Who can look at a "Happy Face" and not smile? After all these years, after seeing it time and time again, we still love its little yellow face! Over the years, many variations have appeared - from the original yellow face to various colors to pencil-scrawled faces. Have you ever wondered where the Smiley Face came from? Contrary to popular belief, the happy face was not invented by Forrest Gump! It turns out that the original happy face was created in 1963 by Harvey R. Ball, who was a freelance artist in Worcester, Massachusetts. He never copyrighted the iconic symbol and this has resulted in its being in the public domain and it has been used and modified over the years.
Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his Happy Face. He developed the idea of devoting one day a year to smiles and declared the first Friday of October to be World Smile Day. He used his Happy Face as the World Smile Day symbol. That day would be dedicated to smiling at people and performing acts of kindness. The first World Smile Day was held in 1999. The theme that year, and every year since, has been “Do an Act of Kindness. Help One Person Smile”.
After Harvey passed away in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was formed and it continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day. This day has been celebrated every year in many locations around the world, but nowhere is it more celebrated than in Harvey’s home town. On that day, The Foundations hand-delivers “You’ve Been Smiled” certificates to residents of Worcester who have been nominated by others. The Foundation has now developed a site from which you can send an electronic “You’ve Been Smiled” certificate to anyone in the world. You can also download a free copy of “The Smiley Face Song”! How perfect is it that the smiley face should be used in the pursuit of kindness?
Who cannot love a foundation with a name like “World Smile”? You cannot help but smile just saying it. Thank you Harvey Ball for giving us the Happy Face! How dull our lives would be without it. Putting on a happy face . . . it's a good thing!
Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his Happy Face. He developed the idea of devoting one day a year to smiles and declared the first Friday of October to be World Smile Day. He used his Happy Face as the World Smile Day symbol. That day would be dedicated to smiling at people and performing acts of kindness. The first World Smile Day was held in 1999. The theme that year, and every year since, has been “Do an Act of Kindness. Help One Person Smile”.
After Harvey passed away in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was formed and it continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day. This day has been celebrated every year in many locations around the world, but nowhere is it more celebrated than in Harvey’s home town. On that day, The Foundations hand-delivers “You’ve Been Smiled” certificates to residents of Worcester who have been nominated by others. The Foundation has now developed a site from which you can send an electronic “You’ve Been Smiled” certificate to anyone in the world. You can also download a free copy of “The Smiley Face Song”! How perfect is it that the smiley face should be used in the pursuit of kindness?
Who cannot love a foundation with a name like “World Smile”? You cannot help but smile just saying it. Thank you Harvey Ball for giving us the Happy Face! How dull our lives would be without it. Putting on a happy face . . . it's a good thing!
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