Alliance for Smiles Celebrates 15 Years of “Repairing Children’s Smiles” with Gala April 6 and Announces International Missions

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,” opines Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh. “But sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” This is not news to Alliance for Smiles (www.allianceforsmiles.org) the San Francisco nonprofit providing free comprehensive treatment for cleft lip and palate anomalies in under-served areas of the world. On Saturday, April 6 the miracle-making gift of a smile will be celebrated at the 15^th annual “Night of Smiles” Gala and kick off unprecedented trips to China, The Philippines, Nigeria, Bangladesh and for the first time, Egypt, The Republic of Congo, Honduras and Guatemala.

“Our mission is repairing children’s smiles,” said Alison Healy, Alliance for Smiles Executive Director. “It is impossible not be renewed in spirit by the young people we heal. We celebrate them and are committed to expanding our work and educating the public about the long road faced by our patients.”

A cleft lip occurs when the lip does not quite close during the child’s development before birth and needs to be surgically closed. A cleft palate occurs during the same period when there is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Worldwide, a child is born every three minutes with a cleft. In developing countries, access to corrective surgery can be difficult to access and prohibitively expensive. To fill this need, in October 2004, Alliance for Smiles was founded by five members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco: Past Presidents, John Uth, Anita Stangl, Jim Patrick, Jim Deitz and John Goings.

“Traditional efforts to repair cleft lips anomalies have consisted of small surgical teams,” Healy says. “However, the initial surgery only addresses one part of the problem. Cleft patients require ongoing treatment in dentistry, orthodontia, speech therapy and sometimes psychological counseling.”

Alliance for Smiles conducts two-week surgical missions, provide training for local health care providers and has established permanent treatment centers where patients receive follow-up care.

In addition to raising funds, the April 6^th Gala will honor volunteers with the organization: Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Karin Vargervik; Volunteer of the Year – Becky Steed, RN; John Uth Memorial Award for Significant Financial Support – Dr. Chih-Chen Fang.

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

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SOURCE Alliance for Smiles