A woman is putting her party planning skills to good use, throwing birthday bashes for homeless children.

Paige Chenault started the Birthday Party Project three years ago, giving up her job as a professional wedding planner.

Since then, the Dallas woman has helped celebrate more than 1,600 birthdays for homeless children across the country. Without Chenault, most of them wouldn’t be celebrating.

“I felt surprised that this many people came to my birthday,” said 8-year-old Ricardo. “I’m going to wish I get out of the shelter and have a house.”

Chenault says she started the Birthday Project because she believed joy changes lives.