New survey: In challenging times, Americans appreciate simple things most

(BPT) – What makes you smile? While you may think fame and fortune are what would put a smile on most people’s faces, a new national survey reveals that it’s actually the small, simple things Americans appreciate the most. The national survey, which Smile Train commissioned The Harris Poll to conduct among over 2,000 Americans to honor World Smile Day®, showed surprising results: Especially during turbulent and challenging times, it’s the little things in life that really bring people hope and make them smile.Here are the top 10 survey results for what makes people smile:1. Nice weather2. Life in general/being alive3. Watching a TV show/movie4. Being healthy5. Good food/beverage6. Funny video or GIF on social media7. Someone smiling at me8. Spending time with my significant other9. Spending time with child(ren) or grandchild(ren)10. A joke“These survey results are refreshing and heartwarming, and they made me smile,” said Susannah Schaefer, president and CEO of Smile Train. “We work daily to create smiles across the globe by offering free surgeries and other essential cleft care to children born with clefts. Giving folks a reason to smile is in our DNA.”What a difference a smile makesSmile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, believes a smile can change the world. The nonprofit provides free surgery and other essential cleft care to children around the world who are born with clefts. To date, Smile Train has supported safe, high-quality cleft care for over 1.5 million children. Unfortunately, clefts not only negatively affect a child’s ability to smile, which impacts their social development and sense of belonging, but can also make it difficult for children to eat, breathe, hear and even speak.“I’m proud to partner with Smile Train for World Smile Day®, as a smile can truly change a person’s life,” said supermodel, entrepreneur and Smile Train Ambassador Kimora Lee Simmons. “Nothing puts a smile on my face faster than my five beautiful children. I can be at my wit’s end from a day of juggling the demands of work and single parenting, but something as simple as a hug from my little one or a call from my daughter at college will immediately get me centered and smiling again.”How Smile Train helps to keep children smilingIn an effort to provide smiles to children all over the world, Smile Train provides free surgeries and other essential care to treat clefts. The organization embraces a sustainable approach using the “teach a man to fish” model, using education, training, funding and partnerships with local hospitals to enable local medical professionals to continue providing safe, timely, high-quality cleft treatment to children in their own communities, 365 days a year.Smile Train-supported comprehensive cleft care includes not just the crucial surgery, but also much-needed nutrition programs, orthodontic and dental care, speech therapy plus social and emotional support. Smile Train gives each child access to a full range of cleft treatment services they would otherwise likely never receive — and ultimately the opportunity for a better quality of life.Learn more about Smile Train and what makes people smile at SmileTrain.org/wsd2022.