OPERATION SMILE 25TH ANNIVERSARY HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
March 8, 2007

OPERATION SMILE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION

Reps. Thelma Drake (R-VA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) Sponsor Bill
Praising Worldwide Children’s Medical Charity For Its Global Efforts To Assist Children Born with Facial Deformities

NORFOLK, VA -- Representatives Thelma Drake (R-VA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced House Resolution 208 in the United States Congress honoring Norfolk, Virginia-based Operation Smile in celebration and recognition of the organization’s 25th Anniversary and achievement of having surgically treated more than 100,000 children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformity. 

Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity that repairs cleft lips and cleft palates for children and young adults in developing countries.

“I truly believe that the Magees are miracle workers,” said Rep. Drake.  “For 25 years now they have brought hope to corners of the world where it is often a rare commodity.  Through their work and their mission to encourage others they have helped elevate to the surface the light that shines within each and every child.  Their compassion makes them excellent ambassadors for the Hampton Roads region and I am truly honored to commend their work here in the House of Representatives.”

Congresswoman Drake sponsored the Resolution with Congressman Scott joining as the original co-sponsor.  The bill reads, in part:

“Whereas in 1982, Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker, traveled to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children's cleft lips and cleft palates.  They discovered hundreds of children ravaged by deformities, and although they helped many children, the volunteers were forced to turn away the majority of those who sought help. 

Whereas Operation Smile headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, was founded in 1982 by Dr. William Magee Jr. and his wife Kathleen S. Magee to address this need.

Whereas since 1982, Operation Smile's volunteers have provided free reconstructive surgery to more than 100,000 children and young adults with facial deformities in 25 countries and currently works in: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Whereas Operation Smile provides education and training to thousands of healthcare professionals globally, and is implementing a plan for a Global Standard of Care to ensure that every child treated will receive the same high standard of care every time.”

“We are grateful to Representatives Drake and Scott for bringing attention to Operation Smile and the work we do,” said Dr. William Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile with his wife Kathleen.  “Our mission will grow stronger as a result of this Congressional recognition, and will result in Operation Smile being able to help more and more children in need around the world.”

Operation Smile will commemorate its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives to include the following:
• Global Standards of Care – Operation Smile announces a plan to implement Global Standards of Care for all of its medical programs as a commitment to ensuring that every patient treated by Operation Smile will benefit from the same sophisticated equipment, procedures, and highly trained and credentialed medical staff, no matter where they receive care around the world.  All Operation Smile operating rooms will be equipped with the most up-to-date medical and surgical equipment.  Additionally, Operation Smile is providing emergency supplies in accordance with the American Heart Association to support pediatric and advanced cardiac life support.
• Comprehensive Care Centers – Operation Smile will open Comprehensive Care Centers in Colombia, Honduras, Morocco, China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.  Each Center will provide surgical treatment and post-operative follow-up for thousands of additional patients, especially those in remote areas.  The Centers will also help train medical volunteers, strengthen local development and fundraising activities and provide on-going administrative support for in-country activities.
• International Forums on Medical Diplomacy – As part of its ongoing effort to create a global humanitarian network to bring healing to the world’s children, Operation Smile will host international forums on medical diplomacy. 
• World Journey of Smiles -- The year-long anniversary celebration will culminate in November 2007, with the World Journey of Smiles, 40 simultaneous missions in 25 countries with a goal of treating an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults worldwide.  Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 100,000 children with facial deformities in 25 countries and currently works in:  Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. In addition to offering reconstructive surgery, Operation Smile provides education and training around the world to physicians and other health care professionals to promote long-term self-sufficiency.  Operation Smile also provides a network of resources to assist families in the U.S. with children born with facial deformities. Accessed through the Operation Smile Web site, the network includes a listing of Referral Web Sites and a Physicians Resource List.  Operation Smile has been distinguished by many prestigious awards, including the first $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to recognize outstanding contributions made to alleviate human suffering.

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Media Notes:  To receive images, b-roll footage or additional information, or to request an interview with an Operation Smile spokesperson, please contact Lisa Jones at ljones@operationsmile.org or 757-321-3252.

CONTACTS:  
Jennifer Devlin, 703-876-1714
Jdevlin@susandavis.com
Lisa Jones, 757-321-3252
ljones@operationsmile.org