Spreading Smiles August Newsletter
- Steve Grandizio
- Aug 9
- 6 min read
Welcome to our August 2026 newsletter! July was an absolute whirlwind of sunshine, community generosity, and extraordinary smiles. And we’re keeping that momentum rolling right into our upcoming August 18th Fightin' Phils game and powder blue shirt sale. We celebrated Christmas in July at Shriners and delivered joy across our hospital and community partners. Our Little Smiles family went above and beyond for local kids who need it most.
We are so grateful for our community of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Let’s dive into the incredible stories you helped us create this past month!
🎂 20 Years of Little Smiles — Join the Movement!
This year, we’re celebrating 20 years of Little Smiles—20 years of showing up with urgency, heart, and joy for children facing serious illness, chronic conditions, disability, tragedy, and trauma.
To honor this milestone, we’re inviting our community to make a simple commitment with a huge impact: just $20 a month. Join the movement, celebrate 20 years with us, and help us keep the smiles coming strong. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY!
July 2026 at a Glance
📊 Kids Impacted: 330+ in July | 2,200+ YTD
😊 Smiles Created: 25+ direct activities & hospital visits
🏥 Partners Engaged: Shriners, Nemours, CHOP, St. Christopher’s, Frankie's World, RMH, Wesley House, and Visitation Homes
🎯 Activities & Events: Junk Food Runs, Christmas in July, Family Fun Nights, etc.
Phillies Game & Powder Blue T-Shirt Campaign
Nothing says summer in Philly quite like baseball—and we’ve got something BIG coming up! Join us on August 18th for our special Little Smiles outing to see the Fightin' Phils play! Our custom powder blue Phillies t-shirts have been turning heads all across the region, and now’s your chance to grab yours and be part of the fun.
But don’t wait—tickets and our custom powder blue Phillies t-shirts are strictly limited and they are going fast! Supporters can purchase both their game tickets and shirt in one spot right now at philliesgame26.givesmart.com. Let’s pack the park with Little Smiles spirit and powder blue pride!
Christmas in July: Santa Swaps the Sleigh for Smiles at Shriners!
Who says Santa only visits in December? On July 21st, we brought the full holiday magic straight to Shriners Children's Hospital! Complete with tons of gifts, festive vibes, fresh pizza, and bingo with the kids, our Christmas in July celebration proved that unexpected joy can happen at any time of year. We also enjoyed a special visit from Elisabet, one of our 2025 Stars Ball stars, who was in from Honduras with her mom for treatment. The smell of antiseptics and hand sanitizers was replaced with the amazing aroma of pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and garlic. Special thanks to Villanova MBA Cohort of Annie Fitzgerald, Matt Innocenzo and Daniel DeLuca, along with Villanova graduate Tom Gudowicz, Robert Smith, and Michele Buthusium, for helping. Seeing the kids light up is what our mission is all about.
A Mountain of Magic: Dakota Marketplace & Buckets of Love
Thanks to our incredible community partners at Dakota Marketplace and Buckets of Love, we delivered a massive haul of brand-new toys and games to Frankie's World, Wesley House, Visitation Homes, St. Christopher's and Shriners with some leftover to deliver to Today Is a Good Day PICU families! They received a mountain of magic, ensuring every child had something special to unwrap and enjoy. Partnerships like this are the engine behind our "Big Impact" outreach.
Family Fun Nights at Ronald McDonald Houses
This July, we brought Family Fun Nights to Ronald McDonald Houses across the region, giving families a much-needed break from the weight of hospital life. At RMH Camden, families came together for an evening of bingo and karaoke, filling the house with laughter and a little friendly competition.
Over at RMH Wilmington, a lively round of bingo gave kids and parents alike a chance to relax, connect, and just be a family again. None of it would have been possible without our incredible Smile Captains, Beth Grandizio and Tony Grandizio, whose dedication and heart helped make the magic happen at both houses. Thank you, Beth and Tony, for showing up for these families and reminding them that even in the hardest moments, there's still room for joy.
Philadelphia Union Nights: Suite Seats, Soccer Smiles & Special Shout-Outs!
This summer, we also had the chance to send amazing groups to Philadelphia Union games in the Predictive Analytics suite—and what a great time it is! In July, we were thrilled to host a group from RMH Greater Delaware and a large group from CHOP's Diabetes and Endocrinology unit for unforgettable soccer experiences filled with snacks, excitement, and community.
A huge highlight for the CHOP families was getting to be on the field pregame—a memory-making moment they won't forget anytime soon! We also want to give a very special shout-out to Stephen Hoops from Predictive Analytics for helping make these incredible outings possible.
Sixers Youth Foundation Steps Up for Back-to-School Smiles!
We want to send a huge thank-you to the Sixers Youth Foundation for their generous grant to help us bring Back to School events to Visitation Homes and Wesley House! Their support means so much as we work to help children head into the school year with confidence, joy, and big smiles.
We are excited to host these special events on August 25th at Visitation Homes and August 27th at Wesley House. Our Visitation Homes event — Back-To-School Backpacks, Barbershop and Bingo — is shaping up to be an amazing afternoon! Kinship Barbershop will be giving free cuts to the boys, we’ll be serving pizza and snacks, and we’ll be playing bingo for Five Below prizes.
We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for the opportunity to create meaningful moments that help kids feel ready, encouraged, and celebrated as a brand-new school year begins. A big thank you to the Sixers Youth Foundation!
RMH Philadelphia Dinner, Bingo & Big Generosity!
In July, we also brought the fun to Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia with a special Dinner and Bingo night sponsored by the incredible team at SEER Interactive! With an amazing volunteer crew that included Little Smiles board member Jeff Haas and Joanna Bowen, this night was packed with energy, kindness, and community spirit.
Dinner was served to more than 100 families, and thanks to SEER Interactive’s incredible generosity, we were also able to give away tons of Five Below prizes during bingo! We are so grateful for partners who help us turn an ordinary evening into a joyful, memory-making experience for families who need it most.
Jeni’s Ice Cream Fundraiser — An August Scoop You Don’t Want to Miss!
Get ready, because this one is going to be legendary! On August 27th from 4–7 PM, join us at the Jeni's Rittenhouse store for a sweet summer fundraiser that is all about amazing ice cream and even bigger impact. During that time frame, Little Smiles receives 25% of all proceeds—so every scoop, cup, cone, and treat helps us keep delivering joy to children who need it most.
And yes—there will be a special Smile Sundae featured during the event! Jeni’s Ice Cream is wildly popular for a reason—it’s iconic, unbelievably delicious, and the kind of place people get excited about all summer long. So mark your calendar, bring your friends, and come celebrate an upcoming August event that turns a legendary ice cream run into something truly meaningful!
Instant Community: July Junk Food Runs
Our monthly Junk Food Runs never take a summer break! This month, we brought the fun to CHOP, Nemours, Shriners, and St. Christopher's with fresh, hot pizzas, overflowing snack carts, and moments of pure joy for kids and families who needed a break from the routine of hospital life.
A special thank-you goes to Executive Director Steve Grandizio and volunteer William Brasko for helping at CHOP, and to Smile Captain and board member Kendall Brew along with volunteer Erin Wittman for helping at St. Christopher's. We also had an incredible visit with legendary pediatric oncologist Dr. Gregory Halligan, who has been serving children at St. Chris since 1976—what an honor!
LOOKING AHEAD: Monte Carlo Night 2026!
Mark your calendars! Monte Carlo Night 2026 will be held on November 7th at the incredible Simeone Museum. Early Bird tickets and sponsorships are officially LIVE! Secure your spot at the table today! CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP
Stay in Touch with Little Smiles! Address: PO Box 957 Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Website:www.littlesmilespa.org
Together, we’re changing lives, one smile at a time!
Comments