Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Who We Are
More Than a Smile Foundation is a community-rooted nonprofit based in Louisville, Kentucky, committed to uplifting immigrant, refugee, and underserved families through mentorship, education, and culturally responsive support.
Born from lived experience, we exist to bridge cultural and generational divides, nurture youth leadership, and create spaces where healing and growth can flourish.
Our team meets people where they are—on the soccer field, in classrooms, at parks, and on front porches—walking alongside them with compassion and care.
At our core, we believe that a smile should never be a mask for struggle, but a symbol of strength, hope, and belonging.
Why We Exist
The More Than a Smile Foundation began with one mother, one grocery store, and one unwavering belief—that no child should ever feel unseen or unsupported.
Our founder, Amina Shale, a Somali Bantu refugee who grew up interpreting for her family and navigating complex systems, turned lived experience into leadership.
What began as a small tutoring effort inside her family’s corner store has grown into a trusted, community-led nonprofit serving thousands of immigrant, refugee, and low-income families across Louisville.
More Than a Smile was born from necessity but built on possibility. We began because we knew what it felt like to struggle in silence. We continue because we’ve seen the power of what happens when a community invests in its own resilience.