THE BIRTHDAY BASH QUEEN OF PRESTON HOLLOW

PAIGE CHENAULT IS A PROFESSIONAL PARTIER, HOSTING MEMORABLE CELEBRATIONS FOR HOMELESS KIDS NATIONWIDE

MORE THAN 50,000 CUPCAKES have been eaten since Paige Chenault started The Birthday Party Project in Dallas in 2012. The former event planner leads a team of volunteers in 13 cities to throw monthly celebrations for children in homeless and transitional living facilities. Themes include county fair with a petting zoo, monster mash, superheroes and more. Chenault was inspired with the idea when she was pregnant with her daughter, Lizzie. Her daughter, who attends Wesley Prep, just turned 10 and celebrated her birthday at Mesero at Lovers and Inwood with balloons and cake. Lizzie also shares her birthday with kids at The Birthday Party Project. The family lives at Midway and Northwest Highway.

Eighteen in Dallas. And then we have about 115 party coordinators. These are volunteers that host parties on our behalf. We have birthday enthusiasts, which are volunteers that come and help us celebrate the kids. These are anyone 5 and older — families, single people and corporate groups.

What happens at a typical party?

Each month, we have a theme for every party across the country. We have superheroes or county fair with a petting zoo. We always make sure it’s this larger-than-life experience for the kids. About 30 minutes before the ceremony, our party coordinators come decorate, and then we welcome our kids into the room. We serve pizza to all of the families that are staying at the agency. We have cupcakes donated by various bakeries. The kids come in and divide up. You could have some at the petting zoo, at a dance party or throwing the football. About 45 minutes into the party, we line up our birthday kids, have a cake in front of them, a place mat with their name on it and a gift that’s been purchased especially for them. Each child is called by name, everyone sings “Happy Birthday” and then the child makes a wish.

Are there any personal stories that stand out for you?

One of my favorite stories is about a brother and a sister who were here in Dallas at a domestic violence agency. They were celebrating their birthdays in the same month, and the theme was superheroes. They were running around the party with their capes on, holding hands the entire time. You could tell that this boy was trying to protect and take care of his sister. Everything that they did, he always encouraged her to go first. When it came time to sing “Happy Birthday,” he turned to her and said, “You get to make the first wish.” She leaned in and blew out her candle. He hugged

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY PROJECT: BY THE NUMBERS

6,500 BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATED her so tightly and said, “I love you so much, sissy.” And then he blew out his candle, and she hugged him right back. It was this lovely moment.

What are your plans for the project?

We do 13 parties a month in Dallas/Fort Worth. There’s an opportunity to do a few more a month. We also launched an initiative called Birthday in a Box. We’ve partnered with the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center to provide them with birthday boxes to help celebrate kids’ birthdays on the spot. We have big dreams here at The Birthday Party Project. We believe every child deserves to be celebrated.

How can people help?

People can come and celebrate birthdays with us. We love donations and birthday gifts. There’s an opportunity to share your birthday party or you can sponsor a Birthday in a Box.

I thought I saw you recently on a television commercial.

Interview edited for clarity and brevity.

For more information, go to thebirthdayproject.org.

Yes! Cadillac was so generous to us, and they have a project called “Shaping DFW.” They highlighted The Birthday Party Project. So fun!

What’s it been like to be the subject of the national press?

When we got the call to be on the Today show, I squealed like a little girl.

1,300 PARTIES HELD

16,000 “BIRTHDAY ENTHUSIASTS” OR VOLUNTEER PLANNERS

40,000 KIDS IN ATTENDANCE

20,000 GLOW STICKS

150 LLAMAS

Source: Birthday Party Project