Last month, our team had the pleasure of hosting the third annual children’s charity birthday party at a homeless shelter in Harlem. The shelter, part of the Women in Need (WIN) program, provides transitional housing and vital services to break the cycle of homelessness.
As per tradition, the party was carnival themed. Our team members staffed the booths and the kids played games and won prizes, got face paintings and temporary tattoos, and participated in an exciting (and competitive!) game of musical chairs. This year, we were lucky enough to receive generous donations from many vendors. Chipotle graciously provided enough burritos for 100 guests, Real Food Catering donated delicious rice crispies and rainbow cookies and spectacular cakes were provided by Polka Dot Cake and Fatty Cakes. LK Public Relations and it’s clients were so kind as to donate tablets, scooters and other various items to WIN families.
Affect also purchased birthday presents for every child that had a birthday in the quarter, but in addition, with the help of our generous friends, colleagues and clients, we were able to provide a monetary gift to the shelter as well that will go towards purchasing items like outdoor equipment, recreation room furniture and art supplies. Together, the monetary donations and products were 
valued at more than $4,000. These gifts will make a real difference in the everyday lives of families living at the shelter.
As the whole Affect team will tell you, there’s something truly special about this experience. Yes, it’s an afternoon to play games with the kids and have fun with coworkers, but there’s something more. By taking time away from the office, we are able to focus our attention on something that is just as rewarding as getting a great hit for a client, but perhaps in a different way: giving back to the community. Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of both kids and parents alike, and knowing you are making a real difference in their lives is truly incredible.We could not have done it without the generosity of our donors and we are truly grateful.
Thank you to everyone that helped make this a wonderful day for us, for the children and for the families that WIN supports. It’s clear each year that the guests are so very grateful for the celebration, but it’s really our team that walks away feeling thankful for such a humbling and valuable experience. This event is an Affect tradition that we will honor for years to come.
