Birthday Girl Throws Party For 130 Abused, Neglected Children

A woman in San Antonio was planning to celebrate her milestone 30th birthday in style but an event made her change plans and instead celebrate with 130 abused and neglected children at St. PJ’s Children’s Home.

Amanda Rico said, “My husband had asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, so I created a Pinterest board with things I wanted to do. I started to think about all the extravagant things I wanted to do, my birthday cake, I wanted to have mariachis, and I wanted them to serenade me. But a children’s book changed everything.”

She used to read a book titled “Light Up the Darkness” to her young sons before bed and one passage in particular affected her a lot.

“It says, ‘I was just a boy one winter’s night beneath my favorite tree. It was the night of my 12th birthday all alone as I can be. No cards, no cake, no candles, no presents wrapped for me, because no one threw a party for a little boy who couldn’t see’.”

It changed her mind completely about the party and instead decided to throw one for the unprivileged ones. She said, “I stopped and said, ‘Wow! Am I being selfish that I have been blessed with 30 wonderful years of life? And how many other children out there that do not have the opportunity to have a wonderful birthday or experience these great things?'”

So Rico threw a party with help from friends and volunteers, and surprised all of the children staying at St. PJ’s Children’s Home with a memorable time.