Save the date for our 5th Annual
Farm to Table Dinner
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Please join us for Hor D’oeuvres, Signature cocktails and a full course dinner, featuring seasonal and locally sourced produce. $200 per person.
Please RSVP to sjdfoundation@samsmile.org
About Samsmile
Samsmile was founded to honor the life of Sam Dewey, who died by suicide at the age of 16 in January 2019. Sam grew up in Rochester, Michigan. He attended Holy Family Regional School and Adams High School. He had an infectious smile and brought joy, love, laughter, and kindness to everyone who knew him. Sam was a son, brother, teammate, and so much more to so many people. Sam was outgoing, caring, mischievous, dapper, charming, positive, and bold.
Samsmile is a registered 501 (c) (3) foundation. The mission of Samsmile is to support mental health advocacy, education, and suicide prevention in Rochester and throughout Oakland County. Our work supports essential services, provides programming, funds resources in local schools, and meets the needs of the larger community.
Our History
The Samuel J. Dewey
Memorial Scholarship
Rather than focusing on the end of his life, we want to focus on the way that the way Sam lived. To move his memory forward, as his classmates headed off to college, we created the Samuel J. Dewey Memorial Scholarship at Michigan State University.
The Samuel J. Dewey Memorial Scholarship is a fully endowed scholarship that is maintained, invested, and awarded by MSU. It serves as a lasting legacy and will continue to honor Sam’s memory in perpetuity. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student from Oakland County who embodies Sam’s beautiful spirit. See the apply page for more information.
Sam’s friends and family partnered with Michigan State University to establish the Samuel J. Dewey Memorial Scholarship at MSU. Read more about how to donate, apply for the scholarship, join the team, or learn about our events on our other pages.
Board of Directors
John Dewey, President
Rick Bone, Vice President, Finance
Stacey Dewey, Secretary
Bruno Petrella, Accountant
Mary Petrella, Accountant
Sheryl Bone, Co-Founder
Kristin Potestivo, Co-Founder
Craig Potestivo, Senior Advisor
Anne McClain, Mental Health Consultant L.P.C.
Advisory Board
Will Beesley
Clayton Bone
Ella Bone
Mitchell Bowery
Kelly Boyd
Hannah Hepner
Matthew Lobdell
Paul Petrella
Alexis Potestivo
Anthony Potestivo
Marie-Amelie Potestivo
Zachary Potestivo Kristin Redoutey
Gracie Sink
Isabella Slifko
Nathan Vogel
Keaton Wisniewski
Founding Families
Bruce and Joanne Boardman
Rick and Sheryl Bone
John and Stacey Dewey
George and Lisa Grobar
Mike and Debbie Newman
Bruno and Mary Petrella
Craig and Kristin Potestivo