About Us
Smiles2U’s philosophy is that everyone deserves the chance to smile.
Even when life is at its hardest moment. A moment is all it takes.
Smiles2U is a Registered Charity in New South Wales.
North Shore Mums Smiles2U is a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to bringing care and comfort to the children, parents, and carers who walk through the emergency doors of our local hospitals each day. Our care packages are designed to support individuals in times of crisis, offering comfort and essential items to those facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
Founded in 2015, Smiles2U became a Registered Charity in NSW in 2020, earning Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Today, we proudly provide care packages, smiles bags, cancer care packs, and comfort to patients in 16 hospitals.
Meet Our Team
Michelle Key
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTORMichelle is the founder of North Shore Mums Smiles2U.
Residing on the Upper North Shore, Michelle is a proud mother of three energetic boys. She is deeply passionate about helping others, and Smiles2U embodies her mission of supporting families in need.
Having personally experienced the challenges of being in the emergency room with her young children, Michelle understands the importance of patience, distractions, and providing comfort to kids while medical staff are attending to them. There's nothing more stressful than arriving at the hospital with no way to entertain a child or provide them with food or drink. The care packages we offer are designed to make a difficult time a little easier and to bring comfort to your child.
Michelle is truly passionate about the work we do and finds great joy in seeing the smiles and happiness that Smiles2U bags bring to sick children in the hospital.
Since founding the charity in 2015, Michelle has expanded Smiles2U to support 15 hospitals across the North Shore and Central Coast.
“A lot of work goes into Smiles2U every day but the reward is huge when we receive lovely testimonials and photos from recipients of our bags and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.”
Sarah Bates
DirectorSarah is a Director at NSM Smiles2U, overseeing the logistics for the three Central Coast hospitals we support. She is also a dedicated Emergency and Paediatrics Nurse, a wife, and a mother to their daughter and Cleo the Pug.
In 2018, Sarah became part of NSM Smiles2U after witnessing firsthand the need for our care packages. She reached out to Michelle to explore the possibility of expanding the initiative to the Central Coast, and the rest is history.
With a long-standing passion for charity and volunteer work, beyond her nursing career, it felt like a natural step for Sarah to contribute to a cause that supports some of our most vulnerable individuals. She takes pride in not only helping organise and deliver the care packages to local hospitals but also witnessing the joy they bring to the children she cares for as a Nurse. The impact of these bags has been undeniable in improving the hospital experience for kids. Hearing doctors and nurses share how much our packages benefit the children’s well-being is truly heartwarming.
“I can’t believe it’s our 10th Birthday already!! So much has been achieved & we know we’ve helped put smiles on many kids faces through our work.”
Natalie Miles
Marketing Coordinator & AdministratorNatalie joined the team at the end of 2019. She is a former Upper North Shore mum, who now resides in the stunning NSW Snowy Mountains with her three children—two boys and one girl. Though some might say she has four children, as her husband is an avid fan of extreme sports!
With such an active family, Natalie has personally experienced the support of NSM Smiles2U care packages. Through her middle child’s friendship with Michelle’s eldest son, she became friends with Michelle. When her daughter joined her brothers at "big school," Natalie found herself with some free time and offered to help Smiles2U gain its registration as a Charitable Organisation and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status—a milestone we successfully achieved during the challenging year of 2020.
Natalie is passionate about reconnecting communities in a world that often feels disconnected, and Smiles2U is a perfect example of what a community can accomplish together.
“I am really proud of everything the Smiles2U team were able to achieve throughout the challenges which 2020 threw at us and look forward to our next chapter of expanding the services of NSM Smiles2U in the future years and beyond.”
Helena McMahon
Director - Secretary/ Hope bag CoordinatorHelena joined the Smiles2U team in 2024 and is an Upper North Shore mum with a passion for numbers, spreadsheets, and all things organisational—truly our Queen of Coordination.
She is the proud mum of two wonderful children, a boy and a girl, along with her very energetic fur baby who often likes to bring cuddles to our meetings. Helena has firsthand experience of the importance of our Hope Bags, as she is the mother of a Cancer Warrior. Her personal insight and strong connections within the cancer ward at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Westmead made her the perfect person to lead our Hope Bag project.
In addition to her invaluable contributions to NSM Smiles2U, Helena also brings a wealth of experience in Early Childhood education, further enriching the work she does with us.
“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to develop a product especially for oncology children, filling a need I and my family experienced first hand. It was such a special privilege to be able to work with that community that supported us through our hardest time to develop a program that will support the new members of that oncology community that continue to join us now and in the future. I am excited for the future of Smiles2u and all the wonderful things to come.”
Michaella Doyle
Events & Finance Michaella joined the NSM Smiles Team in 2024, bringing her passion for people, creativity, and finance-a true mixed bag of talents!
A lifelong resident of the North Shore, Michaella loves everything about the area - It’s stunning surroundings, small businesses, and the vibrant community that makes it so special. As a busy mum of two, she treasures family, friends, sports and organising events that bring people together for just about any reason!
With extensive experience in the Corporate Finance world, Michaella brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and a knack for creating meaningful connections.
“I absolutely love people and giving the most wonderful gifts of all-time and passion. I’m so excited to be part of this amazing organisation. It’s so important that we make a difference in Hospitals for children and those facing serious illness.
In 2025 we’re celebrating 10 incredible years of bringing smiles to children’s faces. We have so much in the pipeline, so stay tuned and join us on this wonderful journey”
