Fatuma A.
Parent & Program Participant
"When we first arrived, I didn't know where to turn. More Than A Smile was one of the first places that made us feel like we actually belonged here."
More Than A Smile Foundation · Louisville, KY
We Are More Than A Smile.
Empowering immigrant, refugee, and underserved youth in Louisville, KY.
We build belonging, opportunity, and resilience — one young person at a time.
0+
Annual engagements
Programs, events & outreach
0+
Youth served
Mentorship, sports & leadership
0+
Volunteers
Active & event-based
0
Partners
Community & funding partners
Founded 2023 · Louisville, KY
Who we are
An organization built on lived experience.
Established in 2023, More Than A Smile Foundation is a community-informed organization serving immigrant, refugee, and underserved youth and families through year-round youth, family, wellness, and leadership programming.
01
Belonging
We create spaces where immigrant and refugee families feel seen, valued, and welcomed — not just tolerated. Because home is not a place you arrive at. It's a feeling you build together.
02
Leadership
We invest in young people's potential before the world tells them what they can't do. We build the confidence and skills to lead — in their schools, their families, and their communities.
03
Well-Being
We provide holistic support — mental, physical, and social — because thriving is not a luxury. Every family deserves more than survival. They deserve joy.
Born from lived experience
Our founder navigated the same systems our families face today. We don't theorize about barriers — we've lived them, and we know exactly how to remove them.
Radically community-led
Every program is shaped by the voices of the people we serve. Our volunteers, advisors, and staff are drawn from the communities we work with. This is not charity. It is solidarity.
Transparent and accountable
We publish our outcomes, report to our partners, and measure what matters. When something isn't working, we change it. When something works, we scale it.
Our Mission
To empower immigrant, refugee, and underserved youth and families in Louisville, KY through mentorship, education, sports, wellness, and leadership development — so every young person can belong, lead, and thrive.
Our 2033 Vision
A Louisville where every immigrant and refugee child grows up with the same access to opportunity, belonging, and leadership as any other young person in this city.
By 2033: 2,000+ youth served annually · 3 countries · national model for community-rooted refugee youth development.
The crisis we're responding to
Forced displacement doesn't end at the border.
When families arrive in Louisville, the hardest part isn't always the journey — it's what comes after. Here's what the data shows.
117.3M
Forcibly displaced worldwide
The highest number ever recorded — mid-2024.
UNHCR Global Trends 2024
5 years
Federal support window
Government assistance ends regardless of how stable a family is.
ORR Policy, 45 CFR §400
2×
Mental health risk for refugee youth
Refugee youth face double the rate of depression and PTSD compared to peers.
Am. Journal of Public Health, 2022
67%
Of 2nd-gen youth report feeling isolated
Caught between two cultures — fully belonging to neither.
Migration Policy Institute, 2023
The ORR cliff
Federal support ends at 5 years. The need doesn't.
Year 1
Arrival
Initial housing, placement, and school enrollment through resettlement agencies.
Years 2–3
Transition
English classes, job training, and school enrollment. Families begin to stabilize.
Years 4–5
Cliff approaching
Federal cash assistance and case management wind down. Families are increasingly on their own.
Year 5+
The cliff
ORR eligibility ends. No federal safety net. Many families face poverty, housing instability, or isolation.
Where we step in
More Than A Smile
We fill the gap — with mentorship, programs, and community that lasts well beyond year 5.
The isolation gap
After 5 years of ORR support, social isolation often intensifies — not fades.
Research shows that refugee families who lose formal support after year 5 frequently experience increased social withdrawal, reduced civic participation, and higher rates of youth disengagement from school. Without trusted community anchors, the gains of early resettlement can unravel.
Sources: Migration Policy Institute (2023) · APA Stress in America Report (2022) · ORR Annual Report to Congress (2023)
Two generations, two sets of barriers
The challenges don't disappear in the next generation — they transform.
1st Generation
Immigrants and refugees who arrived as adults or teens
- →Language barriers that limit job access and civic participation
- →Navigating complex systems — healthcare, schools, housing — alone
- →Trauma from displacement, often without mental health support
- →Social isolation after formal resettlement support ends
- →Pressure to provide for family while rebuilding their own lives
2nd Generation
U.S.-born children of immigrants and refugees
- →"Too American" at home, "too foreign" at school
- →Pressure to translate and navigate systems for parents
- →Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and school disengagement
- →Underrepresented in college-prep and leadership pipelines
- →Invisible to systems designed for either immigrants or citizens
Louisville by the numbers
25,000+
Refugees resettled in Louisville since 2000
KY Office for Refugees
100+
Countries of origin represented in Louisville
Louisville Metro Government
40215
One of KY's most diverse, lowest-income ZIP codes
U.S. Census ACS 2022
3rd
Highest refugee resettlement rate per capita in the U.S.
Welcoming America, 2023
What we do
Our focus areas
Five pillars of impact, one unified mission — building a world where every family belongs, every child is seen, and every young person has the chance to lead.
Youth
Youth Development & Leadership
A young person who knows their voice matters can change a room. From mentorship to civic engagement, we build the confidence and skills young people need to lead — in their schools, their families, and the communities that need them most.
Learn more
Wellness
Mental Health & Well-Being
Healing looks different in every culture. Our trauma-informed wellness activities, peer support, trusted referrals, and culturally responsive mental-health partnerships meet families where they are — in their language, in their grief, and in their hope.
Learn more
Women
Women & Family Empowerment
When a woman rises, her whole family rises with her. Economic literacy, leadership training, and peer networks help women build independence, find their footing, and shape futures they choose for themselves.
Learn more
Community
Community & Resource Access
Stability is not a privilege — it's a right. We connect families to food, education, health care, and social services, removing the invisible walls that stand between people and the life they came here to build.
Learn more
Global Impact · 3 Countries
Global Leadership & Community Connection
Through international partnerships and our Annual International Cup, we connect communities across cultures — reminding young people that their roots are a strength, not a limitation.
Explore global programsOur impact
Every young person deserves a place to belong — and a future worth believing in.
From the soccer field to the classroom, from Louisville to East Africa, we meet youth and families where they are — and walk with them toward where they want to go.
For funders & investors
Four ways to invest in our work.
Program Funding
Fund programs that work.
Direct grants to youth development, mental health, and family empowerment programs. Measurable outcomes, transparent reporting, and a community that feels your investment.
Learn moreCapacity Building
Help us grow our reach.
Operational and infrastructure investment that lets us serve more families, hire more staff, and expand to new neighborhoods — without compromising quality.
Learn moreEvent Sponsorship
Sponsor a signature event.
The Annual International Cup, Youth Conferences, and Engagement Nights reach thousands. Sponsorship puts your brand alongside community, joy, and impact.
Learn moreGrant Opportunities
Apply for a grant partnership.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 93-4726853) with documented outcomes, a Theory of Change, and grant-ready program summaries for every initiative.
Learn more501(c)(3) Nonprofit — EIN 93-4726853
Grant-ready — Theory of Change, program summaries, and outcome data available
Transparent reporting — Annual impact reports provided to all funders
Find your path
What brings you here?
Your space. Your voice. Your future.
Find programs, sports, leadership opportunities, events, and ways to get involved — built for and by young people like you.
Play
Soccer, basketball, swimming, and more.
Create
Arts, music, and creative expression.
Lead
Leadership development and civic engagement.
Serve
Community service and volunteer opportunities.
Connect
Peer community and mentorship.
Wellness
Mental health support and self-care.
Our Partners
20+ organizations standing with us
Participant & volunteer voices
Hear directly from our community
Responses collected from participants, families, and volunteers through our annual program survey.
Marcus T.
Volunteer
"I came to give my time. I didn't expect to leave every session feeling like I'd received something too. These families have changed my perspective on what community really means."
Hodan M.
Youth Program Graduate
"There were moments I genuinely didn't believe in myself. The people here saw something in me before I could see it. That's not something you forget."
Jennifer R.
Volunteer
"I've volunteered in a lot of places, but this is different. The staff remembers every child's name, every family's story. That kind of care is rare."
Ahmed K.
Youth Participant
"I used to feel invisible. Like nobody was really paying attention. Coming here was the first time I felt like someone was actually rooting for me."
Amina B.
Family Member
"Watching my daughter walk into a room now with her head up, voice steady, I think about how far she's come. I don't take that for granted."
Take action
Ready to make a difference?
Whether you volunteer, give, or partner with us — every action helps a young person belong, lead, and thrive.
Get In Touch
Let's start a conversation
Have questions, ideas, or want to get involved? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out and a member of our team will be in touch.
Address
2750 S. 7th Street Louisville, KY 40215
Phone
502-956-1414Hours
Monday – Thursday 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM EST
We also operate a Mobile Walking Office, meeting immigrant and refugee families in their homes, neighborhoods, and trusted community spaces throughout Louisville.