Provide Dental Care for 67,000 Bolivian Children!

We believe in Santa Claus who brings joy to children worldwide--

      We believe in bringing dental care to indigenous Bolivians--

             We believe our donors make a huge difference--                    better world for us all!

Santa Claus and our Smiles Forever elves have made their annual visit to the burned children center.  What a delight it was for our team to share our time and even some of our year's bonus with these brave children.  Did you know that in Bolivia Santa sometimes wears his glasses?  ...all the better to see the smiles of the children!

We also have "Santa" Sam Robison, our Founder Sandy's father.  Santa Sam has been influential in helping and encouraging Wilson.  Wilson suffered electrical burns and lost his arms.  Santa Sam gave Wilson a specially adapted computer.  Smiles Forever worked many long months qualifying Wilson who needed a U.S. hospital and documents for a passport.  One stumbling block was that Wilson could not provide fingerprints. Now Wilson has one prosthetic arm and will receive the other thanks to the Shriners hospital and special Smiles Forever sponsors like Santa Sam.

My husband Joe and I joined Sam & Sandy & adopted Bolivian children Andre and Gisele for Thanksgiving.  Sam had invited his new friend from Cameroon, too.  It is people like Sam who make the world a better place with his empathy for everyone.  Sam remembers his upbringing as one of 9 children, with just one a sister.  Being the 3rd youngest, he knows all gifts are precious.  He loves a home ringing with Holiday cheer and happy voices.

Santa Sam has invited the Smiles Forever board and friends to his mountain chalet for snow-filled activities and the comfort of a warm hearth.  It will be just like a Santa's workshop setting for this planning retreat scheduled in January to welcome 2019 and to lay out the coming year's projects.  

In my home, as I bring 2018 to an end by writing yet another Global Giving update, I am helped with typing by Santa Lucia--our 6-month old calico shelter kitten who is fascinated by the computer keyboard and flying fingers.  Santa Lucia was known for, as her name suggests, bringing light at a dark time of year.

Santa Claus, "Santa" Sam, & Santa Lucia holiday are traditions which endure to bring out our personal strengths of generosity and caring for family and our larger circle of friends.

For our Seattle area Smiles Forever donors, please think way ahead to November 4th when our fundraising event will be Taste of Tuscany.

From Sandy Kemper, myself, and the entire Smiles Forever family, wishing you the best of the holiday season and health & happiness for the new year!