Once Upon a Cake Foundation

Donate now

Birthday Joy

Helping lonely and overlooked kids feel seen, celebrated, and loved with fully funded birthday parties.

An overhead view of a vibrant birthday-in-a-box kit laid out neatly on a light wooden floor: a small frosted cake in a clear container, a bundle of uninflated balloons, colorful paper bunting, a pack of candles, a handwritten-style birthday banner, and a playful card with a storybook castle illustration. Soft, diffused natural light from an unseen window creates even illumination with delicate shadows outlining each item. The composition is organized yet whimsical, with elements arranged in a loose grid that feels inviting and accessible. Photographic, clean, and modern with bright, saturated colors that convey joy and the promise of a ready-made celebration for a child who might otherwise go without.
A whimsical dessert table styled for a sponsored birthday, with an array of simple yet charming treats: a medium-sized cake with pastel ombré frosting, neatly arranged vanilla cupcakes with colorful sprinkles, and glass jars filled with striped paper straws and wrapped candies. A large, illustrated sign reading “Once Upon a Cake” in playful lettering stands against the wall, surrounded by paper cut-out castles and stars. Soft studio-style lighting evenly illuminates the scene, emphasizing textures of frosting and paper while casting minimal shadows. Photographic realism, framed straight-on with sharp focus throughout, creating a bright, uplifting, and organized look suitable for a non-profit website header focused on bringing birthdays to kids who need them most.

How Our Story Began

Once Upon a Cake Foundation started with one quiet child, no party in sight, and a simple promise: every kid deserves candles, cake, and friends cheering just for them, no matter their circumstances.

Our Mission

Meet Us

A colorful birthday cake as the star of the scene, three tall tiers of smooth buttercream in pastel blues, pinks, and yellows, decorated with tiny fondant stars, balloons, and storybook castles. The cake sits on a white pedestal stand in the center of a simple wooden table, surrounded by neatly wrapped presents and bright paper party hats, all untouched. Soft afternoon window light pours in from the left, creating gentle highlights on the glossy icing and subtle shadows on the tabletop. Photographic realism with vibrant colors, shot at eye level with a shallow depth of field so the background fades into a soft bokeh of blurred streamers and confetti, creating a playful yet tender atmosphere of a celebration waiting to happen.

Candy Garcia

CEO

Founder and dreamer who turned one child’s forgotten birthday into a nationwide celebration movement.

An open cardboard delivery box on a clean white table, filled with birthday joy: a securely nestled small cake in a protective clear dome, a stack of folded paper crowns, colorful napkins printed with whimsical storybook illustrations, and a sealed envelope labeled “Open on Your Special Day.” Bright, indirect daylight from a nearby window bathes the scene, creating soft highlights on the plastic dome and gentle shadows along the box flaps. Captured in photographic realism from a three-quarter overhead angle, with the box centered and background slightly blurred. The atmosphere is hopeful and generous, suggesting a thoughtful, sponsored birthday package being prepared to travel to a child who might otherwise have no celebration.

Alicia Guzman

CTO

Coordinates volunteers, cakes, and surprises so every sponsored birthday feels personal, joyful, and magical.

A single, perfectly frosted cupcake with a swirl of rainbow buttercream and one small lit candle, placed carefully on a smooth white plate at the edge of a long, empty party table. The table is covered in a pastel polka-dot cloth, scattered with unused paper cups, plates, and curled ribbons. Warm golden hour sunlight filters through sheer curtains in the background, casting a soft, hopeful glow and long, gentle shadows. Photographic realism, captured from a slightly elevated angle using the rule of thirds, with crisp focus on the cupcake and a gradual blur toward the far end of the table, evoking a feeling of quiet anticipation for a birthday that is about to be made special.

Candy Garcia

Coordinator

Builds partnerships with schools and shelters, connecting isolated kids with communities ready to celebrate them.

A serene, photographic scene of a small birthday cake resting alone on a windowsill, its frosting a soft sky blue with tiny white star decorations and a single unlit candle at the center. Outside the slightly blurred window, hints of a quiet neighborhood appear, suggesting an ordinary day. Late afternoon light streams in, wrapping the cake in a gentle glow and creating a reflective sheen on the frosting while casting a delicate shadow onto the painted wood sill. Shot at eye level with the cake centered, the composition is minimalist yet emotional, conveying both the loneliness of a birthday that might be forgotten and the hopeful promise of a celebration to come through support and sponsorship.

Alicia Guzman

Designer

Oversees donations and grants to stretch every dollar into more candles, cakes, and smiling faces.

Reviews