Our Story
Our Story:
In 1998 Kristy Irvine Ryan and friends founded Secret Smiles in New York to assist families in need. Kristy was a '93 graduate of the University of Dayton and sister of Tracy Janess (Secret Smiles of Dayton President). On September 11, 2001, Kristy was killed while working in the World Trade Center. In her memory, Secret Smiles of Dayton was created.
Since 2001, Secret Smiles of Dayton, Inc. has provided more than 10,500 beds to children in our community who are without. We are a 100% volunteer charity and every dollar we raise goes to back into our community.
We work with local social service organizations, schools, churches and physicians to locate families in need and ask that they complete our referral form and provide a personal letter from the family. Secret Smiles Board Members review all applications to insure stability and need. No decisions are made based on race, color, nationality, ethnicity or creed. Families do not receive cash donations.
Our long running partnership with Morris Furniture Company allows Secret Smiles to purchase beds at cost with free shipping and delivery. Morris Furniture Company also generously donates a portion of all in-store bed sales to Secret Smiles!
Secret Smiles relies on the local community to raise funds to purchase beds, cribs and beds. Fundraisers, grant writing and mailings happen throughout the year. Our passion and the generosity of our community has been changing lives since 2001!
In memory of her smile,
Kristy Irvine Ryan
Secret Smiles Founder
5/22/71-9/11/01
Secret Smiles of Dayton Board Members
Secret Smiles Board Members:
Kelly Uhl, Sara Hemmeter, Lisa Lambert, Molly Treese, Tracy Janess & Barbara O’Brien
“Your gift will help us continue our work toward improving the quality of life for needy families in the Dayton community by providing basic family necessities.”