Before finding K&M Printing, Patricia Simon worked with a well-established printing company. “Customers informed me that my books were missing pages. When I tried to contact this large company, I had to go through several people, and no one seemed to care. Their response was, ‘we will just send out another book.’ After many unanswered emails and phone calls, I knew I had to find a company that produced a quality product and provided excellent customer service,” said Patricia.
She looked for a printing company that could produce and mail her four children’s books after they were ordered through her website. Patricia reached out to K&M Printing after receiving recommendations, and it was a perfect fit.
“I work with Chris Kelly, and he’s been amazing. I gave Chris the files for my books, and he printed out sample copies. I reviewed them, and they were perfect,” says Patricia. She and Chris worked out the logistics of ordering, buying, printing, packaging, and mailing out the books. “Like a well-oiled machine, K&M Printing met all of my needs and exceeded my expectations,” she adds.
Patricia’s books can be ordered directly through her website, www. smilewithsimon.org. Once an order is placed, K&M Printing gets notified, and we take care of the printing, inventory, and shipping details. It is a very smooth process.
The story of Patricia’s books is close to her own experience. She was born with a cleft lip and palate. She is a registered nurse, Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) Kids Speakers’ Bureau member, member of Smile Train Cleft Community Advisory Council, and patient advocate for those born with craniofacial differences.
“When I dealt with my own adult cleft lip challenges, I went to the library and searched for children’s books that addressed facial differences. I was saddened to find that very few existed, so I decided to write my own books: ‘Smile with Simon,’ ‘Simon and the Buddy Branch,’ ‘Simon and Patty Go to Camp,’ and ‘Simon and the Bully.’ Each of the stories involves real people and stories from my life. I am my own publisher and marketing team, and I self-fund my books.
“My mission is to distribute books in care packages to those having surgery, to elementary educators utilizing an anti-bullying curriculum, and to craniofacial centers nationwide that treat children’s complex medical needs.” According to Patricia, “The response to my books has been so positive. The children love the illustrations, and the parents love the positive messaging. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done!”
Meet the 17-year-old superhero shaving to support childhood cancer research and inspire confidence. “I want to show little girls that it shouldn’t take them 16 years to realize that they are beautiful just the way they are.”
Emma used to dream of being a superhero. Now, the 17-year-old is making her dreams come true by shaving her 22 inches of hair to help fund childhood cancer research. Read on to find out how Emma is encouraging all women to be bold for change this International Women’s Day.
In first grade, my best friend and I created a game called Superheroes.
Our “superhuman” job was to walk around the playground and pick up litter. We loved it because we got to be superheroes and we were helping people.
As you can probably guess, I have never been the most “popular” girl in school.
In fact, I was bullied quite a bit throughout grade school and middle school.
I had always been shy, but when my third-grade crush said he would “never like a fat and ugly pig of a person,” I started to isolate myself and hate my appearance.
After years of being told I was unattractive, I began to believe it.
Junior year of high school was when I finally realized what it takes to be beautiful. There was nothing in particular that helped me “find the light,” I just got older and realized that no one other than myself gets to define who I am or how I view myself.
All you need is confidence — confidence in yourself and your capabilities.
Although 10 years have passed, I still want to be the superhero I dreamed of being in first grade. I was put in this world to help others, to make a difference.
This fall, I finally became the superhero I dreamed of being as a little kid. I signed up as a shavee for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. I hope to raise money for childhood cancer research, so all kids can achieve their dreams.
So far, I’ve raised over $800 just using Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and word of mouth.
Help Emma reach her goal of raising $2,000 for kids’ cancer research! Donate towards her shave today >
However, the month before I shave, I have much bigger plans.
My brother, who is pursuing a career in graphic design, is working on a design for a poster that we plan on printing and hanging everywhere we can possibly hang it.
I am also getting in touch with someone from my town’s newspaper that might be interested in helping me raise awareness and money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
I plan on doing even more through my social media apps to encourage those who have not yet donated to donate, and I want to invite my high school’s newspaper to cover the shave.
With less than a month to go, I’m hoping to surpass my current goal of $2,000 raised for childhood cancer research before the big shave on April 1.
I want to shave off my almost-twenty-two inches of hair to show that everyone can be beautiful.
You can be a superhero like Emma. Get involved to help fund childhood cancer research today >
I am not perfect, but that does not mean I am not beautiful. I want to show little girls that it shouldn’t take them 16 years to realize that they are beautiful just the way they are.
Hair is an accessory, not a necessity.
That said, I am still extremely nervous for the shave. No matter how confident I have become in recent years, I am still a vulnerable, self-conscious teenage girl.
But being nervous about something doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it.
My hair is what I am complimented on the most, and I’m scared to find out if I will like how I look without it.
But I know I’ll never regret shaving my head for childhood cancer research, no matter what I look like bald.
Still, there’s a part of me that’s afraid I won’t like what I see. But every day, that part of me loses to the larger part of me that is extremely empowered and proud of what I am doing.
I’m excited to rock my bald head, proving to myself and those around me that hair isn’t necessary for confidence or for beauty.
I want to shave my head so I can be the change I want to see in the world. I am shaving my head so I can be the hero I dreamed of being years ago.
I am choosing to shave my head for all the kids who don’t get the luxury of a choice.
Help Emma be bold and go bald for change. Click the button and boost her fundraising today.
"We may not be the same
And if we were it’d be a shame
You have a voice let go and sing
Open up just spread your wings
You’ve got to feel good about yourself
You’ve got to feel good about yourself
I am different but I am beautiful
We are different but we are beautiful
So smile with Simon and be kind
Smile and see what you will find
So smile with Simon this is his song
His badge of courage makes him strong
We’re still alike in many ways
Cardinals, sparrows, and Blue jays
We fall sometimes but that’s okay
Pick yourself up and seize the day"
Smile with Simon Song
