Mitchel Schmidt and Ethan Bailey were both born in February and have celebrated their birthdays together since before kindergarten. For the past several years, lots of other kids have been the beneficiaries of their birthday celebrations.

This year the boys turned nine. As they have since they celebrated their sixth birthday, the boys bypassed birthday gifts for themselves in favor of requesting donations for local not-for-profit organizations. This year their designated charity is Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, so kids who are visiting loved ones at the Hospice House will receive “Kid’s Packs” that include gifts contributed by Mitchel and Ethan’s friends.

Both boys are students at St. Luke Catholic School in Beavercreek, so their mothers say this charitable outreach is a positive lesson in caring and community. Fourteen children attended the birthday party for the boys at SkyZone, enjoying cake and pizza, and contributing gifts that this year will help comfort and entertain children who may be losing a loved one.