We recently connected with Kelley Khoury and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kelley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My niece Shelby-Ann was born in 2015. Living across the country, I was extremely grateful I was able to travel to each birthday celebration. In 2018, when Shelby-Ann was old enough to understand sharing and giving, I started a unique birthday tradition. We would shop for kids’ birthday items (cake, frosting, sprinkles, cupcake wrappers & candles) and then donate these items to her local food bank. We would talk about how fortunate we were, and I would explain how other little kids were not as lucky. She would help shop for the items, carry them into the food bank, and then she would explain to the volunteers why we were donating these items. It is a tradition I look forward to continuing throughout her childhood and I am hopeful through this non-profit I can increase our impact so more children can have the birthday they deserve. I am passionate about our mission which is why all donations go towards Birthday Kits and directly impact a child. My husband and I personally cover all fixed overhead costs and volunteer our time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Operation Birthday is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is founded on the principle that all children deserve a birthday celebration. Our mission is to ensure each child feels special on their birthday by providing parents in need with birthday items they are not able to afford.

We pride ourselves on how each Birthday Kit is customized for each child – which means each parent gets to design and suggest items as if they were shopping for the kiddos themselves. This protects the parent’s dignity while also ensuring each child feels as special as possible. We put so much love into each Kit – we even include batteries for any toy that requires them.

We are passionate about our mission, which is why the Founders cover all fixed overhead costs and volunteer their time – which means each donation goes directly towards the Birthday Kits. Our Board of Directors consists of 80% women and Shelby-Ann (now 7) is our honorary Board Member who helps us keep a kid’s perspective in mind throughout our operations.

We are unique because we provide communities with an age-appropriate avenue to give back and volunteer. Young children can volunteer to create handmade birthday cards that we then include in the Birthday Kits. We believe in “paying it forward” and we find joy in helping others celebrate their birthdays. Because of this, we launched a pilot program that includes a birthday card and a pack of crayons, and we ask that the birthday kiddo we sponsor colors the picture and sends it back to us in a prepaid envelope. This handmade birthday card is then used to make someone else’s birthday brighter and each kiddo will feel great knowing they’ve paid it forward!

We currently help kiddos 12 and under (we cannot give gift cards at this time). We ship anywhere in the continental US (excluding Hawaii, Alaska + Puerto Rico), but our headquarters and main focus is in Colorado. Submissions must be received within the month that is three months before the child’s birthday month. For example, the submission window (January 1st – January 31st) is now open for April 2023 birthday referrals.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

It is important to us that we are meeting the needs of each child receiving a Birthday Kit. This is how we gut check that we are remaining aligned with our mission. Based on this feedback we’ve been able to adjust quickly and make changes to ensure we are having the most positive impact possible. Most recently we received feedback that a pink frosting can broke open in one of the shipped Birthday Kits covering all items inside. Our board took this incident seriously as we want each kit to be perfect! We pivoted quickly to ensure this would not happen again and now each frosting container is put inside a closed plastic bag. We put so much love into each Birthday Kit and designed a strong feedback process to ensure our mission remains successful.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was a freshman in college, I had decided my major would be Computer Science. By the second semester I was struggling a bit more than I would have liked and did everything I could to succeed. However, I had a professor that believed in a specific way of teaching, and it did not matter if I went to his office hours or reached out for help, he would always say he would provide feedback once the assignment was graded. The challenge was that I went to a small school, so I did not have the option to switch professors and he would be a large part of my 4-year journey if I kept this degree. During one of my last attempts to get additional help, I was told that he felt this major was not for me. I was upset, worried and embarrassed but I used that rejection in a positive way. With guidance and help from my amazing sister we pivoted and added an additional degree, Business. We sat down and mapped out my remaining years and the exact classes and credits I would need each semester. We determined it could be done, but I would have to give up studying aboard, I would have to complete summer classes as well as taking at least 22 credits a semester. I went to bed that night excited as the power was back in my hands. Best case – I would leave college in 4 years with 2 degrees or worst case I would still succeed and leave with only one degree. I’m happy to say I successfully graduated in 4 years with 2 degrees but looking back I’m even more grateful I had that professor. Without him, I would not have the background I do today, which I continuously use to run my non-profit. In that moment, it felt like one of the lowest and scariest times so it’s funny to think I’m so grateful for it now. It really strengthened my belief that we cannot control what happens to us in life, but we can control how we react to it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.operationbirthday.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operationbirthday2/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/operationbirthday2/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/operationbirthday
• Other: EIN: 87-0863177

Image Credits
We own all images and we have permission to have my niece is all photos.