The idea of World Smile Day was initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. He created the Smiley Face in 1963. The World’s first World Smile Day was held in the year 1999 and has been held annually since.
After Harvey died in 2001, the “Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation” was created to honor his name and memory. The slogan of the Smile Foundation is “improving this world, one smile at a time.” The Foundation continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day each year. Likely no coincidence this year it happens on a Happy Friday. Harvey wants us to have a ball.