16 kids vs. 50…75…100 kids

The Simply Smiles Children’s Village has a capacity of 16 children. There is a tremendous need for our services. So why wasn’t the village built to serve more children?

It’s a question we get often. And trust me, the children we aren’t able to have live with us, live in our minds and hearts every day.

Gaby and me on a hike with the kids in the mountains of Oaxaca.

It's a fact that with our annual operating budget for the village, which provides exceptional care for 16 children, we could provide a lower standard of care for more children. It wouldn’t cost Simply Smiles more money, the cost would be paid by the children in what they need and wouldn’t receive.

That’s a truth that I’ve seen and that Gaby has personally lived.

Gaby, who is now the director of our children’s village, grew up in a group home as one of seventy children. I started Simply Smiles because I was inspired, and also deeply concerned, by my time as a volunteer there.

When we broke ground on the Simply Smiles Children’s Village in 2015, Gaby and I decided to care for children differently.

We wouldn’t repeat the “something is better than nothing” mantra that’s both pervasive and leaves so much wanting. But rather, we’d do something simple and radical, provide for the children in our care as you would your children–because they deserve nothing less.

Our combined experiences spoke loud and clear to us in determining that having more than 16 children in one setting would make it impossible to offer that kind of care. Not because of square footage or the size of our operating budget, but because in an environment with more children, it would be impossible to provide the personal, loving, attention and support the children need. And that would dramatically and negatively impact the rest of their lives.

It pains us to know that there are children out there who desperately need what we do. But it would pain us more to know that we were providing substandard care and as a result, causing immediate and long-term harm.

The positive results of our decision and our model have been remarkable.

The Simply Smiles Children’s Village is something we, our supporters, and the children are exceedingly proud of.

Today the village cares for 16 children. The village also acts as an outreach center providing services like food and medical aid to the children and families in the surrounding community.

Gaby and I desire nothing more than to build more Simply Smiles Children’s Villages, to duplicate our success, and provide the conditions that allow 32, 64…hundreds…of children to thrive.

We believe that day, and that impact, will come. And that you, our supporters will be there to help to make it happen.

But we’ve also learned another key lesson that will dictate when we scale and expand on our success. Our villages must be built around the right leader.

To work, the family-like model requires an absolutely exceptional person, with the right set of experiences, and the right heart to run the village. We found that in Gaby. She’s integral. She’s essential. She’s the CEO and a parental figure.

Maybe that next leader is living at our children’s village right now, receiving all she needs to grow up…and change the world around her.

Bryan

Big News! Simply Smiles takes a huge step on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation

In order to expand the work and impact of Simply Smiles on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation, the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ has leased Simply Smiles just over 8 acres of their land for a term of 99 years!

On this property (adjacent to the Sam D. Horse Community Center property in La Plant, South Dakota on the Reservation, where Simply Smiles currently runs its programming), we will build additional infrastructure that will work in conjunction with the Community Center property.

This expansion will increase our efforts, grow our partnerships, and allow us to work each day to create the smiles that lead to the brightest possible future for the children of Cheyenne River.

A bright future: Outlined in orange is the 8.04-acre parcel of land, leased to Simply Smiles by the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ on June 1, 2018. To the right, you can see the La Plant Community Center.

Simply Smiles has put down our roots in La Plant, South Dakota. This is the town that welcomed us onto the Reservation almost ten years ago. Now, as we solidify our commitment to the Reservation and to Indian Country at large, we also solidify our commitment and our gratitude to the town of La Plant.

As you can imagine, entering into this lease was a lengthy and at times complicated process. We couldn't have done it without an amazing team that worked together for over two years toward a shared vision for Simply Smiles on the Cheyenne River Reservation.

A special thank you to:

• The Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ, Toni Buffalo, and Louie Blue Coat

• The South Dakota Conference of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Gordon Rankin, and Attorney Bob Frieberg

• Shipman & Goodwin, Attorney Sarah Westby, and Attorney Dame Catalan

• Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and Attorney David Smith

• The people of La Plant

• The Congregational Church members who live in La Plant and helped Simply Smiles to connect with, and develop a relationship with, the Dakota Association.

• Simply Smiles donors and supporters!

Deepening partnerships: Bryan Nurnberger (left), Simply Smiles President and Founder and Toni Buffalo (right), former administrator of the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ sign the 99-year lease agreement, allowing Simply Smiles to build the Children's Village on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota.

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Now, to address a few questions:

This is great news! When will Simply Smiles start developing the land?

In the coming years, Simply Smiles will incrementally add the infrastructure we need to the land. We’ll add utility connections and driveways first, then buildings for storage, housing, program implementation, and more! In the immediate future, you may see a Simply Smiles staff member on the land parcel putting in corner markers and/or a sign.

You are leasing the land from a church group. Is Simply Smiles still a non-religious organization?

Yes. Simply Smiles is not officially connected to any one religion, faith, or belief system. We want to be able to work with anyone who shares our values and our vision. Remaining independent in this way is a central tenant to Simply Smiles programming being open, available, and feeling comfortable for everyone.

Why did Simply Smiles lease the land and not buy it outright?

We chose to lease the land and not buy it out of respect for the Lakota owners of the land. We wanted to make sure that in all of our actions that Simply Smiles is supporting and giving, not taking anything from the Lakota people. By leasing the property, the land stays in the ownership of the Lakota people.

How long is the lease?

Simply Smiles is leasing the land from the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ for a term of 99 years. The lease began on June 1, 2018. Over these years, we will use the land to further the vision and mission of Simply Smiles.

Where is the leased property exactly?

The leased property is 8.04 acres and it lies between the Sam D. Horse Community Center land and Main St. The eastern border is the old Iowa Ave, adjacent to the community center. Access is along the western border on Main St, just south of the Congregational Church entrance.

Is everything with the lease solid legally? Land ownership can be a tricky thing on the Reservation...

Absolutely! The land is deeded/fee/non-trust land and a full year of effort was put into making sure the property was cleanly and legally owned by the Dakota Association and that they had the right to lease the land. The land was platted/surveyed, title checks were run, title insurance was secured, and multiple law firms supported the effort. We then developed a lease that protected both parties. All the legal ducks are neatly in a row making sure the landholding is stable for the next 99 years.

On June 3, 2018, the Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ held a church service and blessing at the Virgin Creek (La Plant) Congregational Church.

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