Submitted Photo Surrounded by children of the Boys & Girls Club, former Executive Director Jeannie Gallaway smiles as she displays a check from Tim Hortons franchise owners Dave and Gina Kron for more than $8,500 raised through the Smile Cookie Campaign.

On the morning of Aug. 1, Jeannie Gallaway was in her happy place, smiling from ear to ear, surrounded by children.

On her final day as Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club, Gallaway proudly displayed a check from Tim Hortons franchise owners Dave and Gina Kron showing the proceeds of more than $8,500 raised through Smile Cookie sales to support the children Gallaway was surrounded by.

Gallaway was filled with gratitude for the impact of the Smile Cookie Campaign, which Dave and Gina Kron decided to use as a way to support the children of their own community, rather than another organization not so close to home as their businesses did in the past.

The annual Smile Cookie Campaign is hosted by Tim Hortons locations across North America as they raise money for local causes by selling cookies decorated with a smile. Dave and Gina Kron felt that the perfect way to pass those smiles along would be by supporting the next generation, inspiring smiles on the faces of children through the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County.

In doing so, sales skyrocketed, resulting in the three highest grossing campaigns that Tim Hortons has had throughout the region. This past year was the third straight year that more than $8,500 was raised.

“It’s a testament to show how much people are really supporting the Boys & Girls Club and what they do in the community. … The community really rallied behind it,” Gina Kron said after the first year of sales supporting the Boys & Girls Club.

In the years since, the campaign proved that the support was not a fluke, but rather a consistent buy-in from the community to support the children the Boys & Girls Club serves.

The funds donated by Dave and Gina Kron through the Smile Cookie Campaign were directly applied to the summer programming offered by the Boys & Girls Club, including field trips and additional materials for the kids. Additionally, throughout the year, Tim Hortons supports camp days and regularly contributes to the annual holiday party at the Boys & Girls Club.

“They are always doing something to help the community, and I think that is really beautiful,” Gallaway said. “No matter what they’ve got going on, they always stop and take a minute to talk to the people who want to talk to them. They make you feel important, they make you feel like the work you’re doing matters, and they make you feel seen. Not everyone has that ability, to lighten other people and help other people glow.”

Like many powerhouse leaders in the community, Gallaway needs her coffee to unlock the best she has to offer. Because of the Smile Cookie Campaign, Gallaway said she thinks of Dave and Gina Kron every time she drives through in the morning, and she is reminded of the impact they have been able to have together over the past three years.

“I wish every community had franchise owners like Gina and Dave Kron. I think about how much better off communities would be if they had caring, devoted, generous people like the Krons in it,” Gallaway said.