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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY BRINGS UNEXPECTED BIRTHDAY CHEER TO CHILDREN IN NEED

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 22, 2008 – Many unfortunate children go without birthday presents, yet newly-formed Auburn Hills-based, On Your Birthday (OYB), is changing that one child at a time. OYB is a growing online community of children’s charities helping individual and corporate donors give unexpected presents to underprivileged, seriously ill, emotionally or physically challenged children in need of birthday cheer. Since the program’s launch in August 2007, OYB has gifted more than 900 children of all ages.

Tammy Alberts, president of OYB, says the idea started with a child. “On my daughter’s fifth birthday, she asked if all kids received birthday presents. From that one child’s question, we decided that this was something we could do, form a company that connected and gave people the chance to share their birthday with children in need based on their common bond of either a birth date, first name or favorite children’s charity.”

Jennifer, an OYB participant, loved the birthday connection. “I wanted to honor my mother on her birthday with a special gift, so I went to the OYB web site, selected a child that shares the same birthday as my mom and gave the child a gift on her behalf,” said Jennifer. “All I had to do was fill out the online form and pay $30 with my credit card online, which is fully tax-deductible, and OYB took care of the rest!”

Each gifted child receives a package with a personalized birthday card and a classic or award-winning book tailored to the child's age and gender. Children aged 1-12 also receive a stuffed animal, and children aged 13-18 receive a gift-card from a national retailer. Donors can gift a child via OYB in a variety of ways:

•   Donate to a child that shares their same birthday.
•   Donate to a child that shares their first name.
•   Donate to a child who is being assisted by a charity that has special significance to the donor.
•   Donate to a child on behalf of a family member or friend.

“I am so glad we are a charity partner of OYB. Just recently, when the OYB gift was delivered, the gifted child was absolutely elated and her mother shed tears of joy because she was unable to provide neither a party nor a gift to her child. She was so grateful,” said Jeff Adams from City Mission, an OYB charity partner. “I am sure we will encounter many other situations just like this.”

OYB also wants to provide the community with a deeper understanding and support for its charity partners. OYB supports children’s charities in Michigan and is interested in partnering with charities throughout the country to ensure birthdays are special for children everywhere. For additional information on becoming a partner of OYB, please visit: www.onyourbirthday.org .

OYB’s current charity partners include:

• Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation http://www.centraldetroitchristian.org
• Children with Hair Loss: http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us
• Children’s Home of Detroit: http://www.childrenshomeofdetroit.org
• Children’s Hospital of Michigan: http://www.chmkids.org
• City Mission: http://www.city-mission.org
• Development Centers, Inc.: http://www.develctrs.org
• Rainbow Connection: http://rainbowwishconnection.org/

About On Your Birthday

Based in Auburn Hills, Mich., On Your Birthday is a growing community of children’s charities committed to connecting children together with donors of all types to create joyful, memorable birthdays. Individuals or organizations may provide birthday gifts to children experiencing illness or hardship that share the same birthday, first name, or who is being assisted by a charity that has special significance to the donor. OYB looks to provide a deeper appreciation of children’s charities as well as illustrate the true value of giving. For more information please visit our Web site at www.onyourbirthday.org or become a fan of OYB on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/On-Your-Birthday/18117094494 .