Give-back team building is supposed to feel good for the people in the room. But the best version does something bigger — it creates real community impact. With Birthday Boxes, your team builds a real birthday for a child who was never going to get one.
Why we built a give-back team building day around a birthday
We’ve been running MudPie Kitchens & Buddy Benches for years, highly successfully. But clients kept telling us the same thing: “This is a premier product that requires a premier amount of time — like two hours from the group. Can you give us something that is equally special but takes less time and costs less?”
So we went away & thought about it. We talked to our charity partners. We did research into what was possible. We believe in creating signature products — we don’t go for what’s easy; we go for what has purpose & impact. We asked our charity partners one question: what are the extremely emotional & difficult pain points for families undergoing challenges? They said:
“Picture a kid at school. Everyone else has birthday parties. They get invited to all of them. But they never get to invite anyone to their own party. For a family going through a hard season, a birthday is one more thing that’s out of reach.”
So we created Birthday Boxes
We created a box that everything needed for an amazing birthday goes into.
Cake · Prizes · Presents · Games · Decorations · Utensils, plates & tablecloths…
All themed to a specific child’s party — unicorns, or cars, or Disney princesses, or Paw Patrol. Each box, on the outside, has a list of what’s inside plus who it’s for: “This box is for four- to six-year-olds who are interested in Paw Patrol.” “This box is for nine- to ten-year-olds who are interested in unicorns or rainbows.”
The kids get to invite their friends & have a party where everything they need is there. All they have to do is unpack the box & have the best time.
“The Birthday Boxes for the children were so thoughtful and parents will be very PROUD to share them.”
— Doris Peters, Manager, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society
Why the people in the room are heroes
Putting together this project was full of joy for everyone involved. Jeni smiled every day when supplies arrived — because she knew these boxes were going to give children a birthday party they wouldn’t have otherwise.
We’ve facilitated Birthday Boxes a number of times now, & the response of the people in the room making them is as deep, as potent, as making Buddy Benches or MudPie Kitchens. The people in the room are heroes. They’re helping kids & families they will never see, but who will benefit from what they’re doing in that room.
“A hero is someone who helps others when there’s no chance that they will ever be thanked or rewarded.”
— Roger Haskett, author of The Me You Want To Be, founder & The Big Cheese of Engagement Unlimited
That’s the engagement advantage of a give-back team building day: the energy in the room isn’t manufactured. It comes from doing something that matters for someone you’ll never meet.
“a 6 year old had a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY this month because of Engagement Unlimited’s birthday party box donations 🤡”
— Kyla Dawn, In-Home Support Coordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society
The word came back from our charity partners that the Birthday Boxes were a massive, massive success — that parents were emotionally overwhelmed in gratitude.
Now, instead of heartbreak, they get joy & celebration & a party geared specifically for their child.
“The Birthday Box Give-Back event WENT GREAT! Everyone enjoyed the activities and your team was GREAT. Very kind and EASY TO WORK WITH!”
— Bailee Dutton, Executive Assistant, CPABC
Build a birthday with your team 🧡🧡🧡
Give-back team building FAQ
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What is give-back team building?
Give-back team building is a corporate activity where a team works together to build something for a charity or community in need. With Engagement Unlimited’s Birthday Boxes, teams assemble complete, themed birthday parties-in-a-box for children who otherwise wouldn’t have one.
What’s inside a Birthday Box?
Each box holds everything a birthday needs: cake, prizes, presents, games, decorations, utensils, plates & tablecloths — all themed to a specific child’s party, like unicorns or Paw Patrol, with the contents & recipient listed on the outside.
How long does a Birthday Box event take?
Birthday Boxes are designed to be equally special but take less time & cost less than premier give-back products like MudPie Kitchens or Buddy Benches — the shorter format clients specifically asked us to create.
Friday Fun!
Meerkat on the lookout for the weekend
