CHAGRIN FALLSFor their 9th birthdays, McKinley O’Brien and Allie Kovatch wanted to do something a little different.
Instead of asking for traditional birthday gifts, these Gurney School third-graders asked partygoers to make donations to their Bosom Buddies team for last Sunday’s Walk to Empower, held downtown. So last Friday, almost 100 classmates and parents gathered at Township Hall, 83 N. Main St., for the birthday bash — complete with face painting, music food, games and a guest appearance by Dave Quesinberry, or “Mr. Q,” the school’s gym teacher. Guests donated a total of $1,704. Allie and McKinley, who have been friends since kindergarten, said they could not decide what they wanted for their birthdays this year, so they decided they would donate money instead. McKinley’s birthday was May 6 and Allie’s is June 11. “They never said they wanted presents,” said McKinley’s mom Darby O’Brien, who works for the Network of Strength. “They were just all excited about it.”
The girls went to Giant Eagle and Pizza Pan to solicit donations for their party.