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Home NewsDirect Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Federation Recognizes Operation Smile as 2008 Nonprofit Organization of the YearThe Direct Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) awarded Operation Smile with its 2008 Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding achievement by a nonprofit organization using direct-response marketing to advance its mission. The award was presented on August 15 at a luncheon that concluded the DMANF’s New York Nonprofit Conference, held August 14-15 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. “It is an honor to recognize Operation Smile with this prestigious award,” said Senny Boone, executive director of the DMANF. “Due to its successful fundraising and inspiring mission, Operation Smile has been a beacon to fellow organizations over the years. We are delighted to be able to celebrate their inspirational work and applaud them publicly.” According to the DMANF the award recognizes Operation Smile for “meeting the high ethical standards of the nonprofit community and complying with generally accepted standards for management and public disclosure.” Previous recipients include Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), American Diabetes Association, CARE, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Special Olympics and other well-known nonprofit organizations. Commenting on the award, Kyla Shawyer, senior vice president of response marketing and development for Operation Smile, said, “We appreciate this honor and privilege to represent our peers and the nonprofit industry. And we thank our committed and generous donors and volunteers, as well as our fellow nonprofit organizations, for helping make this possible. We’re grateful that we’ve been able to implement an integrated strategy in which all media channels come together not just to raise money or to build a brand, but to help change the face of our world.”
Sony Electronics Helps Children SmileIn the month of August, Sony Electronics is conducting a retail promotion for Sony Cyber-shot® cameras featuring Smile ShutterTM technology at Sony Style® Stores, Sonystyle.com, and other participating retailers. Through this effort, the company will make a $100,000 donation to Operation Smile. The funds will be used to provide free physical examinations and reconstructive surgeries for children suffering from cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. Sony is also donating Cyber-shot digital cameras to help Operation Smile volunteers capture smiles at more than 30 mission sites around the world. Equipped with Sony’s distinctive Smile Shutter technology, the cameras automatically capture a smile when the feature is activated, without having to press the shutter button. The result is snapshots with natural-looking smiles and expressions. “It’s a precious moment when a child comes out of surgery with a new smile, so you don’t want to miss it and you want to get it right,” said Mike Fasulo, Chief Marketing Officer and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Sony Electronics. “Sony is in the business of preserving precious memories like these with our industry-leading digital imaging products and we are a proud supporter of Operation Smile.” Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Learn more at: Sony.com
Operation Smile Mission in Kenya, Osmik, Pays a Courtesy Call on New Minister for Medical Services, the Hon. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’oFollowing the recent elections in Kenya in December last year and the formation of the Grand Coalition government, a new Minister for Health Services was appointed earlier this year. As a major partner of the health services in Kenya for the past twenty years, Operation Smile Mission in Kenya took the opportunity to renew its comittment to support the Kenya Government's efforts in the area of free reconstructive surgery for cleft lip and palate, with a visit to the Minister, Honourable Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. The OSMIK delegation led by Board Chair , Mrs. Yolanda Andersen and Board Member Professor Zipporah Ngumi, both founders of OSMIK, took the opportunity to brief Prof Anyang' Nyong'o on the missions in 2008, that take place at Government hospitals under his Ministry. Four missions were planned this year, with Meru and Nyeri completed in April and July respectively. Going forward, OSMIK will hold two Internationally Supported Local Missions in October, in Mombasa and Kisumu, home of the Minister who expressed great interest in the reconstructive surgery provided by Operation Smile as many of his own constituents are afflicted with cleft lips. He offered to engage his constituency, through the local administration, to assist in patient gathering. Operation Smile would produce leaflets in the local languages for this purpose. Pictured after the meeting from left is OSMIK's Executive Officer, Christabel Anyona, Prof Zipporah Ngumi (board member), Yolanda Andersen (board chair), Minister Anyang' Nyong'o, OSMIK's Office/Programmes Assistant, Roy Kariuki and Programmes Co-ordinator, Diana Gathiga.
Operation Smile Supports WHO Safe Surgery Saves Lives InitiativeOn June 25th, Operation Smile participated in the global launch ceremony of the World Health Organization’s Safe Surgery Saves Lives Initiative. Hosted by Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, WHO Regional Director for the Americas, the event highlighted the WHO’s new global campaign to improve the safety of surgical care. The event was attended by ministers of health and world leaders in surgery, anesthesiology and nursing joining together to focus on reducing deaths and complications from surgery globally. During the ceremony, Dr. Randy Sherman, Operation Smile’s Chief Medical Officer, formally announced Operation’s Smile endorsement of the new WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. The list includes simple safety checks that the WHO team has shown could halve the rate of surgical complications. The list is intended to improve anesthetic safety practices, avoid infections and improve communication among members of surgical teams. Operation Smile is one of almost 200 surgery, anesthesia, nursing and patient societies formally endorsing the checklist. Major surgery now occurs at a rate of 234 million procedures per year - one for every 25 people - and studies indicating that a significant percentage result in preventable complications and deaths. "Preventable surgical injuries and deaths are a growing concern," said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. "Using the checklist is the best way to reduce surgical errors and improve patient safety." Operation Smile’s involvement in the WHO Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative is part of the organization’s broader efforts to advocate for and provide high quality, safe surgery in developing countries. For more information on the Safe Surgery Saves Lives Initiative, please see: http://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/
Operation Smile Mission in Kenya Conducts Fourth Local MissionAs Operation Smile Mission in Kenya celebrates their 20th anniversary of changing the lives of children born with facial deformities, another important milestone was also reached. This year’s 2007 mission marked the fourth Operation Smile Mission in Kenya (OSMIK) Local Mission in Meru in five years. Thanks to the generous donations of Operation Smile United Kingdom, from April 22 to April 29, 2007 OSMIK conducted a local mission at the Meru District Hospital. On site, the team provided complete medical evaluations for 181 patients. In just over three days of surgery the team was able to operate on 99 patients for a total of 121 procedures. The safe and successful manner in which the surgeries were conducted is due in large part to the professional care given by our devoted volunteers. The team leaders, in specific, deserve a lot of credit for their tireless efforts to ensure the high standard of care that Operation Smile demands. The team was led by Dr. Kimani Wanjeri (Field Medical Director and Plastic Surgery Team Leader), Dr. Kinyua (Anesthesia Team Leader), and Doris Musyoka (Clinical Coordinator). Each of these volunteers brought a unique form of leadership, which contributed to the mission’s success. Volunteers like these are the pillars on which we build our missions as we look to the future. On-site volunteers, should also be mentioned, as they significantly contributed to the tremendous success of this mission. With the continued support and dedication to the cause and their anticipation of the needs of the team, the Operation Smile Meru Site Board members are a testament to the strength of Meru site. Led by Dickson Gitobu, the Board was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and very involved in mission preparations and mission activities throughout the week. Meru District Hospital, led by Medical Superintendent, Dr. Dan Kiptoon, and the Meru local community were gracious and open hosts to the mission and all its participants. Special recognition should also be made for Dr. Albert Obiri. Dr. Obiri is a credentialed OSMIK surgeon, a prominent figure on the Operation Smile Meru Site Board, and also a member of the Meru District Hospital Board. His ability to coordinate and integrate all parties involved throughout mission preparation and execution were crucial to the mission’s success. The medical and non-medical volunteers led the way in creating unity amongst a truly national team representing 5 different Operation Smile sites. This list is comprised of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Meru. Both our non-medical and medical volunteers contributed to the team atmosphere through their enthusiasm, personality, and hard work throughout the mission. We were fortunate enough to have 5 guests from Nyeri Provincial General hospital participate on the team. Visiting Doctors Muyembe, Kanina and Maingi gained some insight into the workings of a local mission in anticipation for the upcoming mission in Nyeri. Two head nurses (Kimamo and Maingi) joined our team for the entire week to have a hands-on experience in running a mission. Taking the time out of their schedules to see a mission first hand was crucial to their hosting OSMIK for the first time in August. The mission visited by representatives from Kenya News Agency, Nation, Standard, Kememe and Citizen. This was extremely beneficial in increasing awareness for OSMIK's programs. Prior to the Meru Mission, a Patient Imaging Technician (PIT) Training was carried out at the Nairobi office. Three of the six PITs were trained on site throughout the mission by a volunteer from the United States who conducted the training. For the first time on a local mission, all patients were captured digitally during screening, pre-operatively, immediately post-operatively, and 1-week post-operatively. Patients will be followed up for 6 month post-operative evaluations in October 2007, as well. Furthermore, one surgeon and three anesthesia students were included on the team and worked closely with OSMIK credentialed volunteers throughout the week in hopes of shaping the quality medical volunteers that will carry OSMIK through its next 20 years.
Operation Smile Honors International Nurse VolunteerAt the conclusion of Operation Smile’s mission to Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2006, Julia Kibe, a nurse volunteer from Kenya was presented with the Lucy Navivasha Kabii International Nursing Award of Excellence. This award is in recognition of international nurses who stand out and set new standards for their colleagues. Julia Kibe is the first recipient of this prestigious award and was chosen because of her accomplishments and dedication. In the last year, Julia attended the Operation Smile Clinical Coordinator Workshop and has achieved the nurse leadership position as Clinical Coordinator on two Kenya missions, making her the only nurse from one of Operation Smile’s partner countries who has achieved Clinical Coordinator status and completed missions in this role. Linda Highfield, Operation Smile nurse and chair of the Nursing Council, said, “Julia has elevated the scope of nursing practice and certainly set an exemplary standard for all of us to follow. She has been involved with Operation Smile in Kenya from its inception, been a tireless volunteer and is well respected among her peers.” Congratulations Julia and thank you for all the beautiful smiles you have helped create in Africa! This award is named in honor of Lucy Navivasha Kabii, one of Operation Smile’s most dedicated nurses from Kenya who exemplified excellence in all areas but regretfully, she passed away in 2006 from complications of malaria.
Jessica Simpson in KenyaJessica Simpson joined the Operation Smile international medical mission in Nakuru, Kenya in late October. Ms. Simpson assisted the volunteer team with the medical evaluations of the more than 280 patients who came to the remote site with the hopes of receiving life-changing corrective surgery. Ms. Simpson helped direct the children as they awaited their turn, giving them special gifts and spreading laughter and cheer. Operation Smile has been honored to have Jessica Simpson serve as its International Youth Ambassador since 2003 when her good friend and hairstylist, Ken Pavés introduced her to the organization. Helping to spread awareness for the organization, Ms. Simpson has performed at Operation Smile's Los Angeles Gala in 2003 and gave a benefit concert as part of NBC's reality hit, "The Apprentice," in front of a packed house at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. More. In 2004, Ms. Simpson and her husband, Nick Lachey were presented with the Operation Smile's Universal Smile Award at the Third Annual Los Angeles Gala. During the Kenya medical mission, Ms. Simpson witnessed the medical volunteers' skills first-hand by donning scrubs and joining Operation Smile co-founder, Dr. Bill Magee and the surgical team in the operating room. Simpson also formed a special bond with one child, 1-1/2-year-old Boke whose father had sold one of his six cows, his only source of income, for money to travel 12 hours in the hopes of receiving surgery for his little girl. Simpson saw Boke through her evaluation and surgery and she comforted Boke as she was put under anesthesia, and then delivered her back to her father after her recovery. From October 26 to November 6, 2005, Operation Smile teams of international volunteer medical professionals conducted medical missions in three cities in Kenya providing free treatment and aftercare to children and young adults suffering from facial deformities. Medical and non-medical volunteers from Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States provided surgery to more than 380 children and young adults in Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa.
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