Look To The Stars News: Smile Train

Smile Train Performs 250,000th Cleft Repair In China

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity with over 2,200 partner surgeons operating in over 1,100 partner hospitals in over 80 countries, today announced that it has performed its 250,000th cleft repair surgery in China, since it began operations there in 1999. All 250,000 surgeries have been performed by local Chinese surgeons.

Smile Train was founded in 1999 with the mission of providing every child born with a cleft the same opportunities in life as a child born without. The charity has a large number of celebrity supporters, many of which used their star-status to increase the organization’s profile last year. Among the many efforts during the year, Dean Cain, Tatyana Ali and Erik Estrada appeared on The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards to help raise awareness for Smile Train by highlighting a recent trip they took to Mexico with the charity. Additionally, Erik Estrada continued his mission to support Smile Train by choosing to dance for the charity on the Univision hit show Mira Quien Baila! raising over $10,000. Lastly, comedian Jimmy Pardo continued the giving trend with his Third Annual PARDCAST-A-THON.

Other celebrity supporters include Robin Williams, the late Walter Cronkite, Hilary Swank, Colin Powell, Jane Kaczmarek, Sammi Hanratty, Kevin Connolly, Stephen Colbert, Christie Brinkley, Helena Bonham Carter and many more.

Smile Train Welcomes The Holiday Giving Season

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Smile Train, and its 1,100 partners spread across 72 countries, are pleased to announce another successful year, continuing the mission which began 12 years ago – to give every child born with a cleft anywhere in the world – the opportunity to live a full, happy, and productive life.

“During this time of year it is important to recognize those in need as well as to give thanks to those who have given so generously during the year,” said Priscilla Ma, Smile Train Executive Director. “During 2011 donors opened their hearts and wallets to give generously to help children with cleft lip and palate – children they will never meet; and hundreds gave their time and energy to hold their own special fundraising events to help these children. We are especially pleased to thank some of our celebrity friends who have lent their name and given time and money to Smile Train. With these resources, and new efforts, our goal is for Smile Train to reach 750,000 surgeries by June 2012.”

Sammi Hanratty To Make Charity Visit To Peru

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Teen star Sammi Hanratty is the latest celebrity to make a charity visit on behalf of Smile Train.

As a little girl Sammi took trips to Mexico with her father – who is a dentist – where they helped to provide free dental work to children and people in need. Sammi has continued to give back in her teen years through the charity Smile Train.

This December she will travel to Peru with the organization to experience the ongoing problem facing millions of children who are suffering with un-repaired clefts palates. On the trip she will visit patients homes and visit the hospitals to see the life changing surgeries take place.

Michael J. Fox Helps Make BTIG Charity Day A Success

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:30:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, today announced it raised more than $4 million at its 9th Commissions for Charity Day, held on April 27.

BTIG will donate the money to more than 100 children’s charities all over the country, including All Stars Helping Kids, Autism Speaks, Deafness Research Foundation, Food Allergy Initiative, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Hedge Funds Care, Jacob’s Cure, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Project Sunshine, Smile Train, Solving Kids Cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, The Happy Hearts Fund.

Over the past nine years BTIG’s Annual Commissions for Charity Day has raised more than $24 million from equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits to support various nonprofit organizations. This was the first year BTIG held Commissions for Charity Day internationally in its offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and London.

BTIG To Host Celebrity Charity Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, will hold its 2011 Commissions for Charity Day on Wednesday, April 27.

BTIG’s Annual Commissions for Charity Day has raised more than $20 million from equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits over the last eight years to support various nonprofit organizations. This year’s annual celebrity-filled event will support several organizations that deal with important issues facing children, including All Stars Helping Kids, Autism Speaks, Deafness Research Foundation, Food Allergy Initiative, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Hedge Funds Care, Jacob’s Cure, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Project Sunshine, Smile Train, Solving Kids Cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, The Happy Hearts Fund.

Celebrities who will be attending this year’s Commissions for Charity Day in BTIG’s New York office in support of the event and their charitable foundations include Michael J. Fox, Matt Dillon, Brooklyn Decker, Tori Praver, Darryl Strawberry, Nick Swisher, Eli Manning, Steve Schirripa, Sean Avery, John McEnroe, Joe Girardi, Justin Tuck, Petra Nemcova, Tom Coughlin, Bode Miller, Reggie Jackson, Joe Namath, and NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan Niederauer. In addition, Ronnie Lott, Joe Morgan, and Tony Gonzalez will be in BTIG’s San Francisco office, and Kevin Connolly and Emmanuelle Chriqui of “Entourage,” and Marcus Allen will be in the Los Angeles office.

Kelly Slater Makes A Perfect 10 For Charity

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Quicksilver Foundation is donating $10,000 to 10 different charities-all of which were selected by 10-time world surf champ, Kelly Slater.

It’s called “Ten for 10” and is a sort-of ‘bonus’ for Slater earning his 10th ASP Title.

As for the donation, Slater said, “Ten $10,000 donations is really special. As a kid I could not have fathomed being able to give such a nice gift to charities I believe in and it was totally unexpected! Thank you again to Quik and the Quik Foundation, and I hope these special groups find this to be a big help in the holiday months.”

Christie Brinkley To Be Honored For Smile Train Charity Work

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Iconic celebrity and philanthropist Christie Brinkley will receive the 2nd Annual HBA “Positively Beautiful” Award from HBA Global Expo for her active support of children’s charity Smile Train and its mission.

Smile Train provides free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries and free cleft-related training for doctors and medical professionals.

Michael McKean Wins $1 Million For Charity In Jeopardy Final

Mon, 10 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Michael McKean (“Laverne and Shirley” and star of Broadway’s “Superior Donuts”) prevailed as champion of the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament during the weekend — winning $1 million for his charity the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). This is the biggest amount ever awarded to charity in “Jeopardy!” history. It is also the largest single donation ever received by the IMF.

Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer after lymphomas, affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide. McKean became passionate for the cause when his friend, musician Lee Grayson, passed away from myeloma eight years ago. Regarding today’s victory, McKean said, “If some breakthroughs can be made or more research can be done due to this win, it would be incredible. There are so many amazing people at IMF who do great work.”

According to Susie Novis, president and co-founder of the IMF, McKean’s donation will be used for a special fund in honor of McKean and Grayson. “The money will fund research to find a cure and to help patients and their families through education,” Novis said. “His win has shown us how empowering being informed can be — it can change the lives of people all over the world!”

Aishwarya Rai To Bring Smiles To Children

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Aishwarya Rai, former Miss World and one of Indian cinema’s top stars, recently became the goodwill ambassador for Smile Train, an organization that works towards providing medical assistance for children with a cleft lip and palate.

In Aishwarya’s words, “God has given me plenty of reasons to smile and I feel it’s time to spread it around….. if I can make a difference in their lives, it will certainly make me feel honoured and blessed.”

Aishwarya will work with the organization in creating awareness in 75 developing countries including India. In India alone, over one million children require cleft surgery – and of these, a large number are either ill-educated about this condition or are unable to afford the medical treatment and care required. One such case assisted by Smile Train was the subject of the 2008 Oscar winning film Smile Pinki (Best Documentary Short).

Buy Guitar String Bracelets And Support Charity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Music fans now have the chance to wear their love of Rock on their sleeves for charity.

Wear Your Music is a New York-based organization that creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks – literally. The company makes used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets. 100% of the proceeds from the bracelets goes to charities of the artists’ choice, such as UNICEF, Rock the Vote, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nordoff Robbins, MusiCares, PETA, HeadCount, The Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Keep A Child Alive, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Smile Train and many more.

Over 150 musicians have personally donated guitar strings to the initiative, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Metallica, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana and Death Cab for Cutie.

LTTS Exclusive: Christopher Meloni And Smile Train

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Christopher Meloni plays one of the toughest cops on TV in the hit TV series Law and Order.

As you’ll read in this interview, he learned that helping those in need and traveling to Haiti with Smile Train – an organization that helps children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts, many of whom cannot eat or speak properly, and empowers local doctors in developing countries by teaching them to repair cleft lips and palates – led him and his wife to develop a gut wrenching strength in order to be advocates for a number of charities.

In talking with Christopher, I realized that he wants to help those in need; he has a very kind heart and he also has his hand right on the pulse of some major issues in our world. This is a man who really cares about the pained, impoverished and oppressed souls of the world.