Meet David Rose: Nonprofit Founder & Motivational Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is by Eleanor Roosevelt, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that’s why they call it the present.” At the age of 18 years old, my life turned upside down after being involved in a near fatal hit and run car accident. I was fortunate to have survived; however, I suffered extensive internal damage resulting in years of ongoing surgeries and rehabilitation in order to get back to my new normal. During that season of ongoing trials, I ultimately had a choice to make. A choice to hate the world due to someone’s mistake or find a way to love the world back. I realized that I couldn’t change my past but yet my future and the way that I would respond to it, lied ultimately in my hands. I looked at the future as a “gift” from God as he kept me around when ultimately I could easily have died in the accident, so I chose to love. Over the years of my recovery, I spent an extensive amount of time in hospitals. Often more than not, I saw children alongside of me enduring pain and suffering. I knew how hard it was to keep my spirits up through the ongoing treatment. Through cards, words of encouragement, community fundraisers to help support my family and I through a difficult season kept me pressing forward. At the age of 20, I decided to find a way to love the world back and created a nonprofit organization called “To Give A Smile.” The organization was founded with a simple mission to Spread Hope, Save Lives to children and their families facing medical needs. While I would never wish to go back through what I faced, I wouldn’t change it, as it has given me a purpose. I continue to look to the future and embrace each day as a gift, knowing how precious and short life truly is.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
To Give A Smile was founded in 2005 and is a recognized as a 501c nonprofit organization. Our mission is to spread hope and save lives to children facing medical related needs. Each year we partner with area Children’s hospitals and Ronald McDonald Homes across our multiple chapters throughout the US to provide fun and uplifting activities to take a child’s mind off current treatment. Outreach activities include, toy drives, room to room hospital visits, themed dinner & activity nights (ex: Christmas in July). In addition, internationally we take medical teams around the world to provide free lifesaving treatment to children facing medical needs. As an organization, we have grown over the years to now impacting thousands of kids each year through our outreach activities. Something that I think makes us unique is the fact that all our staff including myself (President) are volunteers. We truly believe our work matters and are passionate about serving our world. Funds raised through corporate sponsorships, individual donor support and fundraising goes directly to supporting our cause. Our success I believe has been our persistent will to press in even when it hurts by choosing not to give up. We know how important our work is and have continued to adapt to the ongoing challenges we faced as a start up nonprofit 15+ years ago. As a team, we strive for excellence, we know how much our work matters and we choose to enjoy the journey together!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anytime that I have friends, family members or team members coming in from outside of Texas some of the regular go to places in the DFW metroplex that I like to include in our itinerary are provided below. Restaurants: Most of the time ppl from outside of Texas are looking for Mexican food, burgers and BBQ. Some of my regular go to spots in the metroplex include: Blue Goose (Mexican: multiple locations), Pecan Lodge (BBQ – Dallas), Maple & Motor (Burgers – Dallas), Riscky’s BBQ (Ft Worth Stockyards). Things to do: I enjoy the outdoors, so some of the places that I would take them to, include: Dallas Arboretum, Lakeside park, Grapevine Lake (take them kayaking, boating, etc). Would probably go to some type of sports game (Basketball game, Football or baseball depending on time of year they are coming to visit). In addition, I would take them to the FT Worth Stockyards to walk around. It is one of the places people seem to enjoy the most. Grab a bite at Riscky’s and possibly catch a rodeo.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family & friends, doctors, surgeons & medical teams, that have supported and helped me in my journey of recovery after the hit and run car accident. In addition, to all my fellow To Give A Smile team members, volunteers, partners, and supporters. My family & friends, your ongoing encouragement, love, and constant prayers through a season of unknown and suffering was so appreciative. You all have stood with me through thick and thin and I will be forever grateful for each of you. You are all God’s gift to me! Medical staff that have helped me over the years to get back to my new normal, Thank You! Your countless years of education, continual learning, your dedication to your specialty, for your heart to care for the sick even when it often means not seeing your own loved ones as much as you would like. Without each of you, I would not be where I am today. Grateful for each of you! To the To Give A Smile team, volunteers, partners, and supporters: It has and continues to be a privilege, honor, and joy in my life to serve alongside of each of you as we change the world one life at a time. I am grateful for each of your dedication, your passion to make a difference, your heart to serve, and your love for people. I look forward to all the great things that are yet to come about through our continual work around the world. Mentors, you all each know who you are. So grateful for each of you, your continued insight, encouragement, and wisdom you have poured into me and To Give A Smile to help make it shine to the level it is today. You all have and continue to make a difference in the lives we serve each year through TGAS! To my Savior, Jesus Christ: Thank you for all you have done for me. For healing and leading me through life and all the unexpected turns that have come along the way. I am excited for all that lies ahead.

Website: http://togiveasmile.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgas_us/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/to-give-a-smile
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToGiveASmile
Other: Email: Info@togiveasmile.org