Operation Smile and title sponsor XanGo partner to provide new smiles to children in Guadalajara, Mexico

From September 25 to October 3 in the city of Guadalajara, Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, will bring together more than 40 medical and non-medical volunteers to provide life-altering care for hundreds of children in Mexico. The mission will provide surgeries for those who suffer from cleft lips and/or cleft palates.  Also participating on the medical mission is Satcha Pretto, co-host of the highly-rated Univision daily newsmagazine television show Primer Impacto-Fin de Semana (First Impact - Weekend Edition).  Satcha, who will be on-site from September 25-30, will cover the mission for a news series to air on Primer Impacto-Fin de Semana in late October.  In March 2008, Satcha was named as a Smile Ambassador for Operation Smile. 

Led by Operation Smile Mexico, A.C., the mission will mobilize volunteers from Canada, Italy, Jordan, Mexico and the United States, who will provide complete physical examinations and reconstructive surgeries for those born with facial deformities.  The mission will take place at Instituto de Cirugía Reconstructiva de Jalisco in Guadalajara.

Operation Smile Mexico, A.C., works with a local network of medical and non-medical volunteers to provide integral medical services that include evaluations, reconstructive surgeries, speech therapy and nutritional plans, among others. These volunteers work together to restore smiles and change the lives of children, young adults and families who face the challenges associated with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate.  XanGo, LLC is the title sponsor for this mission; other regional sponsors include José Cuervo, Banorte, American Express, Keery de México S.A. de C.V., Colgate Palmolive, Monte Alban Art Gallery Foundation, American School Foundation, Hotel Presidente Intercontinental and Saatchi & Saatchi Mexico. 

“As a global company committed to supporting the needs of children around the world, XanGo is honored to support Operation Smile Mexico, A.C, in its critical mission to better the lives of hundreds of children and families in Mexico,” said Joe Morton, founder and board member for XanGo, LLC, category creator as the first company to bring a mangosteen beverage to a global market.  “The work of Operation Smile and its volunteers will change lives and open up new avenues of opportunity that otherwise would not have been possible for the mission’s recipients.”

XanGo is promoting and actively supporting this medical mission to help bring attention to children and young adults with facial deformities.  Through its global philanthropic movement, XanGo Goodness, the company has established a corporate alliance with Operation Smile Mexico, A.C. to extend this assistance to individuals and families in Mexico who are most in need.  XanGo sponsored the Operation Smile medical mission to Mexico in May 2008, as well as this September mission.  Together, the two missions embody the XanGo Goodness vision of mobilizing the company’s global resources, employees and distributors to make a difference and improve living for those who are less fortunate.

“The support private companies provide, whether donating time or money, is fundamental for Operation Smile to be able to assist children and young adults around the world. Close to 100 children will be helped during this medical mission in Guadalajara.  In as little as 45 minutes a cleft lip surgery can change the life of a child forever; however, there are many people who need this surgery who do not have the necessary resources,” said Laura Trigo, executive director of Operation Smile Mexico.
        
The first Operation Smile medical mission in Mexico took place in 2005 and since then the organization’s medical volunteers have provided free physical examinations to more than 550 children with facial deformities and nearly 400 children have received free reconstructive surgery during medical missions.  Operation Smile Mexico, A.C. recognizes and is grateful for the collaboration with the “Instituto de Cirugía Reconstructiva de Jalisco,” the generous sponsor and center of all the medical missions and educational programs of the organization in Mexico.

The most recent medical mission in Mexico took place in Guadalajara from May 29 to June 4, 2008.  Nearly 40 medical and non-medical volunteer team members from Canada, Mexico, and the United States worked at the Institute for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of Jalisco to provide 133 free physical examinations and 90 reconstructive surgeries to children with facial deformities.

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 volunteers have treated more than 120,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and currently work in 51 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. 

About XanGo
A leading global nutrition company, XanGo, LLC is a recognized category creator as the first company to market a premium mangosteen beverage, XanGo® Juice, to consumers worldwide. XanGo continues to lead the category by driving the research, development and advancement of functional mangosteen products. XanGo has expanded its roster of premium, functional products to include XALO™ in European markets and XANGO 3SIXTY5™, a whole food nutrition multi-vitamin, along with the Glimpse™, Intuitive Skin Care brand coming in the fall of 2008. Based in Utah, XanGo is privately owned and powered by a global network of nearly 1 million independent distributors. XanGo's expansive operations include the U.S. and more than 20 international markets such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany and Malaysia. For more information on XanGo, visit www.xango.com.

About XanGo Goodness
XanGo Goodness is a worldwide cause-related effort that mobilizes XanGo’s global resources to better the lives of others through our philanthropic action. We participate by giving our time and money to sustainable humanitarian efforts, medical expeditions, volunteer programs, community health education and advisory board service in an effort to serve and support children, families and communities in need. XanGo Goodness advocates the philosophy that participating in cause-related ventures enriches the human experience. To learn more about XanGo Goodness or become part of the XanGo giving community, please visit www.xangogoodness.org.

Contacts:
Lisa Jones
Public Relations Coordinator, Operation Smile
757-321-3252 or ljones@operationsmile.org  

Jeff Chandler
Public Relations Manager, XanGo, LLC
801-753-2820 or Jeff.Chandler@xango.com