Operation Smile 25th Anniversary Corporate Smile Ambassadors – Corporate Giving That Transforms Lives

Operation Smile, launched 25 years ago, has grown into a worldwide children’s medical charity that has touched the lives of more than 100,000 children across the globe, thanks to a very dedicated group of volunteers and sponsors.  Operation Smile’s Corporate Smile Ambassadors have pledged support of $100,000 or more for Operation Smile’s 25th Anniversary, providing both financial and in-kind support that will help make the World Journey of Smiles possible. 

On Monday, November 12, 2007, around the world at 7:30am local time, Operation Smile will begin surgeries at 40 sites in 25 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America with the goal of treating an estimated 5,000 children in one week.  World Journey of Smiles will commemorate 25 years of transforming the lives of children born with facial deformities, while building public and private partnerships that support sustainable healthcare systems for children and families.
 
Operation Smile’s 25th Anniversary Corporate Smile Ambassadors have each pledged more than $100,000 in donations or in-kind support as of May 15, 2007.  Corporate Smile Ambassadors share a commitment to children and to raising the standard of living for all children, no matter where they are born or raised.  The list of Corporate Smile Ambassadors includes:  Abbott Fund; AriZona Beverage Co.; The Atlantic Philanthropies; Becton, Dickinson and Company; Cardinal Health Foundation; Citigroup Foundation; CONMED Corporation; Datascope; ETHICON, Inc.; Financial Times; Hasbro Children’s Fund; Johnson & Johnson; King Systems Corporation; Lladró; Mallinckrodt, Inc.; McNeil Consumer Products and Specialty Pharmaceuticals; Molnlycke Health Care; Stryker; and SwimWays.

Operation Smile CEO and Co-founder Dr. Bill Magee notes: “Cleft lips and cleft palates are the fourth largest birth defect in the world.  Left untreated, these facial deformities are often life-threatening and emotionally traumatizing; many children are unable to eat or speak; some are even kept out of school.  Every dollar or piece of medical equipment donated by our corporate sponsors helps us treat another child and transform another life.  The support of these corporations and many others has enabled us to treat more than 100,000 children worldwide, but there are hundreds of thousands still waiting.  I thank them for their commitment to these children and for their generosity.”

Many of Operation Smile’s corporate partners have developed unique cause marketing campaigns that not only raise needed funds but help spread awareness of the vital work Operation Smile does globally. The following list identifies some of the ways these corporations have elected to help:  [media note: please contact Lisa Jardanhazy at 1-757-321-3250 or ljardan@operationsmile.org to arrange an interview with representatives from any of the companies listed below.]

• Abbott Fund ─ Since 1993, Abbott Fund and Abbott have donated more than $3 million in products and in-kind donations and more than $300,000 in cash donations to support Operation Smile and its work around the world.  In-kind donations include provision of sevoflurane, their anesthesia product used in all Operation Smiles’ international medical missions, and key medical equipment such as IV fluids and catheters, pediatric medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that are used in cleft lip and cleft palate surgery.  Through Abbott Fund’s support, Operation Smile’s Pediatric Advanced Life Support/Acute Cardiac Life Support program has been able to train more than 500 medical professionals in critical life-saving techniques and purchase needed training equipment.  These American Heart Association (AHA)-sanctioned training programs have taken place in Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Gaza Strip, Honduras, Jordan, Morocco, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
• AriZona Beverages ─ AriZona Beverage Company, an independent, privately held, family-run American business, produces and markets AriZona Iced Tea, flavored waters, and energy drinks.  In August 2006, the company announced a new cause marketing program to support Operation Smile, donating 5% of the net sales of its best-selling Lemon Tea, Green Tea and Sweet Tea to raise awareness and funds for the organization.  As part of the partnership, AriZona launched new 34 oz. bottles for the brands, updating the original iconic packages and labels with Operation Smile branded messaging and imagery.  The packaging prominently features Operation Smile’s mission statement and images of children who have been helped by the organization.  Members of AriZona Beverages’ founding family, the Vultaggios, have participated on Operation Smile missions to Peru, Vietnam and Jordan.
• The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA) INC. ─ The Atlantic Philanthropies is the lead sponsor of World Journey of Smiles, Operation Smile’s initiative planned to help an estimated 5,000 children in 25 countries in November 2007.  Their generous gift of $6 million made in January 2007 allowed Operation Smile to formally launch the nearly year-long preparation process for World Journey, by providing the funds needed to purchase vital medical equipment and supplies for the 40 planned sites. The Atlantic Philanthropies is dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people and its grantmaking programs are strategically focused to have an impact on critical social problems related to older adults, children, people with little or no access to health care, people who are being denied basic human rights, and people struggling to live in peace with their neighbors.
• Cardinal Health Foundation – Cardinal Health and the Cardinal Health Foundation have provided significant in-kind and cash support for the past three years, including donations of latex gloves and funding to help purchase IT software and other equipment. Thanks to a $300,000 commitment in 2004 by the Cardinal Health Foundation (payable over three years), Operation Smile was able to invest in a new advanced technology system enabling the organization to migrate, integrate, and upgrade our existing donor database, accounting systems and logistics programs. The Foundation has been a strong supporter of Operation Smile’s Global Standards of Care, ensuring that the highest standard of care, training, and medical equipment is available to Operation Smile patients around the globe, no matter where they live. Recently, the Foundation pledged an additional $300,000 for new hardware and software to help Operation Smile maintain its electronic medical records, medical volunteer credentialing database, video teleconferencing system and network security.
• ETHICON, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company ─ ETHICON, Inc., a global medical device company, has been a worldwide leader in surgical sutures, or stitches, for more than 100 years.  Known for developing quality products, ETHICON has been a strong supporter of Operation Smile’s commitment to changing the lives of children and young adults since 1982.  ETHICON has contributed over $6 million in medical supplies, including sutures.  For Operation Smile’s World Journey of Smiles, they have agreed to donate, along with other Johnson & Johnson companies such as McNeil Consumer Products & Specialty Pharmaceuticals and other healthcare companies such as Nellcor and Mallinckrodt, much needed medical supplies to support the 40 simultaneous medical missions.
• Financial Times ─ Since 2005, The Financial Times, one of the world’s premier financial publications, has been a supporter of Operation Smile through donated public service advertising space.  Operation Smile informational ads appear weekly with a total value of more than $2 million in donated ad space in its U.S., U.K. and Asia regions.
• Hasbro Children’s Fund ─ In April 2006, Hasbro Children’s Fund, the charitable giving program of Hasbro, Inc., selected Operation Smile to receive $450,000 over three years.  Additionally, the toy company produced and donated 50,000 Mr. Potato Head plush toys, with a market value of $250,000, to be given to each child who comes for a medical screening at all mission sites during Operation Smile’s World Journey of Smiles and beyond.  The toys will also be available through the online store on Operation Smile’s website and sold by service organizations and student clubs with funds benefiting the organization. 
• Lladró ─ Lladró, the renowned Spanish House of Porcelain, launched a national campaign in 2006 designed to raise funds and awareness for Operation Smile and its 25th Anniversary. The campaign featured the introduction of a timeless porcelain sculpture entitled, “Let Me Help You,” which was made available at Lladró authorized retailers across the country. Lladró donated 10% of the retail price of nationwide sales of the sculpture, an amount totaling $150,000 to sponsor an Operation Smile medical mission to Kenya. Angeles Lladró participated on this mission and posted a journal about her experience on Lladró’s website. This $150,000 commitment marked the company’s largest U.S. charity partnership in its 50-year history and was so successful that the company has launched a second year campaign, featuring its “Pulse of Africa” collection, with a goal to raise up to $200,000.
• SwimWays ─ SwimWays, a leading manufacturer of outdoor recreational products, believes that if a dolphin can smile, so should every child in the world. Beginning in January 2007, SwimWays’ Swim Steps products – a line of swim aids for children ages 9 months to 9 years – hit retail shelves in new packaging that highlights Operation Smile’s life-changing humanitarian work. SwimWays is donating 2% of the gross sales of all Swim Steps and Safe T. Seal products directly to Operation Smile, and recently presented the organization with a check for $155,000.  SwimWays and Operation Smile share local roots in Southeastern Virginia and a commitment to children’s development. SwimWays’ Swim Steps products include the #1 selling Baby Spring Float, and nationally recognized swim training system Safe T. Seal. The entire product line has all-new packaging that features Operation Smile’s mission and displays images of children who have been helped by the organization. A special message from celebrity spokesperson Roma Downey, a member of Operation Smile’s Board of Governors, will invite families to provide direct contributions. SwimWays’ Swim Steps products are available nationwide at Target, Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, Leslie’s Pool Supply and pool specialty stores.

In addition to the World Journey of Smiles, Operation Smile will mark its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives that highlight the organization’s demonstrated capacity:

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 openings in Hue, Vietnam; and Bogota, Colombia; Operation Smile will open additional Comprehensive Care Centers in 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. 

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, 40 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.

Media Notes:  To receive images, b-roll footage or additional information, or to request an interview with an Operation Smile spokesperson, please contact Lisa Jardanhazy at ljardan@operationsmile.org or 757-321-3250.