A group of UISD students is volunteering to make a difference in the lives of children and families facing cancer.

Smiles From Heaven hosted a volunteer orientation at its office on Polaris Drive, welcoming 15 high school students who are preparing to serve with the local childhood cancer nonprofit.

Some are new to the organization, while others are returning to continue their work, including United High School Senior Jordan Belmares, who has volunteered with Smiles From Heaven for two years.

Belmares encouraged her fellow student council officers to join her, seeing the volunteer program as an opportunity for the group to serve their community while also growing as individuals and leaders.

“I think there are great opportunities to learn and grow as individuals and as a group,” Belmares said. “I’m learning how to be a better leader.”

For Belmares, one of the most meaningful parts of volunteering is seeing the work that happens behind the scenes turn into something that directly impacts local families.

“It’s really nice to participate in the events, whether to be behind the scenes preparing for them or actually at the locations seeing those families and kids being impacted by our service,” she said.

During the training, students learned about the organization’s history, mission and impact in the community. They also heard from founders Ray and Betsy Sanchez about the importance of serving with purpose and leading with compassion.

The couple founded Smiles From Heaven in 2019 in honor of their daughter, Bella Serena Sanchez, who was diagnosed with leukemia as an infant and died at the age of two.

The Sanchez family’s experience traveling from Laredo to San Antonio for Bella’s cancer treatment gave them firsthand knowledge of the emotional and financial challenges families can face when a child is diagnosed with cancer. They turned that experience into a mission to make sure families in South Texas know they do not have to fight alone.

Ray and Betsy Sanchez are also proud UISD alumni. Both graduated from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in 2009 and were inducted into the UISD League of Legends in 2025.

Betsy Sanchez told the students that she and her husband took a painful event in their lives and turned it into a purpose fueled by passion. She also encouraged the students to see volunteering as more than simply giving their time.

“We thank them for helping, but we want them to get more out of their service,” Sanchez said. “We want them to walk away with new skills, experiences and connections. But most importantly, they have to lead with heart.”

The organization’s volunteer program gives teens an opportunity to serve with purpose in areas of interest, develop leadership skills and take ownership of meaningful projects benefiting children and families.

Smiles From Heaven currently provides support to hundreds of children and families each year through programs that include travel and financial assistance, emotional support, hospital care packages and holiday activities.

This orientation also comes ahead of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, when UISD schools traditionally join efforts to raise money for Smiles From Heaven and its mission.

For the students beginning their volunteer journey, organization leaders emphasized a simple message: Together, they can create hope, change lives and make sure no family fights childhood cancer alone.

United High School Senior Jordan Belmares