Operation Smile Inc.

Operation Smile was founded by Dr. William P. Magee Jr. a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen, a nurse and clinical social worker. In 1982, the Magees traveled to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates. They discovered hundreds of children ravaged by deformities, and although they helped many children, the volunteers were forced to turn away the majority of those who sought help. The Magees saw the need and Operation Smile was born.

Founded in 1982, Operation Smile 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 130,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in 51 countries.

Operation Smile Vietnam

In 1989, Operation Smile arrived in Vietnam as one of the first US non-profits allowed back into the country.

Since then, Operation Smile Vietnam has changed the lives of more than 20,000 children and young adults throughout the country suffering from severe facial deformities. Yet - still - over 3,000 children are born each year with these facial deformities – in addition to the thousands of children currently waiting for care.

For more information, please contact,

Operation Smile Vietnam

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