Operation Smile – Families Unite Through the Face of a Child

Operation Smile, a worldwide medical charity dedicated to helping children born with facial deformities, was launched 25 years ago by a Norfolk, Virginia-based family.  Their story is particularly relevant during the month of May, which includes both Mother’s Day (May 13) and the International Day of the Family (May 15), because it highlights the important role that families play in making this organization a global success.

Dr. Bill Magee, a plastic surgeon and his wife Kathy Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker, founded the organization after participating in a trip to the Philippines with a group of surgeons to help treat children born with cleft lips and cleft palates.  Despite treating 40 children, hundreds more were turned away and the Magees were determined to find a way to help all those in need.

They brought friends and family together and launched Operation Smile in 1982, returning to the Philippines to treat the children still in need.  News of their efforts continued to spread and they were invited to Liberia in 1987 and to Kenya that same year.  Mother Theresa heard of their work and invited them to visit India.  They continued to expand and today, the organization encompasses 5,000 volunteers, works in 25 partner countries and has medically treated more than 100,000 children.

According to Kathy Magee, who volunteers her time and serves as Operation Smile’s President, “For Bill and me, creating Operation Smile was more than a fulltime job.  Little did we know, we were becoming a global organization.  We still had five young children at home and we knew that the only way we could make this work was to involve the children in every way possible.  They traveled with us on missions and helped organize fundraisers and events at their schools.” 

Oldest daughter Brigette Magee Clifford recalls, “Our home was always filled with children from around the world who had traveled to the U.S. to receive surgery.  Our home became their home.  I remember taking some of those children to school with me and feeling how difficult it was for them to be in such a strange place among so many different people.  But we gained so much.  Today, as a mother to four of my own children, I am determined to help them learn the value of a life of service because no matter how much you give, you get so much more in return.”

When Brigette was 13, she went along on that first trip with her parents to the Philippines to share in their experience.  She received special training at their local hospital in Norfolk and came along as Bill’s scrub nurse. When she returned home, she joined with two friends at her local school, Norfolk
Academy, and formed “The Happy Club” to raise money and awareness for Operation Smile. 

Recognizing Brigette’s special skill in communicating with the children during the mission and comforting them before and after their surgery, in 1986, the Magees began to invite other high school students along on missions to play with the children as they waited for surgery.  As the organization grew, so did the role of students.  Starting in 1989, the University of Arizona began offering a training program for Operation Smile student volunteers that focused on health care lessons that students could share during a mission.

Operation Smile CEO and Co-founder Dr. Bill Magee notes of this phenomenon, “There is something about helping a child that unites us as families and as a society.  It crosses borders, overcomes language barriers, and unites nations.  It is as simple as bringing a smile to the face of a child.  It is only natural that families would get involved because the work we do doesn’t impact the child alone, it impacts everyone that child comes into contact with on a daily basis.”

The tradition of family involvement has grown with the organization.  Operation Smile volunteers from across the globe include multi-generational involvement among families to include the following:

The Magee Family Members Available to Be Interviewed
● Dr. William P. Magee Jr., D.D.S., M.D., (Norfolk, VA) is a leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon.  In addition to leading the organization as CEO, Dr. Magee has helped train more than 650 international physicians in advanced craniofacial techniques through Operation Smile’s annual Physicians’ Training Program, held in Norfolk, Va.  Dr. Magee received his Bachelor of Science degree from Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland, his D.D.S. from the University of Maryland and his M.D. from George Washington University Medical School.  He served his general surgery residency at the University of Virginia Medical School.  Dr. Magee was awarded the Hays-Fulbright Scholar Grant from the Franco-American Commission where he studied in France with Dr. Paul Tessier, the father of craniofacial surgery.  He holds honorary degrees from six colleges and universities and has written numerous articles for scientific journals and contributed chapters for medical and business books.  He maintains a private practice in Norfolk, Va., and is Director of The Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery in the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Chair of the Plastic Surgery department.  In addition, Magee is Associate Professor of plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Professor in the department of plastic surgery at the University of Southern California.

• Kathleen S. Magee, B.S.N., M.Ed., M.S.W., (Norfolk, VA) a former nurse and clinical social worker.  She serves as the president of Operation Smile on a full-time, volunteer basis and is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors. Kathy travels overseas extensively to nurture and maintain key corporate, diplomatic and medical partnerships that enable Operation Smile to carry out its surgical missions. She has been instrumental in establishing several Operation Smile international foundations, which handle all of the logistical aspects of the medical missions.

• Brigette Magee Clifford, (Virginia Beach, VA) the Magee’s oldest child, helped launch the first Operation Smile Student Association.  She also helps with development, fundraising and awareness programs and recently launched the “Kids Miles for Smiles” program at her own children’s elementary school.  The program is part of a local marathon to link fitness and
fundraising for Operation Smile for elementary school children.  Her husband Dave also served as an Operation Smile mission coordinator.  The couple has four children.

• William “Billy” Magee II, (California)  While attending dental school at the University of Maryland, Billy Magee started the first dental mission when he brought a team of dental students together to go to Vietnam and share skills and dental practices.  His efforts grew into the Operation Smile dental program now expanding in Vietnam and planned in other countries.  He is currently in his final year of residency to become a craniofacial surgeon like his father.  He and his wife Casey have one child.

• Todd Magee, (New Jersey) started a program at Georgetown University when he attended college there that is still operational today.  MBA students from the university raise funds for Operation Smile through various programs.  He is currently a partner in American Bi-Products and he and his wife Charlotte volunteer for Operation Smile fundraisers in New York.  

• Trevor Magee, (Pennsylvania) is an orthopedic surgical resident and also volunteers for local fundraisers.  He and his wife Marybeth have three children.

• Kristie Magee Porcaro, (New Jersey), the Magee’s youngest child, participated in her first Operation Smile mission in 1995 to the Gaza Strip, where she taught children the importance of dental hygiene, nutrition and burn care/prevention. She graduated from Villanova University with a nursing degree and currently serves as the Global Development Director for Operation Smile.  Kristie’s husband Erik Porcaro was an Operation Smile mission coordinator.

Other Families Available To Be Interviewed
● The Marshall Family, (North Carolina) – Beth and Jim Marshall have been involved with Operation Smile since its beginning.  Beth has been a full-time volunteer since 1990 and currently serves as Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America. Beth is the sister of Operation Smile President and Co-founder Kathy Magee.  The family has hosted five World Care patients in their home.  The Marshall’s four children have been active in Operation Smile Student Programs, raised funds and participated in medical missions.

● The Rubin Family, (California) – Dr. Rob Rubin, who currently serves as Operation Smile Chief Medical Officer, began volunteering with Operation Smile in 1993.  His wife and their two children have also volunteered for the organization.

● The Trible Family, (Virginia) – Paul Trible Sr., a former U.S. Congressman helped Operation Smile bring a World Care patient to the U.S.  In 1997, Senator Trible, his wife, and son attended an Operation Smile medical mission and Paul Jr. currently serves as the executive director of Operation Smile United Kingdom.

● The Gora Family, (New Jersey) – Dr. Jill and Jeff Gora have participated as medical and non-medical volunteers on a dozen Operation Smile medical missions and were key to the founding of the Operation Smile New Jersey Chapter.

● The Kainz Family, (Illinois) – Lottery winners who set up a foundation dedicated to helping children and the environment.  The Kainzes have volunteered on Operation Smile medical missions and sponsored a World Care patient from Kenya.  Mr. Kainz is a member of Operation Smile’s Board of Directors.

● The González McGregor Family, (Managua, Nicaragua) – Grace González McGregor is an Operation Smile Nicaragua board member who was a part of Operation Smile Student Programs and helped during missions in Nicaragua.  Her mother, the late Grace McGregor de González, was the founder and president of Operation Smile Nicaragua.

May Calendar of Events:
● April 27-May 1 – INDIA, Calcutta, Internationally Supported Local Medical Mission
● April 29-May 4 – CHINA, Zhengzhou, Internationally Supported Local Medical Mission
● April 29-May 4 – CHINA, Hefei, Internationally Supported Local Medical Mission
● April 29-May 6 – BRAZIL, Barbalhos, Local Medical Mission
● May 2-3 – HONDURAS, Santa Rosa de Copan, Critical Nursing Skills Training Program
● May 2-5 – VENEZUELA, Caracas, 5th Plastic Surgery Congress- Boliviano Region
● May 5 – CAMBODIA, Phnom Penh, Glitz and Glamour Fashion Show
● May 5-7 – VENEZUELA, Caracas, Critical Nursing Skills Training Program
● May 8 – HONG KONG, Central Hip and Trendy Party
● May 9-16 – EGYPT, Assuit, Internationally Supported Local Medical Mission
● May 11 – UNITED STATES, New York, New York, “Smile Collection” fund-raising gala
● May 12 – UNITED STATES, New York, New York, “Junior Smile Collection” fund-raising gala
● May 14-21 – PHILIPPINES, Makati, Local Medical Mission
● May 18-20 – UNITED STATES, Virginia (Norfolk), Clinical Coordinator Workshop
● May 18-20 – PARAGUAY, Asuncion, Critical Nursing Skills Training Program
● May 20 – UNITED KINGDOM, London, City Benefit
● May 21-25 – PANAMA, Santiago, Local Medical Mission
● May 21-26 – VIETNAM, Ho Chi Minh City, Local Medical Mission
● May 22-29 – PHILIPPINES, Butuan, Local Medical Mission
● May 24 – UNITED STATES, California (Los Angeles), Lladró Boutique Reception
● May 24 – PARAGUAY, Asuncion, Fundraising Concert in partnership with Rotary "Boogie Woogie and Blues Night"
● May 24-27 – COLOMBIA, Putumayo, Local Medical Mission
● May 24-June 1 – PERU, Lima, International Medical Mission and Biomedical Training
● May 26 – VIETNAM, Ho Chi Minh City, “Fifth Annual Auction of Contemporary Vietnamese Art”
● May 28-June 2 – RUSSIA, Vladimir, Local Medical Mission
● May 28-June 8 – UNITED STATES, Virginia (Norfolk), Physicians' Training Program (PTP)
● May 31 – ECUADOR, Quito, “Arte De Manos” Gala and Auction
● May 31-June 2 – NICARAGUA , Managua, Local Medical Mission

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.  Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 100,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 25 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.  Operation Smile commemorates its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives to promote sustainability and capacity-building among its 25 mission countries.  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 providing new smiles and new lives for an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities.

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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.