---
title: How One Small Walk Makes a Big Impact - Smile Network Partnership
description: Each year, for an entire month, whenever a SkyWater employee walks the beautiful one-mile nature trail adjacent to our Carlson Towers headquarters, our firm donates to the Smile Network. Learn more about the organization and how you can get involved also.
image: https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Smile%20Network.gif
---

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# SkyWater Blog

# How One Small Walk Makes a Big Impact - Smile Network Partnership

Posted by [Kurt Rakos](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/kurt-rakos) on 6/9/25 1:59 PM

![Kurt Rakos](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/kurt-rakos550.jpg)

Find me on:

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This spring, SkyWater Search Partners laced up our sneakers for our** annual “Walk a Mile for a Smile”**—a tradition that’s grown far beyond our expectations and continues to be one of the most meaningful days on our calendar.

Each year, our team gathers for a one-mile walk around our headquarters in Bloomington, Minnesota. It’s a simple event, but it carries powerful weight: every step supports the life-changing work of **Smile Network International**, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries for children and adults in developing countries.

### More Than a Walk: A Movement

When we first started this walk over a decade ago, we hoped to make a small difference. Eleven years later, we’ve raised thousands of dollars and helped fund dozens of surgeries, transforming not just faces, but futures.

This year’s event was full of energy, joy, and connection. Team members brought their families, shared stories, and reflected on the impact we’ve made together. As always, we were reminded that the ability to smile is something many of us take for granted—and something everyone deserves.

> “It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day,” said Adam Hoffarber, Managing Partner at SkyWater. “This walk is a moment to pause, give back, and remember that success means more when we use it to lift others.”

### Faces Behind the Cause

One of the most moving parts of our partnership with Smile Network is hearing the stories of the people whose lives have been changed. Children like **Samuel**, born with a cleft palate, who now smiles freely thanks to a 45-minute surgery made possible by donations from events like ours.

Smile Network’s founder, **Kim Valentini**, often reminds us: “The surgery may last less than an hour, but the impact lasts a lifetime.” We couldn’t agree more.

### Purpose Beyond Placement

At SkyWater, we’re passionate about helping companies grow and professionals thrive—but we’re equally passionate about **giving back**. Our work is rooted in connection, and that extends beyond boardrooms and job searches.

Partnering with Smile Network lets us tangibly live out our values. It’s one mile, once a year—but it represents **who we are** as a company, and what we believe in.

### How You Can Help

Whether you're a client, a candidate, or a neighbor, we invite you to join us. Visit [www.smilenetwork.org](https://www.smilenetwork.org) to learn more about their missions, or reach out to SkyWater to support next year’s walk.

Eleven years in, we’re still walking. And with every mile, we’re helping restore something truly powerful: **hope, dignity, and the simple joy of a smile**.

---

 

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---

 

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