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96 Smiles Delivered this Holiday Season!

E4S_2015_6Thanks to the support of companies and individuals in the exhibit industry, Exhibit for Smiles delivered gifts and smiles to 96 patients at Children’s Hospital University of Illinois on December 16!

Medical expenses and time away from work and home can really add up for families, and we were honored to also be able to present two families with checks for $1,000 each.

There were smiles, laughter, and tears as the gifts were delivered and memories made. Those who attended and volunteered were able to experience how these gifts create a bright spot for children battling life-threatening illness every day.

We want to extend a big thank you to everyone across the industry who participated in making the 2015 Holiday Drive a huge success. Your caring and generosity truly make a difference. Special thanks goes to Rick Pierson of Brumark, who led this year’s effort.

Enjoy the photos here, and visit the Exhibit 4 Smiles Facebook page for more photos from our smile delivery day!

 

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Made Ya Smile

With the generous support of many compassionate individuals and businesses, last year Exhibit for Smiles was able to deliver a smile to more than 70 children dealing with life-threatening illnesses on a daily basis.

The outcome was overwhelming and extremely gratifying at the same time. Those who joined us on the day we delivered the gifts saw first-hand how this generosity touched the hearts of these children and their families, and created lasting memories for everyone involved.

The clinic was filled with joy and happiness that morning as children were greeted with special gifts, not just needles and medicine. That afternoon, our joy was overcome by sadness as we learned that one of these precious kids had lost their battle. I think about that all the time. This is why this matters so much to me.

I’m happy to report that the hard work, passion and dedication of everyone involved in Exhibit 4 Smiles has paid off as our cause gains steam and attention both nationally and abroad. I have some very exciting things to report about E4S and its future:

  • We are now officially a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All of your donations and gifts are tax-deductible.
  • This year we are asking parents and guardians to fill out a profile form about each child’s interests, to help us better match gifts to the child’s preferences.
  • This year we will also take a video of each child opening his or her gifts and e-mail the clip to the child’s sponsor. You will be able to put a face with the name you were given, and see the smile you created!

We also have some important plans and goals for E4S that I want to share with you:

  • Celebrating a child’s “Second Birthday” (when a child beats their health problem).
  • Assisting families of veterans that have a child with a life-threatening disease.
  • Holding fundraising events.
  • Promoting our cause through tradeshows and advertising.
  • Expanding our efforts to other cities across the country — and beyond. Exhibit 4 Smiles has had several articles written about it lately, from as far away as Dubai! Apparently our cause has gained interest across the globe and I have had numerous people ask me to bring the program to their state or country. We hope to see this cause continue to expand and grow so we can reach out to more and more children.

Please join us on this journey of hope. The success of E4S depends on the support of caring individuals like you. In addition financial support, you can help by becoming an E4S ambassador and spreading our story to your friends, family and co-workers.

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words but a great story is worth a thousand pictures. That’s what Exhibit 4 Smiles is…

Thank you all and God bless you.

Costas Varkarotas
Founder

To Chicago And Beyond

I am very excited to be involved with Exhibit 4 Smiles as chair of the organization’s Midwest efforts!  This summer we partnered with the Children’s Hospital at the University of Illinois at Chicago to bring smiles to local children this December. We hope to reach 75 or more children with severe or terminal diseases at the Chicago clinic this year, bringing toys and encouragement to brighten a holiday clouded by illness.

We’re thrilled to see Exhibit 4 Smile’s efforts spread — Las Vegas and Chicago are just the start!

We’ve been working hard to get sponsors, and we need your help. Just $50 sponsors a child, but we can use any amount you can give. You can make a donation here

There are a lot of kids out there who truly need and deserve a smile this holiday season. So let’s show them what we can do when we all work together. Let’s take this great program from Vegas to Chicago… and beyond!

Thanks so much for your time and consideration.