07 October 2026

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Smile Train Brings Smile Wall to NYC for World Smile Day

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Smile Train invites New York City to share moments of joy and raise awareness for people affected by cleft at Grand Central Terminal.

In honor of World Smile Day®, Smile Train , the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, is bringing its “Smile Wall” campaign to New York City at Grand Central Terminal on Friday, October 2, inviting the community to come together and share what makes them smile. Now in its second year, the Smile Wall campaign celebrates positivity and the power of a smile while raising awareness and support for children born with cleft lips and palates.

From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Smile Wall will be featured at Grand Central Terminal in The Graybar Passage near the Grand Central Gift Shop, creating an interactive space where community members can leave messages, drawings, and personal reflections about what makes them smile. Together, these contributions will transform a blank wall into a vibrant display of connection.

“A smile has the ability to remind us of something we all share,” said Smile Train President and CEO Susannah Schaefer. “The Smile Wall gives everyone an opportunity to spotlight the experiences that bring them happiness, reminding us that every smile has a place.”

Every three minutes, a baby is born with a cleft, a facial difference that can bring significant challenges with eating, speaking, hearing, and breathing. Smile Walls symbolize how something as simple as a smile can do more than brighten someone’s day. It can represent the promise of a healthier, brighter future for children with clefts.

New York City community members, commuters, and visitors are encouraged to stop by and share what makes them smile. At noon, the event will also welcome cleft-affected professional NFL cheerleader Jenna Waller and former Miss USA 2021 Elle Smith to help celebrate World Smile Day® and the accomplishments of people affected by cleft.

Individuals and organizations can also create their own Smile Walls at schools, workplaces, community centers, and other gathering places. The movement can be joined online by creating or contributing to a digital Smile Wall.

More information about World Smile Day® and how to get involved is available at smiletrain.org/wsd .

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train’s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org .

Source: https://www.smiletrain.org/wsd