The Smile Affect
Painting it forward.
A smile can go a long way. Just ask Patricia Wildenborg, Doug Welch or Jennifer Pederson, past recipients of The Smile Affect. That is affect with an A, because this project truly touches the feelings of the people it affects.
With it, Smile-A-Mile Painting paints it forward by giving away a full exterior painting transformation to a deserving family. We asked the community for nominations, and boy, did you respond.
The crew at work on a regular Smile-A-Mile job. Not a photo of a Smile Affect home.
One family a year gets the whole house done
The community nominates
Neighbors, friends and family tell us about someone who has given a lot to the Tri-Cities.
The crew chooses
Our team reads every nomination. The first year the response was so big that we chose two families.
The house gets repainted
A full exterior painting transformation, given away, with any repairs the wall needs first.
Family and friends gather
For Patricia, family and friends gathered to help the crew welcome her as a recipient.
Doug Welch
Doug had multiple nominations for the very first Smile Affect. People wrote that he had helped them out, and one nominator put it plainly: “this guy changed my life.” What does Doug do that made such an impact on so many? He builds wheelchairs for dogs who are paralyzed or don’t have their legs, and he does it for free.
For his project, the crew replaced a water damaged wall, then scraped and masked before painting the full exterior of his home.
“I had the best month that I’ve had in years with what Smile-A-Mile has blessed me with. It was more than just a house painting ; it was a house makeover.”
2019 recipient
Patricia Wildenborg
Patricia was nominated more than once, by family members and by people across the community, for the work she has done as a schoolteacher and as an active member of her church. Family and friends gathered to help the crew welcome her as a 2019 recipient.
The crew updated her home to a bright blue she selected, and built her a new ramp for the house. Thank you for introducing us to Pat and her family.
“I was this year’s recipient and I appreciate it very much. I think it was a terrific crew, they did a great job, and they enjoyed themselves while doing their job.”
Jennifer Pederson and the others
Know a family who has given a lot to this town?
Jennifer Pederson is another past recipient. The nominations come from the community, so tell us who you have in mind, what they do for the people around them, and how to reach them.