News / Education
Second Annual An Evening of Smiles Gala Dinner and Art Auction Unites American-Vietnamese Community in Effort to Benefit Operation Smile
January 31 Gala to Raise Money to Help Children Suffering with Facial Deformities
What:
An Evening of Smiles gala will feature dinner and dancing, as well as live and silent auctions with original artwork from Vietnam. World renowned classical pianists Cuong H. Van and Dr. John Wulff will perform. Kendra Nguyen, a 16-year-old Vietnamese former patient who now lives in Maryland, will share her story with the audience. Kendra, born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, received surgery as an infant during an Operation Smile international medical mission in Vietnam.
Who:
This event is being hosted by a committed group of medical and non-medical Operation Smile volunteers led by chairperson Dr. Chuong Phan, from Leesburg, Va. Dr. Phan and his wife Dr. Anna Vu Abel are dentists who have both volunteered on numerous Operation Smile missions to Vietnam. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) will be in attendance. Congressman Franks, born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, volunteered on an Operation Smile medical mission in Jordan in 2005 and has attended other Operation Smile events.
When:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Where:
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
5000 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22311
Tickets:
$100 per person
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Our Mission: Operation Smile mobilizes a world of generous hearts to heal children’s smiles and transform lives across the globe. 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 the organization has a presence 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.
