Have no fear! Spidey’s here! Jackie (right) and daughter Grace Koenig display a cake created for the Cake4Kids nonprofit. A Spiderman theme was the birthday wish of its recipient.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael mom Jackie Koenig and daughter Grace are giving back, one cake at a time.

The volunteer bakers are part of a non-profit that brings cheer to children. Some clients of the Cake4Kids organization have never puffed out a candle on their own birthday cake.

Grace, 13, is a Winston Churchill Middle School eighth grader. Jackie, 47, also has two strapping teenagers at Jesuit High. When not working at her government relations job for the University of Southern California, she is ubering kids between schools and sports dates. There are meals to be cooked, hens to be fed, a dog to be walked and a happy marriage to maintain.

So why is she adding to her to-do list by blending batter for others?

“My family’s no stranger to community service,” explained Jackie. “Our boys, Carter and Henry, help with river cleanups. We all volunteer at food closets and soup kitchens. My husband David coached our kids’ sports teams; he now volunteers for the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.”  

Batter up. Jackie (right) and daughter Grace mix the fixins’. Delivered to the Cake4Kids non-profit, their creation is a Sacramento youngster's birthday treat.

“We love birthdays and we’re fortunate we can take family fun for granted. I know some kids have never had a birthday celebrated; that really hurts my heart.  In a world full of problems, I feel this is one that I can easily help with.”

Cake4Kids began 16 years ago, in Sunnyvale, California. Founder Libby Gruender read about a child who cried when a kind foster mom baked her a cake. No one had celebrated her birthday before.

Inspired, Gruender cooked up her own non-profit. Cake4Kids has since rallied thousands of cake makers - in chapters all over the U.S.A. - to brighten the lives of underserved children.

Cooks needn’t be Great British Bake-off candidates. “We just ask for basic proficiency,” explained Cake4Kids Ambassador Leigh Ann Higa. “Volunteers initially undergo a training orientation that gives baking and food safety guidelines. Decorating tips are also shared.”

“They can use boxed cake mix and frosting from a can. We want them to enjoy creating something special for special youth. What keeps our volunteers involved is how rewarding the work is. If you love to bake, baking for good is a win-win. You give joy - and you get it back.”

From babies to young adults, many Cake4Kids clients are under the care of Child Protective Services. Cakes also go to homeless shelters, schools and to low-income communities. Survivors of domestic violence or trafficking often receive birthday bakery donations.

So far, Grace and Jackie have produced a dozen cakes for the cause. Koenig creations have also brightened graduations and other youthful milestones.

A cake for an unknown child is a joint project for mom Jackie (left) and Grace Koenig.

Assignments come online. “We’re told the type of cake a child likes, and if they have a favorite theme,” Jackie explained. “Our first request was for a heart-shaped ‘Hello Kitty’ cake.”

“One little boy wanted outer-space cupcakes. Grace and I experimented to create a night sky with frosting. We sprinkled galaxies from edible glitter.  We shaped fondant stars and rockets.”

Artistic flair helps. When a toddler craved a chocolate Spiderman cake, Jackie and Grace blanketed their gateau with cartoon-red icing. Over this, they spun a dark chocolate web.

“We cut Spiderman’s eyes from white fondant,” said Jackie.  “Pinterest gives us ideas.  We have fun. It’s a great bonding activity for us.”

Because bakers supply project ingredients, Koenig hens are unwitting donors. “They provide the eggs,” confirmed Jackie, “It’s nice not to have to run to the market when I bake a cake.”

“My two boys and my husband contribute critiques. They’re usually complimentary. Their only complaint is not being able to sample our products. Grace and I struggled with the shape of our first cake, so we decided to have a second go at it. My family was delighted to eat the reject.”

Despite their labors, the bakers never meet their clients. “Sometimes we get a photo or a thank you note,” reported Jackie.  “It’s lovely, but it’s not something we expect. We feel good just to know a kid somewhere had a good birthday.”

Learn about the Cake4Kids non-profit at: www.Cake4Kids.org