Skip to main content
MENU

Who we are, What we do

Color A Smile is a nonprofit organization that distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile.  Every month we mail thousands of new drawings to all the people on our mailing list.  

Kids, teens, and adults of any age can volunteer to color and help us spread smiles. 

Since 1990, Color A Smile has given out millions of cheerful drawings… That’s a lot of smiles!

Color A Smile provides volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of helping others.            

Color A Smile does not charge anyone to receive our drawings, and we never rent, sell or exchange our mailing list. 

Color A Smile is grateful for donations of any size.  We promise that we will always use our resources efficiently and responsibly. 

Our Beliefs

  • - We believe that everyone can help someone else.
  • - We believe that cheerful drawings put smiles on people’s faces.
  • - We believe that when children are involved with meaningful volunteer projects, they are very likely to continue volunteering as adults.

Systemic Change

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

Teach a child to fish, you could feed the world!

Background

Color A Smile was started by Jerry and Susanne Harris before their children were old enough to color. They saw a neighbor's refrigerator that was covered with children's artwork. They knew that they would have plenty of pictures to put on their refrigerator in a few years, but they thought of the many people who don't have young children in their lives. 

The idea of collecting cheerful crayon drawings from people and sending the drawings to senior citizens appealed to Jerry and his wife, Susanne. They thought this would be a simple way to bring joy to the lives of older adults that often feel forgotten.

Color A Smile started by distributing a few drawings to some local nursing homes. Our program has grown tremendously, and today we mail thousands of drawings every month to people across the country. We also distribute cheerful artwork to our military troops overseas. We receive thousands of thank you letters from the recipients, confirming that our program does spread smiles and reminds people that someone is thinking of them.

Color A Smile has distributed well over 2 million drawings since we started. Even though the program was created mainly to benefit the seniors that receive the drawings, the response from the volunteers that do the coloring has been overwhelming. Our volunteers are always praising our program for allowing people of all ages and abilities to realize they are capable of helping someone else. 

 

Color A Smile provides volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of helping others.

Color A Smile is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization