Michael Hylton Sr. is the Vice President and Co-Founder of Smiley’s Voice Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2010 in memory of his son, Michael Hylton Jr. Since its inception, he has dedicated his life to transforming personal tragedy into a mission of hope by educating communities about stroke prevention, promoting health equity, advocating for stroke survivors and caregivers, and improving access to life-saving healthcare resources throughout South Florida and beyond.
Michael Hylton Sr. (Contributed photo)For more than 15 years, Mr. Hylton has provided visionary leadership that has helped Smiley’s Voice Foundation become one of South Florida’s leading community organizations dedicated to stroke awareness, prevention, education, and advocacy. Under his leadership, the Foundation has educated more than 10,000 community members through health fairs, educational seminars, community outreach initiatives, school programs, faith-based partnerships, and public awareness campaigns. Through these initiatives, the Foundation has provided more than 2,500 free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, vision, body mass index (BMI), and mammogram screenings, while also providing financial assistance, advocacy, and support services to stroke survivors and their families.
Mr. Hylton has cultivated strategic partnerships with leading healthcare organizations, including Memorial Neuroscience Institute, Broward Health, and Catholic Health Services, working collaboratively to improve community health outcomes through education, prevention, early detection, and access to specialized stroke care. These partnerships have enabled the Foundation to bring life-saving health education and free screenings directly into underserved communities throughout South Florida.
One of the Foundation’s signature initiatives is its annual National Stroke Awareness Month Health Fair, presented in partnership with the City of Tamarac for the past three consecutive years. This highly anticipated community event brings together healthcare professionals, community organizations, volunteers, and local leaders to provide free health screenings, stroke education, wellness resources, and preventive healthcare services while promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing awareness of stroke risk factors.
Under Mr. Hylton’s leadership, Smiley’s Voice Foundation has successfully hosted 12 annual Stroke Awareness Health Fairs and Family Fun Days throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and St. Lucie Counties, creating opportunities for thousands of residents to receive preventive healthcare services and life-saving stroke education. The Foundation’s outreach has also expanded through radio, community events, digital media, and public service initiatives, extending its message to tens of thousands of individuals throughout South Florida and the Caribbean.
A passionate advocate for education, Mr. Hylton has led the Foundation’s efforts to invest in future generations through scholarship programs that support students pursuing higher education. Smiley’s Voice Foundation proudly awards scholarships to deserving students attending local colleges and universities, supports educational opportunities through the Sickle Cell Foundation of Broward County, and extends scholarship assistance to students attending international universities, helping remove financial barriers while encouraging the next generation of healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders.
Recognizing that quality healthcare extends beyond borders, Mr. Hylton has also spearheaded the Foundation’s international humanitarian efforts by supporting the Stroke Program at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston, Jamaica. This commitment reflects the Foundation’s mission to improve stroke care, advance stroke awareness, and support access to quality neurological healthcare not only in South Florida but throughout the Caribbean.
In addition to his healthcare partnerships, Mr. Hylton has built lasting relationships with elected officials, municipal leaders, faith-based organizations, educators, civic organizations, businesses, and media partners to expand the Foundation’s reach and impact. Through collaborations with HOT 105 FM, WAVS 1170 AM, local governments, community advocates, corporate sponsors, and countless volunteers, he has helped establish sustainable programs that continue to improve the health and well-being of communities throughout South Florida.
Beyond his work with Smiley’s Voice Foundation, Mr. Hylton proudly serves as a member of the City of Pembroke Pines Diversity and Heritage Advisory Board, where he works alongside fellow board members and city leadership to cultivate diversity, inclusion, cultural awareness, and heritage initiatives. Through this role, he helps develop community programs and events that celebrate the city’s rich cultural diversity while fostering unity, civic engagement, and mutual respect among its residents.
Throughout his career, Michael Hylton Sr. has exemplified servant leadership, believing that meaningful change is achieved by bringing people together in service to others. His unwavering commitment to healthcare advocacy, education, community empowerment, and international humanitarian outreach has positively impacted countless lives and continues to inspire future generations of leaders.
Today, his legacy extends far beyond the Foundation’s programs. It is reflected in the lives saved through stroke awareness, the students whose educational dreams have been made possible through scholarships, the families who have found hope during difficult times, and the communities that continue to benefit from his vision, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service.
“Making a Difference in the Lives of Many, One Person at a Time.”
Q&A Responses from Michael Hylton Sr. Community Service and Distinguished Achievement
1. Smiley’s Voice Foundation was born from the loss of your son, Michael Hylton Jr. How did you find the strength to turn such a personal tragedy into a mission that has served thousands of people for more than 15 years?
Losing my son, Michael Jr., whom we lovingly called “Smiley,” was the most painful experience my family and I have ever endured. There is no way to fully describe the emptiness that comes with losing a child. In the beginning, I did not feel strong. My strength came gradually through my faith in God, my family's love, and the realization that Smiley’s story could help save someone else’s life. We could not change what happened to our son, but we could use our experience to educate other families about stroke and encourage them to take the warning signs seriously. Smiley’s Voice Foundation gave our grief purpose. Every person who learns to recognize a stroke, every family we reach, and every life that may be saved remind us why we must continue. More than 15 years later, I am still guided by the same love I have for my son and the desire to ensure that his life continues to make a difference.
2. Stroke continues to have a significant impact on families and communities. What do you believe people in South Florida and across the Caribbean need to better understand about stroke prevention, recognizing warning signs, and seeking prompt care?
The most important thing to understand is that stroke can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, or social status. Many people believe it only affects older adults, but our family’s experience taught us otherwise. We must take risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and family history seriously. Regular medical checkups and knowing your numbers can make a tremendous difference.
People must also learn the warning signs. We encourage everyone to remember BE FAST: balance problems, eye or vision changes, facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call 911. Time is critical because every minute matters during a stroke. Do not wait to see if symptoms disappear, and do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital. Call 911 immediately so emergency care can begin as quickly as possible.
Across South Florida and the Caribbean, we must continue to deliver this information directly to churches, schools, health fairs, workplaces, and community organizations. Education must be accessible, consistent, and culturally relevant so people can recognize an emergency and act without hesitation.
3. Your work extends beyond South Florida into the Caribbean, including support for the Stroke Program at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Why was it important to extend the Foundation’s mission to Jamaica, and what would you like to see in stroke care and education across the Caribbean?
Jamaica is part of my identity, heritage, and family’s story. Extending the Foundation’s work there was not merely an expansion; it was a responsibility. The people of the Caribbean face many of the same stroke risks as those in South Florida, but they may not always have equal access to specialized treatment, rehabilitation, equipment, or public education.
Supporting the Stroke Program at the University Hospital of the West Indies enables us to contribute to meaningful work already underway and to strengthen connections among healthcare professionals, patients, and communities. I hope to see greater access to dedicated stroke centers, advanced treatments, rehabilitation services, professional training, and year-round community education throughout the Caribbean.
Ultimately, where a person lives should not determine whether that person survives a stroke or has the opportunity to recover. I would like to see a coordinated regional effort that gives every Caribbean family the knowledge and resources necessary to recognize stroke, receive prompt care, and navigate recovery with dignity.
4. This year, Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center will honor you with its Community Service and Distinguished Achievement recognition. What does receiving this honor mean to you, especially after more than 15 years of community service?
I am deeply humbled and grateful to receive this recognition. Community service has never been about receiving awards; it has always been about honoring my son and helping others. Still, having this work recognized by the Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center is especially meaningful.
The African American Research Library and Cultural Center preserves our history, celebrates our achievements, and provides a place for future generations to understand the strength of those who came before them. Being honored by an institution with that purpose holds special significance.
I accept this recognition on behalf of my family, the Smiley’s Voice Foundation team, our healthcare and community partners, our volunteers, and everyone who has supported this mission. It is also a reminder that the work is not finished. I hope this honor brings greater attention to stroke awareness and inspires others to use their experiences and abilities to serve their communities.
5. This year’s Friends of AARLCC luncheon theme is “Rooted in Community: Honoring Those Who Brought Change.” As you reflect on your roots, including your family and cultural heritage, how have they shaped your approach to service and leadership?
My roots have shaped how I serve and lead. I was raised to value faith, family, hard work, discipline, and looking out for others. In Jamaican culture, community is not an abstract idea. It means recognizing that we are connected and that when one family is hurting, the entire community has a responsibility to respond.
My family has been at the center of this mission from the beginning. Together, we turned our pain into service, not because the journey was easy, but because we believed Smiley’s life deserved to create lasting change. My approach to leadership is to remain present, listen to people, build meaningful partnerships, and never ask others to do work I am unwilling to do myself.
Being rooted in community also means remembering where you came from as you move forward. Whatever success or influence we may achieve should be used to open doors, educate others, and create opportunities for the next generation.
6. You have turned your family’s experience into work that may ultimately help other families avoid a similar loss. Considering the impact of Smiley’s Voice Foundation today, what do you believe your son’s legacy has become?
My son’s legacy has become a voice for awareness, hope, and action. Although Smiley is no longer physically with us, his story continues to speak through every educational presentation, health fair, community partnership, scholarship, and family the Foundation reaches.
His legacy lives on in the person who recognizes a warning sign and calls 911 immediately. It lives on in the family that takes high blood pressure seriously, in the stroke survivor who receives support and encouragement, and in the young person inspired to serve others.
As a father, I will always wish my son were here. Nothing can replace him. Yet I find comfort in knowing his life continues to have purpose. Smiley’s Voice Foundation ensures that his name is linked not only to the tragedy of how we lost him but also to lives that are educated, families that are empowered, and communities that are strengthened. That is what his legacy has become: a voice that continues to help save lives.
