The Smiley Riley Foundation
Our Mission
Established in loving memory of Riley Thomas Kwak, the Smiley Riley foundation honors a beautiful soul who was deeply loved as a son, a brother and a friend. Tragically, on May 23, 2026, Riley lost his quiet, years-long battle against depression at just 23 years old.
Though Riley is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in our commitment to saving other families from the deep sorrow we feel today. The foundation's mission will continue to grow and evolve but it will always remain anchored by these two principles.
Removing Roadblocks to Care
Our Riley had access to the best care in the world, and devastatingly, it wasn't enough. However, we strongly believe that professional care remains a crucial resource that can make the difference between life and death. We know that so many carry this heavy burden alone simply because they cannot afford help. The foundation is committed to providing financial support to individuals in need, ensuring that a lack of resources is never what stands in the way of receiving professional mental healthcare.
Shedding Light on Hidden Signs
The signs of worsening mental health are not always consistent nor obvious. Often, they are hidden beneath the surface. We are dedicated to raising awareness and providing families with resources to help them understand when and how their loved one's struggles are escalating. We believe that when families know what to look for, their awareness can be a powerful aid in preventing suicide and getting their loved ones the help they need.
Our Inspiration
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Riley lit up every room he walked into. His smile was infectious and his charming demeanor was impossible to ignore. The nickname Smiley Riley came to him as a baby, when he would flash his toothless grin to every new face that wanted to say hello, and that name stuck with him always.
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Riley was blessed with many gifts. He was generous. He was kind. He was fiercely loyal and remarkably forgiving, sometimes to a fault. And Riley was funny, he could and would make a joke out of anything. But his true superpower was his ability to make anyone and everyone feel at ease. Whether it started with that spectacular smile, a silly joke, a goofy face, or a gentle hand on your shoulder, Riley possessed a deep compassion, kind heart and caring spirit that were well beyond his years.
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He had a quiet, disarming way of letting people know he had their back. Friends knew this and often turned to him for help and support. While most people his age struggled to keep a secret, Riley never betrayed the trust he was given, he was a true and trusted confidant. For these reasons and many others, Riley received the “Friend to All” award his senior year of high school, which always seemed like such a fitting way to send him off on his next chapter.
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Riley’s other superpower was that he was unashamedly himself, always. He consistently challenged what one was "supposed" to do or be and he always did things the Riley way. We will forever miss his silliness, the way he could make you laugh in an instant, and the humor he brought to everything that he did. We will miss his kindness, his curiosity, his compassion for others and we will really miss that smile.
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Riley was always there for those he cared about. He made it a real priority, sometimes to his own detriment, and for this and so many other reasons we have established this foundation. Riley would want us to carry on his legacy of helping others and being there when needed, and now we do so in loving memory of him, his smile, and his light.
Keep Riley's Light Shining
While Riley is no longer with us, your generous donations can help his legacy live on. ​
Note: We are aiming to set the foundation up as a
501(c)(3) but the legal filings are taking longer than we anticipated, so we will use a go-fund me site to receive donations in the interim.
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