Every smile makes a difference and for this leading global non-profit, delivering world-class cleft treatment is just the beginning.
One of the simplest forms of communication is something we all share: a smile. Every smile tells a story, and global non-profit Operation Smile has spent over 40 years helping communities better tell these stories. The organization delivers life-changing care to communities in need, transforming the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate.
Cleft conditions are common: a child is born with a cleft condition every three minutes. While cleft lip and palate vary in size and severity, they greatly impact quality of life. Frequently treated early in Canada, children in low- and middle-income countries often go untreated for years, if ever.
Delivering quality care to every smile
Operation Smile and its 6,000 global volunteers bring world-class cleft surgery and care to 37 resource-challenged countries, offering surgery plus nutrition, psychosocial care, speech therapy, oral care, and other support. More than just immediate care, Operation Smile focuses on training strong local health care teams that can support children in their communities. “A child with a cleft led us back to the community to show us the need and get us to pay attention to the health system,” says Dr. Bill Magee, Jr., the organization’s co-founder and CEO emeritus.
The new Operation 100 initiative will deliver surgery closer to where children live. Through it, the organization will invest in 100 local hospitals and build 100 cleft surgical teams, all while bringing essential equipment and improved hospital spaces to these communities, increasing access to surgery for millions. Thanks to the organization’s generous donors, Operation Smile continues to change the world and build hope for the next child waiting.
To learn more about how your donation today will be matched, visit operationsmile.ca.
