World Smile Day was created by Harvey Ball, the man credited with creating the smiley face in 1963.
Who knew over 50 years ago what a well-known icon it would have become, who could foresee emoticons! After becoming concerned about the commercialization of his icon, which was not what it was created for, he came up with the idea for World Smile Day.
What a lovely idea!
He thought that 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.
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