2010 Year in Review: Operation Smile Celebrates Incredible Milestones and Expansion of Programs, Reaching Even More Children Suffering from Clefts

In 2010, Operation Smile achieved incredible growth, and helped more patients than any other year in the 28 years since its founding. More than 16,000 children and young adults received surgery for cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities as well as for injuries sustained during the earthquake in Haiti. Operation Smile also proudly announced an incredible milestone: the organization has provided 150,000 new smiles to children and young adults around the world who previously suffered from a cleft. In addition, the organization expanded its programs and services and is reaching out to more countries than ever before. The ultimate goal is to help even more children around the world who are desperately waiting for the surgery that will change their lives forever. Watch our Year In Review Video.

Every child who receives reconstructive surgery from Operation Smile represents a life saved from humiliation, spent hidden away. But for every child helped, there are thousands more desperately awaiting surgery. The need for quality cleft care is urgent. Every 3 minutes, it is estimated a child is born with a cleft condition. One in 10 children born with a cleft will die before their first birthday. Operation Smile is dedicated to raising awareness of this life-threatening issue and providing lasting solutions that allow children to be healed, regardless of financial standing, well into the future.

“We want to thank you our supporters for their endless dedication,” said Dr. Bill Magee, CEO and Co-Founder of Operation Smile. “Only through the generosity of our medical volunteers and donors, is it possible to help these children – to give them laughter, smiles and a new life filled with hope and dreams for their future.”

The Top 10 highlights for Operation Smile for 2010 include:

1.   Reducing the Number of Children with Clefts: Operation Smile hosted 152 medical missions in 2010 across 33 countries, changing the lives of 16,113 children and young adults. In addition, for families in the United States, Operation Smile provides detailed information and guidance through our U.S. Care Network referral service. This year, 154, cases were referred by Operation Smile to specialists. To read patient stories www.operationsmile.org/living_proof
2.   Expanding into New Countries: Operation Smile expanded its reach to help children throughout the world. The organization hosted inaugural medical missions in 21 locations – from Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Kigali, Rwanda to Jakarta, Indonesia and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During those inaugural missions, more than 1,900 children received surgery and new smiles. Read stories from volunteers in the field .  Visit www.operationsmile.org/living_proof/from-the-field/
3.   Creating Self-Sufficiency in the Global Health Network: Operation Smile is dedicated to helping its partner countries build a self-sufficient global health network. Nearly 60% of Operation Smile’s surgeries in the past fiscal year were performed by in-country medical volunteers on local medical missions or at Operation Smile’s worldwide Comprehensive Care Centers.
4.   Responding to Disaster: While not traditionally a disaster-relief organization, Operation Smile responded immediately when the earthquake hit Haiti in January. Eleven teams of medical volunteers – over 130 experienced surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and technicians – provided life-saving care for the victims. In addition, 25 tons of critical medical supplies and equipment were shipped to help provide relief in the wake of such devastation. Read stories and see photos and video from Haiti: www.operationsmile.org/Haiti2010
5.   Offering Local Year-Round Care: Operation Smile’s expanded initiatives include addressing all the issues surrounding childhood facial deformities including counseling, speech therapy, dentistry, nutrition and education, as well as offering year-round surgical care and concentrated follow-up care. The organization has built eight Comprehensive Care Centers in seven countries, where more than 3,800 patients received surgery and more than 5,400 patients received full medical evaluations this past year.
6.   Doubling our Efforts to Ensure Safe Surgeries Worldwide: To ensure surgeries are performed under the safest of conditions, Operation Smile certifies and trains medical personnel in partner countries as an International Training Organization of the American Heart Association. In 2010, Operation Smile awarded 4,037 AHA Life Support certifications – nearly doubling the amount awarded the previous year.
7.   Maintaining Global Standards of Care: Operation Smile expanded its Medical Oversight Board as a result of the organization’s evolution and the growth of our global medical programs. The Board gives medical volunteers and partner countries a wealth of resources to ensure the organization maintains its strict Global Standards of Care safety standards. Learn more about our commitment to quality care at www.operationsmile.org/our_work/global-standards-of-care/
8.   Treating Burn Injuries: After years of helping patients suffering from burn injuries, Operation Smile has established a Burns Division and is now conducting medical missions to solely treat patients affected by burns. Operation Smile hosted three burn missions in Vietnam and India in 2010, including an inaugural burn mission in Mumbai in collaboration with Harvard and Yale Universities.
9.   Researching Ways to Reduce the Incidence of Clefts: Operation Smile is creating partnerships to research the cause of clefting, so we can work toward reducing the incidence of oral clefts. The International Research Study is examining genetic characteristics of clefts, and was piloted by Operation Smile’s Research team.
10.   Empowering our Youth: Operation Smile’s 700 Student Clubs in over 30 countries promote action and awareness, resting on the pillars of cultural exchange, service, education and philanthropy. Over 90 students served as team members during Operation Smile’s international medical missions, to provide education on basic healthcare to the local populations to help improve quality of life. Learn more about volunteering and student programs at www.operationsmile.org/get_involved/

For more information Operation Smile’s global efforts, please visit www.operationsmile.org. Supporters can follow Operation Smile on Twitter @operationsmile and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/operationsmile. For meaningful holiday gifts for friends and loved ones that can help change children’s lives, please visit Operation Smiles Holiday Giving Catalog at www.operationsmile.org/gifts.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee and headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 150,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 60 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and donates crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.