​About Building Smiles

The Building Smiles Foundation has one mission – to bring smiles to families affected by childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Cancer is a horrible disease that can strike anyone of any age. That became a reality for one of our founders when his son was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumor at just seven years old. His battle with cancer brought many financial and emotional hardships.  Family outings were no longer an option because paying for medical bills took precedence. At a time when building lasting memories was of greatest importance, the family’s financial constraints limited these opportunities. A local charity offered a small sum of money to the family and recommended that they were to use the funds on something they could enjoy during this difficult time. Through all the hurdles, this gift made the most impression on the family in their time of need. Sergio shared this story with his friends who were supporting him through the journey. This small sign of gratitude sparked the idea for  the Building Smiles Foundation.

​​​The goal of the organization is to bring joy to families by providing entertainment and fun activities during their difficult time. We partner with local hospitals to reach these families in need. Achieving normalcy is a high priority when a child is in the hospital. Building Smiles helps meet this need by offering children a digital library to access during their stay. The library will be filled with video games, consoles, movies, craft supplies, MP-3 players, music, and tablets. The children will be able to check out these items and spend idle time having fun and releasing some stress.

We also know how important it is for families facing cancer to support each other through the tough times. Building Smiles organizes social outings for the families to meet and spend some time having fun. We work with various community organizations to create these events, such as professional sports franchises, local entertainment facilities, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and many more.

Bringing a smile to a child battling cancer is the greatest gift we can give a family in their time of need.

We currently have two chapters serving both Dallas – Fort Worth and San Antonio. Please check back often and like us on Facebook for news on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.