If you wish to submit your child to be featured
on MACS, please read the information below carefully.
The link to the Submission Form is located at
the end of this page but if you jump to it without reading the text below
first, you'll be missing important information
required to have your child featured on MACS.
Who qualifies to be featured on MACS?
(Reviewed December/2003)
Children between ages 2 and 17 years old.
Children currently living in the United States.
Children who have been recently diagnosed with a serious/chronic life-threatening illness (i.e. leukemia, malignant tumors, in need of transplant, degenerative illnesses, other chronic/severe life-threatening illness...)
Children who are still undergoing treatment (i.e. chemo, radiation) or
awaiting organ donation.
Children presently undergoing treatment and/or rehabilitation for
injuries that were life threatening or serious enough to result in a
long-term recovery process (i.e. amputation, skin grafting, undergoing
rehabilitation to walk, use hands, speak, read...)
*Neurological restrictions listed below will also apply to injury
cases.
Children currently in hospice care.
NOTE: Children between ages 2 and 17 suffering from life-threatening NEUROLOGICAL illnesses will qualify for MACS only if parent/guardian sends a medical mental evaluation stating that the child has mental abilities of a 2 year old or older. The child must have the ability to comprehend the intent behind the cards they'll receive as a result of being featured on MACS.
It is VERYimportant that you read the information belowBEFORE filling out
the Online Submission Form located at the bottom of this page.
Online Submission Form:
Submissions will only be accepted if sent by the child's parents or legal
guardians, unless we receive written consent from parents in order to have
someone else submit the child's information.
Child's biography should be written by mom or dad.
Biographies cannot have less than 3,000 characters.
Biographies with more than 7,500 characters will be edited.
The biography text area on the Online Submission Form will count the characters for you.
Begin by telling us
your child's story since BIRTH, then when you noticed the first signs
that something was wrong, when child was diagnosed and what your child has been
through until today (see
examples on the Featured Kids of the Month page). Please explain
your child's illness in simple words so that everyone can understand (and
learn!) If you use any medical terms, please explain them too.
We STRONGLY suggest that you write the biography on a text editor program
(Word, Notepad) and SAVE IT!! Then come back here and paste the
text into the biography field on the Submission Form. Why? You could be almost
done writing this long long story, your lights go out, or your computer froze.....
and you lost everything! Then what?? You'll have a nervous breakdown and
throw the computer out the window!!! Not a good idea...
Please DO NOT use all CAPS (upper case) when writing.
Child's picture:
You have 2 options to send a picture: 1) By postal mail - (click here for address)
2) By email -
If you have some very good DIGITAL pictures, please email them
to pics@makeachildsmile.org
PICTURE GUIDELINES - It is very important that you read the pictures
guidelines page below prior to sending them in:
Medical Verification Form: (very important!) Your child's doctor needs to complete and fax the Medical Verification
Form below to us. The fax number is on the Form.
If your child has several doctors, then just pick the doctor most
related to your child's main diagnosis.
CLICK BELOW to download and print the Medical Verification Form or
ask your doctor to visit this page and download the Form:
(right-click and select "Save Target As...")
Both links below are the SAME Form,
just in 2 different file formats for your convenience.
***IMPORTANT*** - This Form CANNOT
be completed by the parent, and it CANNOT be faxed from the
parent's home or work. The Medical Verification Form needs to be completed
and faxed FROM the doctor's office. We will verify the fax number
of each Form received.
Mailbox address:
You will need to rent a P.O. Box! It's not expensive, usually about $25 for a period of 6 months at
your local US Post Office. We do NOT post the child's home address or ANY physical
address of family or relative on our website for privacy and safety reasons!
The only physical address that you may use, is of a Church, as long as
they agree and understand that your child will receive lots of cards and
packages.
MAILBOX SUGGESTION: Before you go to your local Post Office, try
contacting the owner of your local "UPS Store". Explain what the MACS
website
is about and ask if they would be willing to DONATE a Mailbox for your
child for a minimum of 3-6 months. Tell them that we will add a thank you
note with the owner's name and store number below the child's address on
the website. Click below and print the UPS Store Letter Template. Fill in the
blanks and fax it to your local UPS Store. Hopefully this will help.
If you cannot get a Mailbox donated from your local "UPS Store", then see if a local business will pay for your
P.O. Box. We will also give credit to a business willing to pay for your
Mailbox.
To find "The UPS Store" near you, click
HERE, then click on "Locations"
on the top left corner and do a search by Zip Code.
The child's mailbox address can be given last. We can confirm your child
as long as we have all the other information
and then you can rent a mailbox about 1 week prior to your child being
featured.
IMPORTANT: When you rent a
mailbox, make sure to leave
your mailbox open to ANY NAME. Remember, mail from
senders will NOT contain a Last Name because we don't list your child's
last name on our website. Plus, mail may also come for your
child's siblings, so make sure they will accept any name or list
all names on your mailbox, even nicknames if your child is being
featured on MACS using his/her nickname. The Post Office will ask you to
fill out a form and put the names of those who will receive mail there,
so list everybody (mom, dad, kids) or just tell them to accept any mail
addressed to any name.
SUGGESTION: Try renting a mailbox that your
child can REACH, so that he/she can retrieve his/her own mail!! Much more
exciting, right??!!
Our Mailing Address
Make A Child Smile Organization
Ref: New Submission for (add child's name here)
11110 W. Oakland Park Blvd, #292
Sunrise, FL
33351 - U.S.A.
More info about submitting a child:
If you would like to choose a future month (if your child is supposed to have surgery or will undergo some special treatment),
please let us know and we will try to confirm your child for that month (if
month is available).
Remember that when they are going through tough times (surgery, hospital long stays, important treatments, etc), is when they need the cheer-ups the most.
Other info:
If your child is adopted or you are his/her legal guardian, please send by
regular mail, a copy of birth certificate and/or adoption documents
and/or guardianship documentation.
We do not give preference to any child. We go by order of submission
(Online Submission Form) and documents received (Medical Verification Form &
Child's Photo),
so please send this information in as soon as possible.
We do not recommend that your child be featured during the same month as
his/her birthday. It's more fun to receive cards just for being featured on
MACS and then later
just for his/her birthday!
