Our Story The Packs How It Works Kids Helping Kids Our Vision Get Involved
A student-led initiative from UC Davis

Every kid deserves to rip the pack.

We transform the trading cards we love — Pokémon, Lorcana, Topps and sports — into free packs with a guaranteed hit, then hand-deliver them to children in hospitals across California.

Founded at UC Davis · A California-wide mission
Why we started

To turn one small pack into a child's best moment of the day.

Somewhere in California, a kid is having the hardest week of their life inside a hospital room. We started Project Trading Smiles to give that kid something to look forward to — the pure, electric joy of ripping open a pack and pulling something amazing.

We're two pre-med undergraduates at UC Davis who happen to love this hobby. We open a lot of cards, so we have plenty to share — and we can't think of a better use for them than putting a smile on a child's face when they need it most.

"We can't change what these kids are up against — but we can hand them a pack, and for a few minutes, let them just be a kid ripping cards."
The problem

Why kids get shut out of the hobby

Sold out everywhereNew sets vanish from shelves within minutes of release.
Resold for hundredsScalpers flip packs at eye-watering markups.
Out of reach for kidsThe children who'd treasure it most can't get near it.

Our answer: free packs, hand-delivered — every one with a guaranteed hit.

What's inside

A little bag of wonder

Every goodie bag is hand-assembled with care — part trading-card magic, part heartfelt encouragement from kids their own age.

A card pack

Curated Pokémon, Lorcana, Topps or sports cards — with a guaranteed hit worth ripping for.

Guaranteed hit

A handmade card

An encouraging note or hand-drawn card from an elementary schooler — one kid cheering on another.

A little trinket

A small keepsake to hold onto — the finishing touch that makes the whole bag feel like a gift.

A custom sticker

They name any hero — a Pokémon, an athlete, a book character — and we print their very own custom sticker on the spot.

Made just for them

And every bag holds all four — a full handful of joy, always free.

How it works

From our collection to a child's hands

Four steps, one promise: a guaranteed smile in every bag.

01

We collect

We set aside the extras and standout cards from the thousands we open each month.

02

We craft the packs

We curate every pack by hand so each one holds a guaranteed hit worth ripping for.

03

Kids co-create

Elementary schoolers draw cards and write notes that go inside every goodie bag.

04

We deliver joy

We bring the bags to children in hospitals across California — free, always.

Kids helping kids

The most powerful card in the pack is hand-drawn.

We partner with elementary school classrooms to create the heart of every goodie bag — turning kindness into a craft that kids are proud to make.

Draw their own cards

Students design their very own Pokémon, athletes and characters.

Write words of courage

Short notes of hope for a kid they'll never meet, but absolutely lift up.

Laminated to last

We seal each creation so it becomes a keepsake, tucked into every bag.

Where we're headed

Our first-year vision

We're just getting started. We've mapped 140+ children's hospitals across California we're determined to reach — and we'll bring classrooms anywhere who want to help along for the ride.

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Goodie bags
Our first-year goal
0+
Children's hospitals
Across California
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Guaranteed hits
In every single pack
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Free to families
Now and always
Project Trading Smiles Who we are

Amanda So & Antoine Tran

Co-founders · UC Davis

Two students turning a hobby they love into a reason to make a child smile.

Let's talk

Bring a smile to your hospital or classroom

Hospitals, schools, donors and volunteers — we'd love to hear from you. Tell us a little about you and we'll get right back.

projecttradingsmiles@gmail.com @projecttradingsmiles
Serving children's hospitals across California

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