History — Timeline

Smile-A-Mile started 40 years ago with just a single summer camp session for children in Alabama with cancer. Over the years, we have expanded to provide year-round programming that serves children and their families from diagnosis and through the years beyond treatment. Our purpose is to provide hope for these families through their cancer journey.

1985
  • Smile-A-Mile hosts its first program with a single summer camp session for children in Alabama with cancer. 
1999
  • Smile-A-Mile begins its Scholarship Program to assist families in sending their child to college, university, or trade school.
2013
  • Smile-A-Mile introduces its Hospital Outreach Program at Children’s of Alabama to bring the magic of SAM into the hospital. 
2017
  • Smile-A-Mile (SAM) Place opened in a renovated warehouse just 3 blocks from Children’s of Alabama.
2023
  • Smile-A-Mile is honored as a Pillar of the Community at Children’s of Alabama with our support reaching $1 million.

Partnerships

Smile-A-Mile is a longtime partner of Children’s of Alabama.  Many of the wonderful Hematology/Oncology medical staff volunteer time at our programming to provide care for the pediatric participants.  Smile-A-Mile provides funding each year for a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow in training with the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.  This funding is offered exclusively for the training of Post-Graduate Fellows in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Smile-A-Mile also takes programming onto the Hematology/Oncology Floor and Clinic through the Hospital Outreach Program (HOP). Check out more information on HOP.

Smile-A-Mile has five camp sessions each year at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin. Children’s Harbor is a nonprofit organization donating their facility for our camps and retreats.

Smile-A-Mile is a Gold Ribbon Award Member of the Children’s Oncology Camping Association International (COCA-I), an organization whose mission is to strengthen the international community of camps for children with cancer and their families through networking, advocacy, and education.

Care Camps Foundation‘s mission is to give joy, hope, and the healing power of the outdoors to children with cancer and their families at medically supervised pediatric oncology camps. Care Camps Foundation provides funding to oncology camps and special programs designed to bring the healing power of the outdoors and shared community to these kids and their families.

Financial Info & Policies

Smile-A-Mile Tax ID: 63-0907544

View 2023 Audited financials

Privacy Policy – View Here
Conflict of Interest Policy — View Here
Records Retention Policy — View Here
Whistle Blower Policy — View Here