Mission Statement of Rosie’s Birthday Club

Rosie’s Birthday Club is a non-profit organization of volunteers who believe all children should be honored on the one day that belongs just to them. With community centers, churches, and other organizations that serve children, we provide a gift and a party to celebrate the birthdays of children who might otherwise be forgotten.

Do you remember anticipating your next birthday party? Do you remember how special you felt? Are you aware that many of our own area children have never celebrated their birthday? Or had that special party? As hard as it is to believe, there are small children who do not even know the date of their birthday. Rosie’s Birthday Club is trying to change that.

With a team of volunteers along with generous donations, the Rosie’s team is making those special birthdays a reality. Serving children up to 18 years of age, we are making children feel special. Rosie’s relies on the generosity, time, and donations of the Rockford community to make this happen. We urge you to open your hearts, and help by getting involved in the cause.

Be sure to check Our Kids | Our People | and Our Donors

The History of Rosie’s Birthday Club

Rosemary Musick had five children, and always set aside a day for each to celebrate their births. That day, the birthday, was designed to be special from the time the child got up in the morning until they went to sleep at night. It was a day of celebration with a special meal prepared with extra care, and all family members were expected to participate – no excuses were accepted not to attend. Each child made a dreamy secret wish before blowing out the candles, and then with much anticipation, the time finally came to open that special present. It was always a gift that had been chosen with much thought and love.

Rosemary was my mother, and the children were my brothers and sisters.

Twenty years ago I met a mother whose special gift for her child would be a bag of cookies and a bag of potato chips. Her child knew this was a special gift, since junk food was not allowed in the home. It was a gift given with the same love that my mother had shared, but she was saddened that she could not do more.

So was I.

Over the years I remembered that woman as I met more and more children who had never been recognized on their birthday. As hard as it is to believe, I found that some children do not even know the date of their birth because it has been treated with such insignificance throughout their lives.

We formed Rosie’s Birthday Club to share the joy of birthdays with children from all walks of life – those with parents struggling and working hard to make ends meet, children from broken and extremely disadvantaged homes, children in foster care, and children who are homeless. We believe in the joy of celebrating them all.

Rosemary Musick’s birthday wishes live on through Rosie’s Birthday Club, her namesake, an organization whose charge is to celebrate children, no matter their circumstance, on their very special day. The organization began in 2009 with $25 given by a friend to celebrate one child at Northwest Community Center, and now has grown to eight locations and over 4,500 celebrations.

Our vision is to continue to grow with the help of more volunteers and donors, to celebrate the children who, through no fault of their own, are not recognized on their birthday.

Please join us in this worthy cause. Visit our Get Involved page to find out how.

Be sure to check Our Kids | Our People | and Our Donors