Take the Cake LA was started by Annabel Lassally and Madison Froomer when they discovered that most children who had been homeless or were living in temporary shelter were unable to celebrate their birthdays and had never seen their name on a birthday cake.

 

They found their first group of kids to celebrate at the Salvation Army's Westwood Transitional Village.  With over 100 kids living there, they created a birthday list and set out to find volunteers to help each month.  They brought together friends for their first decorating day and set up a birthday party to celebrate their first month of birthdays. The party was a great success and Take the Cake LA was born!

 

Now, 200 birthday cakes, 12 monthly birthday parties, and countless smiles later, the Take the Cake network is up and running.  Annabel and Maddie are excited to continue with the fantastic team at the Salvation Army to double (and soon, triple) the number of sweet celebrations they can provide for kids living in temporary shelters across Los Angeles.  If all goes as planned, by 2016, Take the Cake will be helping celebrate birthdays across the nation!