Every three minutes, a woman gives birth to a child with a cleft. One in 10 of those mothers will lose their child before their first birthday. This Mother’s Day, give Mom a meaningful gift from Operation Smile that will change the life of a mother whose child is in desperate need. When a child is born with a cleft, they are often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In many areas, these children are shunned and rejected. In too many cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgery they need. Operation Smile treats children worldwide who are born with facial deformities, giving them a chance for a healthy life filled with hope.
Operation Smile’s Giving Catalog features a myriad of gifts that offer the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a family’s life while giving Mom a thoughtful gift on her special day. Visit
Operation Smile’s online Giving Catalog at
www.operationsmile.org/giving to easily order a gift today. Everyone who purchases a gift will receive a free personalized printed card as well as an e-card to send to Mom describing the gift given in her name. Those who purchase $100-$239 in gifts will receive a handmade beaded African necklace. Those purchasing $350 or more will receive the African necklace and a hand-painted bangle from India. Gift ideas include:
SPECIAL BABY BOTTLES FOR CHILDREN WITH CLEFT PALATE - $30 FOR 6 BABIES
Babies born with severe cleft palates are often malnourished because they can’t nurse or drink from a normal baby bottle. Too weak to undergo surgery, they sometimes die of starvation. A gift of a specially-designed nursing bottle makes it possible for babies to receive sufficient nutrition and regain their health in time for surgery.
WARM, COZY BLANKETS FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING SURGERY - $60 FOR 12 CHILDREN
Few things give more comfort to a child in a hospital than a warm, soft blanket. This gift will help provide blankets for children receiving an Operation Smile surgery. For some, this will be the first blanket they’ve ever owned.
GIVE A SMILE—AND TRANSFORM A CHILD’S LIFE FOREVER - $240 FOR 1 CHILD
It takes as little as 45 minutes to save a child from a lifetime of pain and isolation. Give them a chance to go to school, make friends and have a healthy future. Just $240 will help pay for a surgery for a child suffering from cleft lip. That’s one life changed, in the name of someone who has changed your life in a special way.
By mobilizing volunteer medical professionals from 76 countries, Operation Smile provides free reconstructive surgery for children born with clefts. In the more than 60 countries where Operation Smile works, the organization helps build in-country sustainability so that in-country medical personnel can provide year-round treatment for children in their communities. For more information about Operation Smile, visit
www.operationsmile.org. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/operationsmile and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/operationsmile.
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 79 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile has provided free reconstructive surgery for more than 160,000 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.
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