How one little boy's first birthday made a difference

Birthdays are an important day whether you are turning one or 107. In most cases, the first birthday is the cutest, with cake everywhere and a face full of icing. For one-year-old Jayce, his birthday party proved that even with cake covered cheeks you can make a difference in the world no matter what your age.

The birthday boy after his party.

Jayce is already a giver --whether he's giving loving squeezes to his stuffed animals or consoling a crying nursery mate with a tender hug-- and as his first birthday inched closer his parents saw an opportunity to help others instead of adding to a roomful of toys.

"Before we had our son, my husband and I both agreed we wanted to teach him the value of volunteer work and doing things for others over yourself," said Jayce's mom, Maurisa. "When his first birthday was getting closer we realized that Jayce has plenty of toys. We decided for his first birthday we wanted to start the lesson of giving."

Seuss themed goodies and cakes.

As a counselor at Moore High School, working with a parenting group that is ran by CCFI, Maurisa and her family see firsthand the benefits from the programs and felt that they should give back to the agency by hosting a Dr. Seuss themed benefit party for Jayce's birthday.

And the timing could not have been better as Jayce's birthday weekend kicked off a week of national reading celebrations during Dr. Seuss's 107th birthday for Read Across America Day on March 2nd.

Cake time!

"We chose the Dr. Seuss theme because we love books. Jayce loves to sit and flip through his board books," Maurisa said. "We value reading as a foundation for his future and have read to him every night since he was a month old."

As friends and family arrived for a Seussational adventure filled with red fish and blue fish made out of Jello and 478 diapers in tow, Jayce--with his cake-filled fists-- his very proud parents, and their guests gave local children and families much needed items from the CCFI wish list.

When the party came to an end and all the cake had been washed away, Jayce climbed into his chair- looking a little bit bare- and there he sat, exhausted, cuddled up with his Grinch stuffed animal... and after a year of laughter, learning and fun this little philanthropist turned one.

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