Angie Phillips, center, and Michele Dirks, right, make their donations to a charity during a birthday club monthly gathering Feb. 19 at the Magic Lantern Theatre. Instead of buying gifts, the women donate to a cause. Women celebrating birthdays are given tiaras. Jesse Tinsley, photo.

On a gloomy February afternoon the lobby of the Magic Lantern Theatre sparkled with laughter, conversation and tiaras.

The Magic Lantern Girlfriends Club had convened to celebrate February birthdays and watch a special screening of “Fried Green Tomatoes.”

For many years a group of friends met monthly in Coeur d’Alene to celebrate birthdays. They bought each other gifts and enjoyed a meal. But Catherine Reynolds, founder of the Magic Lantern Girlfriends Club, said none of the women really needed anything, and the gifts, while nice, seemed superfluous.

When that original group gradually stopped meeting, Reynolds decided to revive the birthday club – but this time with a difference. “I thought instead of buying each other gifts, we could donate $10 to a charity of our choice.” Read More. Cindy Hval, SR

I think this is a great idea and hope it catches on. Do you have a group of friends you celebrate birthdays with?

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