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Mia Shytle is a senior at Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. As the founder and club president of the Operation Smile Student Club at her high school, Mia and her fellow classmates organized a fundraiser to spread kindness and raise money for Operation Smile.
Mia and her classmates have been selling smile pins that read “Wear A Smile, Share A Smile”. For the fundraiser, students buy two pins. One is for them to wear, and the other is to give to either a stranger, friend, classmate, or someone who could use an extra smile. All of the proceeds from the fundraiser benefit Operation Smile.
“The fundraiser has been a success as we are not only raising awareness and funds for Operation Smile, but also promoting kindness within our school and community,” explains Mia. “It’s great to know that something as small as selling a pin provides the opportunity to better someone’s life through surgery and better someone’s day at school.”
Mia’s act of service was inspired by Operation Smile’s Spread the Love campaign, a platform to empower students to perform acts of kindness and philanthropy that will create an impact in both their schools and in their community. Inspired by Operation Smile and its worldwide impact, student volunteers ‘spread the love’ February 10-14.
Mia decided to start the Operation Smile Student Club at her school during her junior year.
“Upon researching different organizations, I came across Operation Smile and thought it would be the perfect organization to bring to my high school,” Mia explains. “When we were granted club status, we started off with 8 members. Now the club has over 30 members and continues to grow.”
Mia loves giving back to her community and hopes to set an example for other young people by performing acts of kindness.
“My favorite thing about giving back to my community is knowing that I have made a positive impact on someone’s life,” says Mia. “I encourage people my age to take time and volunteer. There are so many ways to make a difference, and sometimes even the smallest thing, like a smile pin, can positively change a life forever.”
