Past Events
Back to School Shopping Spree
This summer, we proudly hosted over 100 children at our annual Back-to-School Shopping Spree.
Students had the opportunity to gather and shop for essential school supplies, preparing them for a successful academic year.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous volunteers and sponsors whose support made this event possible.
Back to School Shopping Spree
November 22, 2025 – Hicksville, NY Target
Holiday Party and Shopping Sprees
December 7, 2025 – East Windsor, NJ Target
December 14, 2025 – Manalapan, NJ Target
Sunday, August 17, 2025 – Target in Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, August 16, 2025 – Target in Burlington, NJ
Saturday, August 9, 2025 – Target in Queens, NY
This Spring, we hosted children ages 4 through 8 who are on the free or subsidized lunch programs in our Spring Fling Shopping Spree. Groups of one or two children were accompanied by a volunteer and went shopping for clothing, accessories and more! The funds provided for these shopping sprees are funds raised by the Make A Smile Foundation, Inc. from a variety of generous sponsors including Target Corporation and the M&T Charitable Foundation
Spring Fling Shopping Spree
Sunday, June 8, 2025 – Target in Manalapan, NJ
Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Target in East Windsor, NJ
Holiday Party and Shopping Spree
Sunday, December 8, 2024 – Target in Manalapan, NJ
This Holiday Season we hosted over 75 students at our annual Holiday Party and Shopping Sprees. The children spent the morning shopping for toys, singing Christmas carols and meeting Santa, who also took a photo with each child after giving them a gift! Thank you to Target, Peddie School and M&T Bank, as well as all of our additional volunteers and sponsors.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 – Target in Brooklyn, NY
Inaugural Uniform Event
Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Freehold Learning Center, Freehold, NJ
Make A Smile is proud to initiate this new event in Freehold, providing school uniforms to children in need. We are proud to have partnered with M&T Bank and the Freehold Learning Center Elementary School. This was a true partnership of time by the volunteers and funding by Make A Smile. Make A Smile Board of Directors members Marty Davidoff and Brendan Rezny were in attendance to participate in this event along with volunteers from M&T Bank and the Freehold Learning Center.
Seventeen (17) children went on a mini scavenger hunt to find their uniforms in bright orange bags placed around the gymnasium with some assistance from the volunteers. All were very excited about the event. “I am very proud that this inaugural Uniform event went so well,” stated Make A Smile CEO, Marty Davidoff. “We look forward to adding this event to our repertoire alongside our Holiday Shopping Sprees, Spring Fling and Back to School events,” he continued.
Make A Smile is looking forward to hosting over 120 children at its upcoming Holiday Shopping Sprees coming up later this year.
Back to School Shopping Spree
This year we hosted our Make A Smile Back to School Shopping Spree where children went shopping for school supplies, clothing and accessories. Huge thanks to our sponsors, including the Target Corporation, M&T Charitable Foundation and the NYS Society of Enrolled Agents, who help raise the funds that allow these children to have such a fun and memorable experience!
Saturday, November 2, 2024 – Target in Hicksville, NY
Saturday, August 17, 2024 – Target in Queens, NY
Sunday, July 27, 2024 – Target in Brooklyn, NY
Spring Fling Shopping Spree
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – Target in Hicksville, NY
Sunday, April 28, 2024 – Target in East Windsor, NJ
Sunday, February 25, 2024 – Target in Milltown, NJ
Holiday Party and Shopping Spree
This past December, we hosted over 80 children at our annual Holiday Party and Shopping Spree. They spent the morning shopping for toys, singing Christmas carols and meeting Santa, who also took a photo with each child after giving them a gift! Thank you to all of the volunteers who joined us that morning, as well as our wonderful sponsors.
Sunday, December 10, 2023 – Target in East Windsor, NJ
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – Target in Manalapan, NJ
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – Target in Brooklyn, NY
Back to School Shopping Spree
Children in need come together at our recent Back to School Shopping Spree where they went shopping for school supplies, clothing and accessories. Huge thanks to our sponsors, including the Target Corporation and M&T Charitable Foundation, who help raise the funds that allow these children to have such a fun and memorable experience!
Saturday, September 30, 2023 – Target in Hicksville, New York
Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Target in Queens, New York
Spring Fling Shopping Spree
Children in need gather at our Spring Fling Shopping Spree’s where they go shopping for clothing, accessories and more! Thank you to our generous sponsors, including the Target Corporation and M&T Charitable Foundation, who help raise the funds that allow these children to participate!
Saturday, June 10, 2023 – Target in Hicksville, New York
Holiday Party & Shopping Spree
Children in need gathered at holiday shopping sprees to buy toys and gifts, play games and meet Santa! They shopped, accompanied by volunteers, with money donated by Make A Smile and our generous sponsors and then received a toy from Santa and took a photo with him.
Back to School Shopping Spree
Winter Shopping Spree
January 20, 2020 – Philadelphia, PA Target Store
Children from Robin’s Nest Early Learning Center participated in a shopping spree,
accompanied by volunteers from Vanguard.
Holiday Party & Shopping Spree
Children in need gathered at recent holiday shopping sprees to buy toys and gifts, play games and meet Santa! They shopped, accompanied by volunteers, with money donated by Make A Smile and our generous sponsors and then received a toy from Santa and took a photo with him.
December 12, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ Target Store
December 8, 2019 – Milltown, NJ Target Store
December 8, 2019 – Manalapan, NJ Target Store
