April 28, 2000

Caitlin Doran and Grant Frieling of Wayland celebrated their birthday much like many other eighth graders. They had a birthday party with pizza and cake, invited their friends, listened to pop music and danced. But one thing set this party apart from others: Doran and Frieling asked their guests to bring books to donate to children at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children, instead of bringing them presents. On April 19, the two teens wheeled a cart filled with nearly 200 books around to several MGH units that treat children to share their gifts.

Frieling, left, and Doran present books to Stephanie Edards of the MGH Reading Disabilities Unit

"It was a suggestion by Grant's mom, but we really liked the idea," says Doran. "We didn't make a big deal out of it, we just wrote on the invitation that we were asking for books for the hospital. People got really into it and starting telling their own experiences with hospitals or about how many books they brought. It was really cool." Doran adds that, while many people brought new books, others brought their old childhood favorites.

"We've even started a trend within our school. Another student is having a party where guests are encouraged to bring toiletries to donate to a battered women's shelter."

According to Trish Cudihy, an MGH Development officer, the hospital has received toys and books from at least four groups of children in recent months. "It is heartwarming to see more and more children giving to their peers who are hospitalized," she says.

In January, Katie and Jenna Clark, both age 8, of Chestnut Hill, also donated birthday gifts to inpatients on Ellison 17 and 18. The girls and their mother, Lisa Clark, got the idea after hearing a radio advertisement for MassGeneral Hospital for Children. The girls hosted a slumber party at which friends brought gifts to donate to the hospital.

From left, Katie, Amanda and Jenna Clark

"This was great for my daughters. They don't need any more presents and they know that," says Clark. "When they wrote about the experience in their journals, they highlighted the day they brought the presents to the children, rather than their birthday party. To me, that proves that they really got the right message out of this experience."