A native of Bellevue, Hannah Feller graduated in 2021 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a BA in Economics and Public Affairs. She returned to the Seattle area and secured her first job after several interesting internships as an undergraduate, including with Instagram, Smartsheet, Teach for America, and UCLA Investments. “I came back to Seattle to live near those that matter the most to me – my two younger siblings, my parents, high school and college friends,” she explains, “and my boyfriend, TJ Michael, a fellow Bellevue High graduate, who attended the University of Washington.”

Three years into it, Hannah’s career is progressing well. She is a strategy consultant at EY (Ernst & Young)-Parthenon, primarily focusing on mergers and acquisitions, working with a range of clients in the technology and consumer sectors to support their corporate transactions.

Yet despite her busy career, Hannah also began volunteering the summer after college graduation and continues her efforts today. As she explains, "As I entered life as an adult, I felt an inclination to get involved in something impactful. After thorough research on local nonprofits I discovered Birthday Dreams." It seemed the perfect fit, as Hannah is known among her close friends and family for her love of hosting parties and celebrations. 

Birthday Dreams was cofounded in 2009 by Executive Director, Chris Spahn, with the mission to bring hope, joy, and a sense of self-worth to homeless children by giving them the gift of a birthday party. Volunteers like Hannah and her family buy and wrap gifts, bake cakes, fill party orders, plan events, run the parties, and create games, hats, and decorations for each celebration. Focused on the Puget Sound, Birthday Dreams serves children from ages one to eighteen in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. It has become a fixture in the nonprofit community and, to date, has provided over 14,000 birthday parties to children in need.

Hannah began by donating homemade birthday cakes, as she was keen to develop her baking skills. Since then, her volunteering at Birthday Dreams has developed steadily, with both her mother, Leslie, and her younger sister, Ellie, now active participants as well. As Hannah explains, “Throughout my life, I've been fortunate to never worry about my next meal or a roof over my head. For me, birthdays are not only a reason for celebration but also an opportunity to simply honor one’s existence." Reflecting on her early years, Hannah holds fond memories of birthdays and festive gatherings, as they instilled in her a sense of community and love. "I strongly believe that children, irrespective of their socio-economic conditions, deserve to experience these memorable moments of recognition," she continues.

Hannah notes that tens of thousands of people are homeless on any given night in Washington State, and thousands of those are children. She cites Chris Spahn’s appeal for support: “When a child's world has been turned upside down due to homelessness, they often feel ashamed, lost, and alone, and as if the world has turned against them.”  

Birthday Dreams provides two distinct offerings. The first is the 'Birthday in a Box', a curated package complete with a birthday cake, party decor, and thoughtful gifts. The second, and one Hannah is particularly involved in, involves hosting a festive birthday party at a shelter. "We show up equipped with all the necessary party supplies and celebrate the birthdays of all the children residing at the shelter for that specific month. Currently, we partner with 73 shelters across the Puget Sound area," Hannah explains.

Birthday Dreams employs several full-time and part-time staff. The principal sources of funding include individual and corporate donors, as well as two significant annual events. In May, Birthday Dreams hosts its ‘Miles for Smiles’ 5k event. Participants estimate how many miles they will run, walk, bike, swim, ski, and/or hike from May 17th to May 31st. In October, the organization hosts the ‘Gala of Dreams’ annual fundraiser event, where more than 300 come together for a dinner and live auction celebrating the achievements of the year.

Hannah has recently been elected to the Birthday Dreams Board of Directors. “There are so many ways that readers of Greet West Bellevue can help,” Hannah concludes. 

Consider being a volunteer, donor, or both!  Details are on the Birthday Dreams website at birthdaydreams.org.