Media Contacts
Anna Lewicki Long
Office: 952.883.8804
along@mallofamerica.com

Celebrate the Cheerful Givers Birthday Bash at Mall of America®

WHAT: More than 130,000 children in Minnesota are living in poverty. Under these conditions, it is difficult for these children to celebrate their birthdays. To make their special day a little brighter, Cheerful Givers aims to provide less fortunate children with toy-filled birthday gift bags.

Proclaimed "Cheerful Givers Day" in Minnesota by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Cheerful Givers will throw a Birthday Bash at Mall of America April 22 to raise awareness. BT of Cities 97 will host the event. Guests will have a chance to meet Melanie Bower, author of "Do I have a birthday too? The Cheerful Givers Story." Kids can meet and greet with Sharky from Underwater Adventures and Shrimp Louie from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Miss Teen Minnesota will also make an appearance and will talk about her involvement with Cheerful Givers.

Adults can make donations and enter prize drawings every 30 minutes for a chance to win a DVD player, a $100 gift certificate to Bubba Gump's Restaurant, St. Paul Saint's tickets and more. Children can participate in coloring contests and win prizes.

This year, Cheerful Givers is hoping to raise $5,000 to provide 40,000 kids with birthday gift bags. Last year, the organization was able to provide more than 36,000 children with a gift bag.

Cheerful Givers is a non-profit organization committed to helping children in need. Since Cheerful Givers began in 1994, the organization has provided more than 166,000 children with birthday gift bags.

For more information about Cheerful Givers, please visit www.cheerfulgivers.org

VISUALS: Families participating in the birthday bash and learning more about Cheerful Givers

INTERVIEW
OPS: 
- Karen Kitchel, president of Cheerful Givers
-Melanie Bower
-Miss Teen Minnesota

WHEN: Sunday, April 22
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Mall of America - Rotunda

About Mall of America
Mall of America is the nation's largest retail and entertainment complex. The 4.2 million square foot complex is home to more than 520 world-class shops; The Park at MOA, the nation's largest indoor family amusement park; Underwater Adventures® Aquarium, a 1.2 million gallon walk-though aquarium; a 14-screen movie theater and more. The Mall opened in August of 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. For more information visit mallofamerica.com