Operation Smile Explained

Operation Smile
Type:Nonprofit
Headquarters:Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Leader Title:CEO
Leader Name:William P. Magee Jr.
Leader Title2:President
Leader Name2:Kathleen S. Magee
Founders:William P. Magee Jr.
Kathleen S. Magee
Website:www.operationsmile.org

Operation Smile is a nonprofit medical service organization founded in 1982 by husband and wife William P. Magee Jr. and Kathleen (Kathy) S. Magee. It is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

In addition to providing cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, Operation Smile works as a non-governmental organization to reduce the occurrence of cleft lips and palates worldwide.

Operation Smile has provided over 350,000 surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities in over 60 countries since 1982, at no cost to the recipients.[1] As of 2022, Operation Smile provided on-going care around the world at 38 smile centers.[2]

Early history

Operation Smile was founded by William (Bill) and Kathleen (Kathy) Magee. In 1982 Bill Magee, a plastic surgeon, and Kathy Magee, who was then a social worker and a nurse, were invited to join a Philippine cleft repair mission with a group of medical volunteers.[3] When they realized that the group would not return to the Philippines though there were many remaining who needed surgery, they established Operation Smile, Bill Magee said,[4]

The Magee's completed two return trips to Naga City, treating 400 children.[5] In 1995, Operation Smile opened its first care center in Duitama, Colombia. After establishing headquarters in Norfolk, VA, Operation Smile began foundations in Australia, UK, Italy, Vietnam, and Ireland.

Programs

Surgical missions

For each mission, Operation Smile verifies the credentials and organizes the participation and travel arrangements for a team of volunteers.[6] The team typically includes a mission site coordinator, plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, a pediatrician, an intensive care physician, head or coordinating nurse, pre- and post-op nurses, child development specialists, speech pathologists,[7] dentists and/or orthodontists.

Operation Smile has hosted two global summits on medical standards in Norfolk, Virginia.[8] [9]

In 2001 a documentary on the work by Operation Smile won the Best Medical Documentary at the US Circle of Excellence Media Awards and was a finalist in the New York Film Festival Awards for Best Humanitarian Documentary. The Facemakers: Operation Smile is a co-production by BBC One and the Discovery Channel in conjunction with Century Films.[10]

1999-2002: Criticism and response

In November 1999, specific patient deaths[11] brought criticism on Operation Smile's medical procedures.[12] [13] In response, Operation Smile conducted an internal review, whereupon the organization publicly acknowledged organizational flaws. The charity notified its chapters that it was enacting changes at the suggestion of an outside lawyer retained by the organization to review its conduct. The charity said it would step up efforts to hire a new chief executive and would add the position of chief medical officer. The charity also stated its intent to strengthen board supervision of its volunteer medical staff.[14]

2011 failed merger

In early 2011, Smile Train and Operation Smile announced the two charities would merge,[15] [16] followed three weeks later by announcements the merger had been aborted.[17]

In 2009, the Virginian Pilot outlined in a publication, the history and differences between the two organizations.[18] [19]

Following the failed merger, Operation Smile "spun-off" the Operation Smile Foundation. The Foundation was renamed Stop Cleft International, a 501(c)3 organization. Stop Cleft International became a subsidiary of Smile Train in July, 2013. Operation Smile paid an agreed upon obligation of $4,000,000 to Stop Cleft International/Smile Train during tax year 2013.

Financial information

In popular culture

Co-branding

Headquarters relocation

In 2007, Operation Smile announced relocation of its headquarters from Norfolk, Virginia to a new building in Virginia Beach.[37]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr. Bill Magee - Operation Smile. Disruptor Awards. 19 January 2017 . en-US. 2019-03-08.
  2. Web site: 2022 Annual Report Operation Smile . 2024-05-01 . www.operationsmile.org . en.
  3. Web site: Operation Smile Launches World Journey of Hope '99; Honduras is First Stop on Historic Surgical Mission to Help Children in 18 Countries . . February 4, 1999 . November 27, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161128060521/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/operation-smile-launches-world-journey-of-hope-99-honduras-is-first-stop-on-historic-surgical-mission-to-help-children-in-18-countries-73630647.html . November 28, 2016.
  4. Web site: Dr. William P. Magee's Operation Smile: 20 Years Putting Smiles on People's Faces . Lydia Rose . Proenza . July 18, 2002 . . August 27, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020718171802/http://www.hourofpower.org/Interviews/bill.magee.html . July 18, 2002.
  5. Web site: HISTORY. en-US. 2019-03-26.
  6. Web site: ODU Nursing Professor Travels to Bangladesh for medical diplomacy mission . August 22, 2006 . Old Dominion University News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060830222134/http://www.odu.edu/webroot/orgs/IA/university_news.nsf/articles/08222006081638AM . August 30, 2006.
  7. Web site: A Speech-Language Pathologist in Vietnam . Charlotte A. . Ducote . December 11, 2001 . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150506130847/http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2001/011211/vietnam.htm . May 6, 2015.
  8. News: Operation Smile exports U.S. good will . February 10, 2007 . The Virginian-Pilot . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090508034827/http://hamptonroads.com/node/220781 . May 8, 2009.
  9. News: Operation Smile to develop new care standards at local meeting . Elizabeth . Simpson . February 9, 2007 . The Virginian-Pilot . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090505190817/http://hamptonroads.com/node/220561 . May 5, 2009.
  10. Web site: The Facemakers . Century Films . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925042104/http://www.centuryfilmsltd.com/the-facemakers.htm . September 25, 2015.
  11. News: Charity faces inquiry on child deaths . Martin . Kettle . November 25, 1999 . The Guardian . London . May 20, 2010.
  12. News: Charges of Shoddy Practices Taint Gifts of Plastic Surgery . Reed . Abelson . Elisabeth . Rosenthal . November 24, 1999 . The New York Times . May 20, 2010.
  13. News: Whirlwind of Facial Surgery By Foreigners Upsets China . Elisabeth . Rosenthal . Reed . Abelson . November 25, 1999 . The New York Times . May 20, 2010.
  14. News: Charity Promises Sweeping Changes After Review . Reed . Abelson . April 12, 2000 . The New York Times . October 1, 2018.
  15. News: Smile Train and Operation Smile Boards Agree to Merge. PR Newswire. February 14, 2011.
  16. Web site: Operation Smile and Smile Train to merge charities. The Virginian Pilot, Pilotonline.com, February 15, 2011.
  17. News: 2 Charities Set to End a Merger, Papers Say. The New York Times. March 6, 2011.
  18. Web site: 'Smile' charity leaders in midst of decade-long feud . The Virginian Pilot, Elizabeth Simpson, December 20, 2009 .
  19. Web site: 'Smile' charity leaders in midst of decade-long feud . The Virginian Pilot, Elizabeth Simpson, December 20, 2009 . The Richmond Times-Dispatch published the ad on Dec. 3, and Mullaney said he is considering running it in other publications. .
  20. Web site: Least Charitable Bang For The Donor's Buck . William P. . Barrett . November 30, 2011 . Forbes . October 1, 2018.
  21. News: Two sides of charity: Competing, compassion . Simpson . Elizabeth . November 17, 2013 . The Virginian-Pilot . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131118103503/http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/two-sides-charity-competing-compassion . November 18, 2013.
  22. Web site: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) . March 2, 2015 . Operation Smile . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160645/http://www.operationsmile.org/downloadables/about-us/financials/fy14-990.pdf . April 2, 2015.
  23. Web site: The 200 Largest U.S. Charities . 2005 . Forbes . October 1, 2018.
  24. Web site: View Our National And International Members . Independent Charities of America . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120113045518/http://www.independentcharities.org/search/findset.asp?Title=Title=View+Our+National+And+International+Members&c=n . January 13, 2012.
  25. Web site: Charity Report - Operation Smile . Better Business Bureau . October 1, 2018.
  26. Web site: Microsoft Live / Operation Smile . Firstborn Multimedia . October 1, 2018.
  27. News: Roma Downey works miracles with Operation Smile. Littleton. Cynthia. 2016-08-11. Variety. 2019-03-08.
  28. Web site: Operation Smile Announces New Smile Ambassadors; Celebrities Continue To Join Effort Marking 25th Anniversary . October 12, 2007 . TransWorldNews.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071024191433/http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=25106&cat=10 . October 24, 2007.
  29. News: NYC Prep Mona Lisa Smile . Cristina . Kinon . July 22, 2009 . New York Daily News.
  30. Web site: Kate Hudson Honored by Operation Smile for Years of Support. Van-Syckle. Katie. Van-Syckle. Katie. 2016-05-13. Variety. en. 2019-03-12.
  31. News: Waiting for that winning smile to pay off? This spud's for you . Danek S. . Kaus . March 17, 2002 . . October 1, 2018.
  32. Web site: Hasbro supports Smiles . . July 17, 2007 . February 13, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071222201138/http://www.playthings.com/article/CA6461046.html . December 22, 2007 . dead .
  33. Web site: Operation Smile/Sephora . 2008-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080513183059/http://www.reingold.com/marketing/sephora.html . 2008-05-13 . dead .
  34. Web site: AriZona Gives Back with New Kidz Teas. Glowatz. Elana. July 21, 2009. www.adweek.com. en-US. 2019-03-12.
  35. Web site: Lay's Launches Operation Smile. February 9, 2018. Brett. Dworski. CSP Daily News. en. 2019-03-12.
  36. Web site: 2024-03-13 . MrBeast, Operation Smile and Cleft Palates . 2024-05-01 . Angels in Medicine . en-US.
  37. News: Operation Smile moving from Norfolk to new Beach building . Richard . Quinn . October 11, 2007 . The Virginian-Pilot . October 1, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090508035443/http://hamptonroads.com/node/343671 . May 8, 2009.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Operation Smile".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.