"In the middle of suffering I cried out - and the next day you responded to my cry. Thank you"
Anonymous Warrior
How GROWING SMILES is Spreading Hope, One Seed at a Time
When we launched the GROWING SMILES ONE SEED AT A TIME Community Outreach Program, we had one simple mission: to bring a little more light into the world of those who are battling. We invited communities to plant sunflower seeds—bright, bold symbols of hope—and encouraged the public to sponsor survivors on our I PLEDGE TO STAY tree, reminding them that they matter. It started as a small gesture. A seed in the soil. A name on a tree.
What we didn’t expect was what began to happen quietly, behind the scenes.
An individual silently battling, crying out to just help them. The following day they received word that someone cared by planting a sunflower in their name – to care for it, to watch it grow – just like them.
That’s when we realized—GROWING SMILES isn’t just about planting seeds. It’s about planting hope.
Each sunflower planted represents someone who’s holding on. Someone fighting silent battles. Someone learning that, like the sunflower, they can turn their face to the sun—even on cloudy days.
The I PLEDGE TO STAY tree gave survivors a space to be honored, acknowledged, and loved. And every sponsorship was a whisper to a stranger: “You are not alone.”
This miracle of connection, of resilience, of hope rising from the dirt—that’s why we will continue GROWING SMILES every year.
Because no matter how hard life gets—
Even when the wildlife comes,
Even when the rain doesn’t fall,
Even when the world builds fences,
Hope still grows.
The Moral:
A single act of kindness can be the seed that saves someone’s life.
Let them know that #theymatter.
Let's Do This TOGETHER
Exploring the why together
"Because we believe that everyone matters and every life has value."