From Summer Smiles to Fall Plans!
Welcome to our September 2026 newsletter! We are heading into a brand-new season with so much gratitude—and so much momentum—after an August filled with back-to-school smiles, Junk Food Runs, Family Game Nights, ballpark fun, and the kind of community generosity that keeps joy moving fast. We even sent 3 boys to Eagles Training Camp, and we cannot wait to share more about those special experiences later in the newsletter as summer smiles turn into fall plans, including our signature fall fundraiser, Monte Carlo Night 2026!
20 Years of Little Smiles: Join the $20-a-Month Movement!
This year marks 20 years of Little Smiles—20 years of showing up for children and families when they need a smile most.
For two decades, our volunteer-driven nonprofit for children has worked alongside hospitals, shelters, hospice centers, social service organizations, doctors, nurses, social workers and child life specialists to deliver gifts, activities, special experiences, and moments of escape. Sometimes that means a toy. Sometimes it means a family outing. Sometimes it means a slice of fresh, hot pizza and a table full of snacks in a hospital family room.
Every smile starts with someone who chooses to help, and every monthly donor helps us say “yes” faster when a child needs joy right now.
That is why we are inviting our community to be part of the 20 Years/$20 a Month movement. A recurring gift helps us plan ahead, respond quickly, and keep hospital gifts for kids, toy donations, Junk Food Runs, Family Fun Nights, and special experiences moving forward all year long.
It is a simple commitment with a lasting impact. Twenty dollars a month can help keep the smiles coming strong!
Join us as a monthly supporter and become part of the heart behind the smiles all year long!
August 2026 Impact Statistics
August kept the momentum moving—and the smiles showing up strong!
Kids Impacted: 245 in August | 1,653 year-to-date through August
Logged Activities: 19 in August
Partner Locations in the August log: — Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia, Ronald McDonald House Delaware, Ronald McDonald House Southern Jersey, Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, CHOP, St. Christopher's Hospital, Nemours, Mission Kids, Frankie's World, Visitation Homes and Wesley House.
These figures reflect entries recorded in the activity log through August. Additional community events may be reported separately as more confirmed information is shared.
Monte Carlo Night 2026 Is Our Biggest Night of Joy!
Big fall plans call for a big night—and Monte Carlo Night 2026 is one of the most exciting ways our community comes together to fuel smiles all year long. Join us on November 7, 2026, at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum for a night built around connection, celebration, and support for children facing serious illness, tragedy, and trauma.
Early Bird tickets and sponsorships are live now, and every table, ticket, and partnership helps power the kind of work that often feels like a silent checkbook. While trusted social workers, child life teams, and medical professionals identify children and families who need joy, Little Smiles steps in to help make those moments happen—through toy donations, hospital gifts, Family Fun Nights, Junk Food Runs, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
If you want to celebrate with purpose, this is the night. If you want to sponsor joy in a big way, this is your moment. Young Professionals (under 40) and Direct Care Professionals can get discounted tickets by using promo code- MCNYP or MCNDCP (cannot be combined). Come spend an unforgettable evening with us—and help make sure more children get the smiles, surprises, and special experiences they deserve!
Back-to-School Smiles at Visitation Homes and Wesley House!
Back-to-school season was full of action, supplies, and big-time joy thanks to support from the Sixers Youth Foundation grant!
On August 25 at Visitation Homes in Kensington, all 20 children received backpacks, new sneakers, pencils, notepads, index cards, pens, highlighters, and more. The event also included bingo, hotdogs, snacks, and Five Below bingo prizes that kept the energy high from start to finish. We are grateful to Leslie Walker and Alexa Milanesi from the Sixers Youth Foundation, along with Little Smiles board member Regina Simonds, for helping make that day possible.
Two days later, on August 27 at Wesley House Shelter in Chester, PA, every boy and girl received a backpack and school supplies plus fresh, hot pizza. A huge thank-you goes to Jeff Mullen, John Miner, and Sheiletta Corporal for helping bring that back-to-school support straight to the children and families we serve.
These are the kinds of moments we love most—practical help, happy chaos, full tables, and children walking into a new school year feeling seen, supported, and ready to go. A backpack may seem simple, but for a child heading into a new school year, it can feel like a fresh start packed with confidence!
Little Smiles Helps Make Frankie's World Summer Camp Shine!
Little Smiles was proud to sponsor the summer camp activities at Frankie's World, a special needs daycare in North Philadelphia, for the entire summer. Summer Camp 2026 began with outdoor fun, including a bubble and magic show that had the kids popping bubbles and enjoying the sunshine. Later in the summer, Wild Things Preserve visit brought bunnies, a duck, a turtle, and reptile friends for a hands-on visit that gave campers the chance to see, touch, and learn about animals. These joyful activities created meaningful summer memories for children at Frankie's World—and we are grateful to help make them possible.
Eagles and Sixers Training Camp Dreams Come True!
This summer, Little Smiles helped create two unforgettable Eagles Training Camp experiences for three children connected with our hospital partners. On the first day, a Nemours patient who had earlier enjoyed a special visit to the Sixers Training Facility received a VIP Eagles Training Camp experience. A few days later, Luca from Nemours and Dominic from Shriners—both stars from the 2026 Stars Ball—were sent to Eagles Training Camp for their own special day. Both experiences were shared on Little Smiles social media.
The first experience was filled with unforgettable moments like meeting current players and Swoop, touring the Jefferson Health Complex with Dave Spadaro, meeting Eagles legend Harold Carmichael, and spending time with Uar Bednar and Saquon Barkley. Across the two separate Eagles experiences, Nemours Children’s Health and Shriners were the hospital connections that helped make the joy possible.
This is one of the clearest examples of the silent checkbook idea in action. Nemours social workers identify children who need joy, comfort, and a break from the hard stuff—and Little Smiles helps make that experience happen. In other words, the medical team sees the need, and we help fund and coordinate the smile. That behind-the-scenes partnership is one of the most powerful parts of what we do.
We are deeply thankful to the Eagles, the 76ers, their community relations teams, Nemours Children’s Health, David Gregory, LCSW, and everyone who helped open these doors for the children and their families. These are the kinds of experiences children carry with them long after the day is over—and the kind of joy that reminds families they are surrounded by a community that cares.
Mark’s Big Construction Day Is Built on Big Smiles!
Mark recently enjoyed a one-of-a-kind trip to a construction site, complete with a hard hat, safety vest, big equipment, and plenty of new friends. It was an unforgettable experience made possible by the great people at Bancroft Construction, who opened the door for Mark to explore, learn, and enjoy a day built just for him.
We are grateful to the Bancroft Construction team for helping turn a child’s big dream into a real-life adventure. Experiences like this are at the heart of Little Smiles: creating joy, confidence, and memories that last long after the day is over.
Jeni’s Scoops Up Smiles in Rittenhouse!
August also brought a successful fundraiser at Jeni’s Rittenhouse, where supporters could enjoy a special Smile Sundae while giving back to Little Smiles.
We are so thankful to everyone who stopped by, grabbed a scoop, and turned dessert into support for children facing serious illness, tragedy, and trauma. A big thank-you goes to board members Connor Mullen and Michael Wilson, along with volunteer Beth Grandizio and Danielle Stone from Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia, for helping make the event extra special.
Fundraisers like this are a beautiful reminder that generosity can show up in joyful, everyday ways. One scoop, one sundae, one stop into the store—those simple choices add up and help us keep the smiles going!
Junk Food Runs Bring Comfort, Snacks, and Smiles!
Our monthly Junk Food Runs are one of the most direct ways we support sick children and their loved ones across the region. Each month, we deliver snacks and pizzas to Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, where the team met Lionel and his mother, who were there from Georgia, that afternoon. Lionel, his mom and dozens of other children and loved ones, were served by volunteers John Westfield, Erin Wittman, and Nick Valeriano.
Later that same day, Lionel joined Little Smiles supporters, other children, and their families as guests of Little Smiles at the Phillies game—a separate special experience that evening.
Junk Food Runs are about more than snacks. They create a pause in the middle of treatment, appointments, and long hospital days—a moment where families can grab something good, smile, and feel the support of a community showing up just for them. Sometimes the gift is a snack. Sometimes it is the chance to breathe for a minute and feel normal again.
In August, Little Smiles completed Junk Food Runs at CHOP, St. Christopher’s, Nemours, and Shriners, like we do every month, working alongside hospital teams and volunteers to deliver comfort in a simple, immediate way. It is grassroots, hands-on, and joy-filled—and that is exactly the point.
Phillies, Powder Blues, and a Night Full of Joy!
There is something special about a Phillies night that brings people together from all over and lets families just be families for a while.
Family Fun Nights Fill the House with Laughter!
In August, Little Smiles brought smiles, laughter, and temporary escapes to Ronald McDonald Houses in Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington. Through dinner, bingo, prizes, ice cream, and caring volunteers, we helped create bright breaks in the middle of incredibly hard days for families who needed a moment to breathe.
Valley Forge Financial sponsored Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia Dinner and Bingo night, which**** served more than 100 families and turned an ordinary evening into one filled with dinner, bingo, prizes, and big smiles. Thank you to former board member and Valley Forge President Pat Laphen for coordinating. With so many Five Below prizes on hand, the excitement kept building every time another bingo winner was called.
That same joyful spirit reached families in Wilmington at the Delaware Ronald McDonald House Family Bingo Night, where an ice cream truck from Woodside Farm Creamery was sponsored by Bancroft Construction, and the Nemours Ginsburg Foundation volunteered to help put smiles on families' faces. A warm thank-you to Bancroft Construction for sponsoring the ice cream truck, to Woodside Farm Creamery for the sweet treat, and to the Nemours Ginsburg Foundation for volunteering their time and heart.
Tix For Good Golf Outing Drives Support for Little Smiles!
Little Smiles is proud to be one of the beneficiaries of the 3rd Annual Tix For Good Shootout on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Pinelands Golf Club in Hammonton, New Jersey. This two-man scramble is packed with fun and generosity, with free food, free drinks, prizes on all 18 holes, and an afterparty—all while helping support children and families who need joy, comfort, and a reason to smile.
Golfer registration is $199 per golfer, and we would love to see supporters hit the course for a great cause. You can register here: https://sponsor.tixforgood.org/product/shootout/
There are also great sponsorship opportunities for businesses and community partners who want to make an impact, including Exclusive Tee Sponsor ($250), Long Drive Sponsor ($500), DJ Sponsor ($500), Hole in One Sponsor ($1,000), Lunch Sponsor ($1,500), Beverage Cart Sponsor ($1,500), and Presenting Sponsor ($2,500). If you are looking for a fun, meaningful way to support Little Smiles and other good causes, this is a great opportunity to jump in!
Love Little Smiles? Share Your Support on Google!
Has Little Smiles helped bring a smile to your family, hospital, shelter, or community? Do you love the work our volunteers, sponsors, and partners make possible? Please take a moment to leave Little Smiles a review on the Little Smiles PA Google listing! Scanning the QR code above will take you directly to the proper Little Smiles PA Google review page.
Your kind words help more people discover our mission, learn about our nonprofit for children, and understand how community support creates joy for children facing serious illness, tragedy, and trauma. Every review helps strengthen our online presence and makes it easier for families, volunteers, donors, and local businesses to find us. Leave a Google review for Little Smiles
Thank you for helping more people find Little Smiles—and for helping us keep delivering smiles!
Tix For Good Football Sweepstakes Is Coming Soon!
Another exciting fall opportunity is on the horizon through Tix For Good. The Football Sweepstakes is scheduled to launch on September 15, 2026, giving supporters the chance to enter to win two season tickets to their favorite NFL or college football team for the 2027–2028 season.
We will share the direct link to enter the contest and give to Little Smiles when it's launched. Until then, thank you for being part of our Little Smiles family. Whether you donate, volunteer, sponsor an activity, share our stories, or cheer us on from home, you help make joy possible.
Together, we are changing lives: one smile at a time! Go Birds! Go Phils!
Stay in touch with Little Smiles: About Little Smiles | Donate | Volunteer | Upcoming Events
Comments