Union Rescue Mission and Hannah’s Children’s Home. They also extended services to San Francisco City Impact, sending 150 more birthday boxes there in December.

Thus far, a key to their success has been consistency. “In our experience, consistency breeds authenticity,” he says.

Following the same ethos, Project Giving Light aims to give these kids a consistent, loving experience on their birthday. The only way to make that a reality is through the consistent donations and volunteer hours of others. “We want 2021 to be a year of explosive growth,” Bagramian explains. “Our goal is to give 7,500 boxes by the year’s end, but there is no reason why it can’t be 20,000 and we can’t get boxes sent all over the country.”

“Our goal is to give 7,500 boxes by the year’s end, but there is no reason why it can’t be 20,000 and we can’t get boxes sent all over the country.”—Harry Bagramian

According to Bagramian, donors and volunteers give underprivileged children hope and happiness today. They also help create lasting memories for the future. “No matter our circumstances, all of us can look back on the good and the bad things that have happened to us. However when someone or something impacts you in a meaningful and significant way, that changes you and makes you feel loved. That’s what we know we are delivering for all of these incredible kids,” Bagramian adds.

To volunteer or donate, visit their website at www.projectgivinglight.com.

Project Giving Light
220 Newport Center Dr #11, Ste 346
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Photography Provided By: Vu Bui at LR Creative