Smiles for Miles text with a dark blue background and a pastel bird flying holding letters

Smiles for Miles Summer Campaign

| Forgotten Wishes Foundation | Card Party, In the News

Press Release May 13, 2026

We need volunteers and donors to sustain our Forget-Me-Not Friends Club program.

The Forgotten Wishes Foundation is inviting individuals, families, businesses, and community groups to volunteer and help spread joy, kindness, and connection this summer through its Smiles for Miles Fundraiser and Card Making Challenge running from June 1 through August 15, 2026.

The Smiles for Miles campaign raises money to support the Foundation’s ongoing program, the Forget-Me-Not Friends Club, which helps combat loneliness and isolation experienced by individuals living with disabilities through the power of “Happy Mail”, handmade cards with a simple message sent throughout the year. The donations we receive fund our program, keeping it free for anyone with a disability.

Say It with a Smile Card Challenge

Simultaneously, as part of the campaign, Forgotten Wishes Foundation is launching its newest card-making challenge, “Say It with a Smile!” This is a volunteer and outreach activity designed to increase awareness, raise funds, and create the cards we need to send out more Happy Mail.

“A card in the mail brightens a day, sparks a connection, and reminds someone they are not forgotten. We are not a pen pal program,” said Lisa Dempsey, Founder of Forgotten Wishes Foundation. “Volunteers make the cards following our simple guide, send them to Forgotten Wishes, and then we mail them. The cards our Club Members receive become more than mail. They are reminders that someone cared enough to reach out.”

The “Say It with a Smile!” challenge is simple, flexible, and accessible for everyone. Individuals and organizations can participate by hosting Card Parties in person or virtually, creating cards independently, or organizing volunteer activities at workplaces, churches, or community events. No artistic experience is needed. Participants simply need blank 5×7 greeting cards, markers, stickers, and a willingness to help spread kindness.

Correspondingly, the Forgotten Wishes Foundation offers a FREE “Say It with a Smile” Quick Start Guide with card-making instructions and recommended supplies, making participation easy for groups of all sizes. There is also a full How to Host a Card Party Guide with more detailed instructions, with sample written messages, what not to say, and more about volunteer service hours.

Funds raised during the Smiles for Miles campaign will help support:

Postage and mailing costs
Printing newsletters and outreach materials
Club Member mailings throughout the year
Community outreach and engagement efforts

For more information, visit www.forgottenwishes.org or find us on social media @forgottenwishesorg.

About Forgotten Wishes Foundation

Founded in 2020, the Forgotten Wishes Foundation creates joy, builds belonging, and helps individuals with disabilities feel remembered through thoughtful mailings, volunteer engagement, and community connection programs.