McDONALD - Three sixth-grade classmates at Roosevelt Elementary School will celebrate a unique birthday on Wednesday as all three turn 12 on 12-12-12.
For Jack Bucan, Adam Price and Ian Socha the number 12 is a special number that will also mean something special to others as the three boys have decided that instead of getting gifts that they will ask people to donate gifts to Akron Children's Hospital. To that end, there will be a private party for the three boys is this week at Towjo's off Ohio Avenue in McDonald, where people can drop off new, unwrapped toys through Saturday as part of the toy drive.
Socha said not only were the three born on the same day and year, but also in the same hospital, St. Elizabeth Health Center.
"When we were in school we knew we had the same birthday when we had parties at school," he said.
The three moms, Trina Socha, Christine Price and Mary Bucan said they felt is was an opportunity to have a combined party while also doing something good to help others.
Christine Price said in a community with only 3,100 people, to have three boys all born on the same day at St. Elizabeth's is ''both a rare and neat occurrence.''
On Dec. 12, 2000, Ian was born at 9:35 a.m., Jack at 8:33 p.m. and Adam at 10:37 p.m. Their mothers all went to and graduated from McDonald High School.
Price said the three boys agreed to the toy drive for their 12th birthdays.
''As parents we wanted to teach our kids to both celebrate and enjoy life but also to give back to the community,'' Price said.
Trina Socha said the boys wanted to celebrate their special 12th birthday together and invited all their classmates and teachers.
JoAnn Stock, director of development for Akron Children's Hospital, said ''there can't be too many 12-year olds who get to celebrate their birthday on the same day as two of their classmates on a date that only happens every 100 years.''
She said it was a wonderful idea the three boys were having fun with the unique birthday.
''We couldn't be more honored or grateful that Ian, Adam and Jack used their special occasion to collect gifts for patients at the Akron's Children Hospital.