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Girl asks for charitable donations to local nonprofits rather than gifts on her birthdays

Gifts are usually showered upon young children at their birthday parties, but one little girl has never asked for any presents on her big day.

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By
Will Dupree
TULSA, OKLAHOMA — Gifts are usually showered upon young children at their birthday parties, but one little girl has never asked for any presents on her big day.

Olivia Ellsworth turned six earlier this month. At the party, people brought donations to a local nonprofit rather than gifts, just as they've done on each of her previous birthdays.

Whitney Ellsworth, Olivia's mother, and her husband had an idea when she was born. Starting on Olivia's first birthday, they decided to ask people to bring donations instead of gifts. As Olivia has gotten older, the tradition held, much to her parents' surprise.

"We started it when she was one," Whitney said. "She didn't really have much input then, but, as she gets older, she can provide input on who she gets to donate to and what they should bring."

For this birthday, the Ellsworths picked the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless to donate all kinds of supplies. Olivia said she gave the nonprofit "snacks and socks and underwear and toothbrushes and toothpaste."

Olivia visited the Day Center after her party and learned more about the operations. She dropped off the donations that her friends brought to her party and helped place in the supply area.

"We always go to the facility and drop the gifts off," Whitney said, "so that she can have a part of seeing what the donations are going to go to and how they'll be used."

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