John Wesley said “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can.” Brothers Hurshneet and Pravneet are teaming together to do all the good they can with their non-profit Project Smile AZ. What began as a dinner conversation during the pandemic is now making a difference in the lives of many by spreading smiles one card at a time. I had the honor and joy to interview these brothers to learn all things about this special non-profit.
“You’re pretty special – just saying.” Unknown
Hurshneet and Pravneet’s parents are Doctors. During the pandemic these brothers heard how COVID patients who were in the hospitals were isolated. Left all alone with no family or friends able to come and visit(patient privacy was not compromised and no specific patient information was shared). Together Hurshneet and Pravneet began to make cards for patients in the hospital as they thought this would be a way to show kindness to people in the hospital. They wanted to share some positivity in someone’s day and give them a smile. When Hurshneet and Pravneet posted what they were doing on social media other people reached out to help. Very soon they had a community of over 1000 smile makers around the globe helping them make cards to spread smiles A2Z while “creating a positive impact on the mental, physical, and environmental wellbeing of anyone in need.”
“There are hundreds of languages around the world but a smile speaks them all.” Unknown
In 2021 Project Smile AZ became an official 501C3. Hurshneet who is going into his senior year of high school and Pravneet who is going into tenth grade make an excellent smile maker team. Smiles have been shared with cards that have gone to people in the hospital, Veterans, Cancer patients, and people who are homeless. You can even contact them directly to get a card sent to someone. Project Smile AZ has expanded on the actions they have been taking to bring kindness to others in more ways. There are Project AZ Kits for Kids which includes a handwritten letter and art supplies that have been donated to the Crisis Center Arizona, children with special needs at ACCEL, and to the Welcome to America Project that helps support and celebrate refugees. There have been Masks4All drive where over 1000 masks were collected and donated to those in need, ongoing food drives, dental hygiene drives, and a book drive where over 2000 books have been given to children to spread literacy. Over 27,000 lives have been forever changed by this worldwide community of smile makers. The Project Smile internship provides an opportunity to inspire youth from all over the globe to be “change maker smile makers” where anyone from 10 years old to 21 years old, if chosen, can participate. These future change smile makers will learn leadership skills along with creating a smile maker mini project.
“Be the reason someone smiles today.” Unknown
Pravneet and Hurshneet have used the skills they learned in Middle School to be efficient with their time as they work on this full-time non-profit. As Project Smile AZ continues to spread more smiles and grow, these brother’s have begun to meet with local leaders to share thoughts of possible solutions of positive change, often needing to be persistent to get meetings. In addition to the other initiatives, Project Smile AZ has begun to focus on Digital Kindness in order to get more kindness and positivity into social media. They believe everyone can be a smile maker and everyone can bring more kindness to this world.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we are waiting for. We are the change we seek.” Barack Obama
Since 2020 Project Smiles AZ has positively impacted the lives of many. These two brothers who, as their parents say, “really like cards” have created a movement of touching lives with smiles and kindness from A to Z. It is with honor and admiration we shine the Kindness Champion Spotlight on this incredible non-profit. We thank you for being you and bringing your awesome to the world.
For more information on the remarkable Project Smile AZ here is their contact information:
Website: https://www.projectsmileaz.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectsmileaz @projectsmileaz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProjectSmileAZ/ @projectsmileaz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectsmileAZ/ @projectsmileAZ
