September has been such an incredible month! I am super excited to share that I reached my 2017 goal of $3,000 in total donations this month. Everyone has been so generous and supportive. Thank you all so much. And a special thank you to Mrs. Sara Hong for making the donation that put me over the top of my goal!

Also, this month I was interviewed on WCCO radio by Ms. Roshini Rajkumar. The executive director of Smile Network, Ms. Maureen Cahill, invited me to join her (thank you so much Ms. Cahill and Ms. Rajkumar). It was so much fun - check out the pictures below. You can also listen to the broadcast here (we start at 20:21). I can't wait to go to the Smile Network gala later this month.  

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your August and are excited for back-to-school.

Earlier this month Ms. Barb Stinnett  and Ms. Kim Valentini invited me to attend the The Smile Network International Board of Directors meeting. I had the opportunity to present the Cakes for a Cure story to the Board Members and also learn more about Smile Network. It was amazing and I had so much fun.

Smile Network provides life-altering reconstructive surgeries and related healthcare services to impoverished children and adults in developing nations. Volunteer doctors and nurses donate all of their time and medical companies provide many of the supplies required. Smile Network pays for the cost of travel and lodging for the doctors and nurses and for the cost of medicines for patients.  The average cost of a surgery to fix a cleft palate is just $500.

Being able to smile is an instant boost of confidence. Smiling can make someone else happy. Imagine smiling at someone and they run away because they think that you are cursed. It sounds horrible, but it happens.  Smile Network fixes cleft palates so that someone can smile again, and be confident in themselves.   

I was so moved by their efforts, and how thoughtful, kind and generous the Board of Directors is, that I decided to add Smile Network as a Cakes for a Cure charity. I hope that we can help them make a difference.  If you would like to learn more about their efforts please visit the Smile Network website.

I would also like to thank all the people who ordered cakes recently.  You are making a difference!

• Sri Latha Ganti (Mathnasium of Chanhassen West) - Mrs. Ganti ordered two half-sheet cakes to celebrate back-to-school at her Mathnasium Center.  Thank you for your donations to The Children's Tumor Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
• The Bellefy Family - Mrs. Bellefy ordered a football cake for Andrew's birthday.  Happy birthday Andrew!  And thank you for the donation to The Children's Tumor Foundation.
• The Christie Family - Mrs. Christie ordered a baseball themed chocolate half-sheet cake for Carson and Mathew's birthday party.  Happy birthday Carson and Mathew!  And thank you for the donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.​