About Us · Why The Dandelion
Again and again, it blooms.
— inspired by the Japanese verse that gave us our name
It finds its own way to the light and glows like a small sun on ordinary ground. This is the story of why we chose the dandelion.
Finding Our Name
A small flower that became our compass.
Finding the right name for their efforts was crucial to both the founders. When Shivani’s young son suggested “Dandelion”, Rahul found his compass in a simple Japanese verse: “Trampled, and trampled again, still it blooms—the smiling dandelion.”
Bright, resilient and quietly joyful, the dandelion spoke to everything he believed in. It always rises towards the light.
Lessons From the Dandelion
It endures. It scatters. It returns.
It endures
It keeps finding its way to the light. Its roots grow deep and hold fast through every season.
It scatters
It travels with the wind and carries joy to new places, far and wide.
It returns
It blooms again and again, glowing like a small sun wherever it lands.
Like The Dandelion
Children with disabilities carry that same radiance.
They grow, create and shine in their own way. Like the dandelion, they root deep, move freely with the wind and spread joy wherever they go.
Where It All Began · The Good Vibes Show
Hear the story in her words.
In 2021, our founder Shivani Dhillon spoke with Vivek Atray on The Good Vibes Show, the conversation that sparked the Smiling Dandelion Foundation.
Help another dandelion bloom.
Volunteer your time, partner with us, or support a child’s journey towards a more inclusive world.