On the first Friday of October since 1999, people everywhere celebrate World Smile Day. Founded by Harvey Ball, the same artist that created the smiley face in 1963, World Smile Day is a day to encourage acts of kindness, and of course smile. The way Harvey put it, the smiley face knows no politics, no religion, and no geography, and for one day a year, neither should we. Since 2001, The Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation has sponsored this day each year, spreading the message “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.”
With that in mind, this year on October 7, 2016, join us in celebrating World Smile Day in one or more of the following ways:
1. Share Smiles on Social Media
Smiles are contagious. Help us spread these infectious smiles!
2. Sponsor a Child in the Philippines
What better way to bring many smiles to a family in need than to sponsor their child’s education, nutrition, and health care? In fact, we’ll bet that you’ll be smiling too when you learn more about your sponsored child’s background, see pictures, and get handwritten letters for each holiday! The GoAbroad Foundation’s child sponsorship program has successfully matched dozens of international sponsors with children in the Philippines. Learn how you can become a sponsor today, and start spreading the smiles!
3. Shop on AmazonSmile
Haven’t heard of AmazonSmile yet? Even though it sounds like it was made just for World Smile Day, it is in fact a nifty tool you can use today and every day. Simply go to smile.amazon.com instead of Amazon.com and a percentage of all your shopping with be donated to the charity of your choice! The GoAbroad Foundation is registered with AmazonSmile and can be added to your account as “Go Abroad Foundation.” Click here to get started!
4. Make 100 Kids Smile with Us!
Every weekend our Supplementary Feeding Program provides supplementary nutrition (and smiles) to nearly 100 children in a rural Filipino village. You can help provide the fun and food with a small, one-time donation. Learn more about helping make this kiddos smile with our Supplementary Feeding Program.
No matter where you are or what you do on World Smile Day, we hope that you experience happiness and help others experience it with you! Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments or tweet us at @GA_Foundation.
This blog was contributed by Kayla Patterson, the GoAbroad Foundation’s Marketing & Social Media Advisor.