CHEERFUL GIVERS

Target demographics: We serve economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 3-12.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 52,227 children received birthday bags in 2010

Someone who had 3 hours of volunteer time could: Purchase a variety of small new toys and gift bags, assemble them into the birthday bags and donate them to a shelter or food shelf in their own community. Then contact karen@cheerfulgivers.org to let us know how many bags were filled and where they were donated.

Board Members and Affiliation: Robin Steele -- Board Chair & Founder
Robin established Cheerful Givers in 1994, has maintained her involvement in the organization and currently is Board Chair. Robin has a bachelor's degree in Non-profit Management, masters in Human Development and a doctorate in Human Services, with an emphasis on human and spiritual development. She also volunteers with hospice, where she spends time with patients who are in their final days/hours of life.

Karen Kitchel, President
Board Member since 1996, she is currently the full-time President of Cheerful Givers. Karen has 26 years of management experience at BI, a business improvement company where she held the position of Director of the Travel Management, Communications and Gift Departments. She launched and managed a new corporate university, facilitated leadership training, established a mentoring program and led BI’s community support team. She currently co-leads the Nonprofit Network in Dakota County, is a mentor in the Kids N’ Kinship program, and is a Community Outreach Minister at her local food shelf.


Julie Richardson, Treasurer
Julie is a manager with the CPA firm of Cornell, Kahler, Shidell & Mair in Shoreview. She has over 19 years of experience in public accounting and works mainly with small to mid-size organizations, many of which are nonprofit organizations. Her volunteer experience includes church treasurer, school volunteer and past board member of the Ramsey County Library. She holds a bachelor degree in English secondary education and accounting.

Mike Bollinger Board Member
Mike is CEO and Founder of Livefront, Inc. where he specializes in web design, development and project management. He is also a member of BizLounge Network, a musician for various church groups, and a mentor for the MicroMentor program where he works with traditionally underserved entrepreneurs to help them run their businesses.

Mykl Roventine Board Member
Mykl is Senior Interactive Designer for Allianz Life in Minneapolis. He has been designing (both for the web and print) for almost two decades. He also spent several years in nonprofit arts management. Mykl currently hosts and maintains the Cheerful Givers website.

Jodi Trost Secretary
Jodi is the Foundation marketing Director at Walker Methodist. She has more than 10 years of non-profit fundraising experience in the areas of education, health care, and human services. Jodi has a B.A. from Hamline University and is a CFRE (certified fundraising executive)

Claudia Cuddyer - Board member
Claudia put her teaching career on hold to be a stay at home Mom and support her husband Michael's professinal baseball career with the Minnesota Twins. She taught high school Engligh for six years in Virginia. Women's and children's charities have become close to Claudia's heart, and as a member of The minnesota Twins Wives Organization, has worked with several nonprofits in the Twin Cities area. She holds a Bachelors Degree in English and a Masters Degree in Education from Virginia Tech.

Corey Cox, Board Member
Corey is a Technical Sales Strategist for Microsoft Corporation. He has been in the IT industry for 17 years and has lived in the Twin Cities all of his life. He has been a Cheerful Givers volunteer for over five years, providing fundraising and birthday bag support.