Mackenzie Moretter’s Terrific, Wonderful, Extremely Good, Very Big Birthday Party last weekend is the subject of this narrative.
“It all started with a Facebook post,” Mackenzie’s mother, Jenny Moretter of Shakopee, explains.
On Friday, April 17, Moretter wrote, “Hello mommies.” “I’m writing because I have a lovely 10-year-old daughter named Mackenzie.” I recently invited a few of her friends to her birthday party on Saturday. I received cancellations or no calls at all indicating whether or not they would be arriving.
“My kid suffers from Sotos Syndrome, which means she has impairments in speech and learning. She is a wonderful person who aspires to have friends above all else. She suffers at school and is frequently alone on the playground.
“It’s heartbreaking as a mother because you want your children to be happy.” I’m reaching out to moms with daughters aged 9 to 11 who would like to attend a birthday celebration tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You are not required to bring gifts or stay for an extended period of time; simply swing by and tell her a happy birthday.
“Right now, I’m expecting two girls” (family). She’d be completely taken aback if other girls just showed up. Please write me a (private message) if you’re interested, and I’ll provide you with my address. Thank you for taking the time to read a mother’s wish!”
Moretter shared her wish on a few local Facebook groups in her Shakopee community.
“Within a half-hour, a couple of other mothers came up to me and said, ‘We’d love for our kids to attend,'” Moretter adds.
Moretter was ecstatic.
It didn’t end there, though.
“People started sharing the post,” Moretter says. “All of a sudden, it was all over.”
The phone then rang.
“It was Channel 4,” Mackenzie’s father, Matt Moretter, adds. “Channel 9 also called.”
Mackenzie’s birthday celebrations went viral.
Samantha Moretter, Mackenzie’s older sister, says, “The wonders of social media.”
Matthew Moretter, Mackenzie’s younger brother, exclaimed, “Cool!”
PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
One of the local moms who reached out to Mackenzie’s mother on Facebook last Friday was Kate-Madonna Hindes, a public relations expert. She offered to bring cupcakes and assist with the clean-up following the party.
Moretter became bombarded with messages, offers, and media inquiries as to the story spread, so Hindes stepped in.
“She remarked, ‘It appears that you might use some assistance,'” Moretter recalls.
Hindes and her other volunteers, Paul Bettignies, Darren Cox, and Nicole Bodem, began soliciting food, entertainment, performers, presents, and space donations.
“I asked myself, ‘What should I do?'” Moretter adds. “‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Just take a deep breath.’
The news made its way to city hall as well.
“I was working on Friday and got approached by a few folks — quite a few people — about what was going on and whether we could help in any way,” Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke said.
One of the people who called was Hindes:
On her blog, GirlMeetsGeek.com, she stated, “We needed to figure out how to accommodate 100+ people in Jenny’s back yard.” “I was on the phone with the city, then Shakopee PD Sergeant Angela. After then, there’s communicating with the Mayor.
“All of a sudden, we had given park space as well as Shakopee Rental’s reduced tables, chairs, and tents.” More importantly, we got the opportunity to put up a birthday party with roughly 10 invites that increased to 100, then 300, then 500 in 11 hours.”
Mackenzie’s family was completely taken aback.
“That night, we went to bed saying, ‘We’re hosting a celebration tomorrow, and we have no idea what it’s going to be like,” Mackenzie’s father says. “I remarked, ‘This is starting to get big.’ ‘It’s possible that we’ll need to make more cupcakes.’
PARTY GUESTS AND GIFTS
The sun was shining the next morning, April 18, as guests began to arrive at Memorial Park in Shakopee: the crowd was diverse, consisting of little girls in party dresses, curious passers-by who had seen the story on the news, members of the media, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson and his family, city officials, police officers, firefighters, Valleyfair Snoopy, and a woman dressed up as Elsa the Snow Queen from “Frozen.”
There was also a DJ from Silver Sound Entertainment, a professional photographer from Keighla’s Fresh Face Photography, a feast from Mr. Pig’s BBQ and Sam’s Club of Shakopee, and a slew of volunteers, including one who cut buns for more than two hours.
Mystic Lake Casino provided balloons and signage, as well as more than 300 cupcakes and a “Frozen”-themed birthday cake. Almost all of the items were donated.
The guests arrived with gifts, cards, and flowers. There are also volunteers.
“On her birthday, every little princess deserves flowers,” Bettignies remarked as he handed Mackenzie a bouquet of her favorite daisies.
Because Tabek was away on a planned camping trip with his girls, City Council member Kathi Mocol read the Mayor’s official proclamation declaring Shakopee “Mackenzie Moretter Day.” Another proclamation was also made:
“A girl gave Mackenzie a necklace that said, ‘I declare you My New Best Friend for Life,'” Moretter adds.
It was a fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic
“I thought it was fantastic,” Mackenzie added.
What is her favorite part?
“Elsa and the gifts,” says the narrator.
MEMORIES THAT LAST
Mackenzie’s celebration conquered the Internet, not just through mom-to-mom sharing on social media, but also through coverage in publications ranging from USA Today to People Magazine, ESPN to Mashable, the Daily Mail to Information Nigeria.
“It’s so lovely to read a narrative depicting mankind as they should be once in a while,” one internet commentator said. That party was fantastic.”
But the party, this gathering of strangers to rejoice, was about more than just the birthday girl.
“What was the day’s message?” Moretter inquired about her daughter when she returned home.
“It’s okay to stand apart,” Mackenzie added.
“And we have to deal with them…”
“Nicely.”
“And at school, play with them so they aren’t alone.” Because you don’t feel whole without your pals…”
“Sad.”
Moretter says she isn’t angry with the school families that didn’t RSVP or canceled; in fact, a couple of the girls came to apologize at the party. Instead, Moretter hopes that Mackenzie’s tale will be remembered by all children, families, and schools.
“There’s bullying and then there’s being abandoned,” Moretter explains. “It hurts both of them.”
Mackenzie isn’t on her own any longer.
“Until today, Mackenzie has never been asked to a birthday party for another girl,” Moretter says. “She’s been invited to two parties now.”