Operation Smile Celebrates Dedicated Family of Volunteers During National Volunteer Week April 15-21

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, observed from April 15-21, 2007, Operation Smile’s Co-founders are extending thanks to the dedicated family of volunteers whose efforts have played a significant role in the success of the organization over the past 25 years.  Since 1982, Operation Smile medical volunteers have treated more than 100,000 children and young adults worldwide.  Operation Smile promotes the concept of volunteerism across the globe, and its network of volunteers shows how their time, skill and resources can have a far-reaching impact on the lives of children and their families. 

 Dr. Bill Magee, CEO and Co-founder of Operation Smile, notes:  “For 25 years we have been blessed with thousands of volunteers who have treated more than 100,000 children with facial deformities.  All of us can relate to the needs of a child and when we are able to combine that child’s needs with the talents and the skills that medicine provides, we truly can change that child’s life.  We are able to take a child from hopelessness to possibility, and in doing that, create a new life for that child and their family.  That transition becomes a metaphor that says ‘involvement can create change.’”  Operation Smile President and Co-founder Kathy Magee, Bill’s wife, adds:  “What started as the efforts and commitment of a small number of people – our family and friends – is now, 25 years later, sustained and made possible by the same commitment of thousands of volunteers the world over that make up the global ‘family’ that we proudly admire and thank today.”

 A worldwide children’s medical charity dedicated to surgically treating children born with facial deformities, Operation Smile relies on a global network of more than 5,000 medical and non-medical volunteers, making it one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world.  Operation Smile also receives nearly 100 new applications a month from medical professionals from the U.S. and around the world who want to offer their services to change the lives of children in need.
 
 Operation Smile was founded in the U.S. and is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.  In addition to U.S. volunteers, the Operation Smile global network includes volunteers from 47 other countries around the globe: Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Honduras, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Volunteers conduct medical missions in more than 30 sites in 25 countries to provide medical treatment for children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.  Operation Smile volunteers include plastic surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, dentists, speech pathologists, child life therapists, and non-medical personnel, including high school students.  All medical personnel are board-certified and all medical volunteers go through Operation Smile’s rigorous credentialing process which includes pre-certification in their respective fields as well as a mandatory one-year training, evaluation and mentoring period.  [Contact Lisa Jones at 1-757-321-3252 or ljones@operatonsmile.org for a list of volunteers and their profiles.]

Operation Smile commemorates its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives that highlight the organization’s demonstrated capacity:

World Journey of Smiles – The year-long anniversary celebration will culminate in November 2007, with the World Journey of Smiles, 43 simultaneous missions in 25 countries. With a goal of treating an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities, World Journey of Smiles will take place from November 8-16, 2007.  To prepare for that initiative, plastic surgeons and anesthesiologists from 22 of those countries recently met at Operation Smile’s world headquarters in Norfolk, Va., to set global standards of care.

Global Standards of Care –The Global Standards of Care include a rigorous credentialing process and a standardization of medical supplies and equipment that will be based on the model of care that Operation Smile has perfected in 25 years of performing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries.  State-of-the-art equipment valued at $3.6 million will be provided to partner countries to ensure 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. Additionally, Operation Smile is providing emergency supplies in accordance with American Heart Association guidelines for pediatric and advanced cardiac life support.

Comprehensive Care Centers – Following the opening in Hue, Vietnam, Operation Smile will open additional Comprehensive Care Centers in Colombia, Honduras, Morocco, China, India, and the Philippines.  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. 

April Calendar of Events:
• April 2-7 – Vladimir, Russia, PALS/BLS Training
• April 9-16  – Vladimir, Russia, Local Medical Mission
• April 12 – Sandy, Utah, “Be Someone” Utah Student Tribute
• April 13-15 – Peru, Critical Nursing Skills Training
• April 14-16 – Norfolk, Virginia, Mission Coordinator Reunion
• April 14-22 – Egypt, PALS/ACLS Training for Anesthesiologists
• April 16 – Bogota, Colombia, Grand Opening of Comprehensive Care Center
• April 16-20 – Bogota, Colombia, Local Medical Mission
• April 18-20 – Shanghai, China, Plastic Surgery Conference
• April 18-28 – Jordan, Biomedical Technician Training
• April 19-28 – Amman, Jordan, International Medical Mission
• April 19-25 – Bangkok, Thailand, International Mission Coordinator Training
• April 21 – Richmond, Virginia, Operation Smile 25th Anniversary Gala
• April 23-25 – Venezuela, Critical Nursing Skills Program
• April 25 – Virginia Beach, Virginia, Operation Smile National Volunteer Awards Celebration
• April 26-May 7 – Hefei and Zhengzhou, China, International Medical Missions
• April 27-May 1 – Kolkata, India, International Medical Mission

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 and currently works in 25 countries:  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.

About National Volunteer Week (http://www.pointsoflight.org/nvw/)
Sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, National Volunteer Week is about thanking one of America's most valuable assets – our volunteers – and calling the public's attention to all that they do to improve our communities. National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Since then, every U.S. President has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week.

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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.