Welcome
Welcome to the World Smile Day® 2009 website.
As is
well known by now throughout the world Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963. That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.
As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day®. He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we. He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day®. Ever since that first World Smile Day® held in 1999, it has continued every year in Smiley's hometown of Worcester, MA and around the world.
After Harvey died in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was created to honor his name and memory. The Foundation continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day® each year.
This website was created to provide information about World Smile Day®, Harvey Ball and Smiley. Browse the archives to learn more about past World Smile Day® events, Smiley and his creator - Harvey Ball. And be sure to join the celebration this year on Friday, October 2, and "Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile"!
World Smile Day® 2009
Get involved on that special day by organizing events and activities at your school, business or organization. Recognize members of your community for their acts of good will and kindness. Spread the word. If each of us becomes a World Smile Day® Ambassador and help just one person smile that day - the world will be a better place. Harvey Ball believed that each of us, as individuals, can make a difference in this world. World Smile Day® is the day when all our individual acts can make the world a better place. The 2009 Smile Award
Just take a look at this partial list of Mary’s many community achievements, which have resulted in smiles all around town and beyond: founding member and member of the board of directors of the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts; The Harvey Ball 20092009 Harvey Ball Hats off to Mary DeFeudis For more information on this event click the image The Harvey Ball 2009 Photo gallery now online.
Photography by Barry Sullivan. |
Local World Smile Day® EventsThis year in Smiley’s hometown of Worcester, MA we will be true Smile Ambassadors and honor the World Sm In addition, we encourage everyone everywhere to participate in the spirit of the day, to organize events and to spread smiles and goodwill. |
This year, on October 2, 2009 we celebrate the eleventh World Smile Day
The Worcester Historical Museum has announced that Mary C. (Streeter) DeFeudis will receive the Ninth Annual Harvey Ball Smile Award — and, we say, you would have to scour every nook in the city to find a more worthy choice. 

ile Day® theme: Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile. On Friday October 2, we will be "smiling" people throughout the greater Worcester area!
