The John P. Previti Memorial Foundation supports and has donated to Smile Train – an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Millions of children in developing countries with un-repaired clefts live in shame, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate.
“The generous support of Smile Train from the John P. Previti Memorial Foundation has provided free cleft surgical repair surgery for some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable children. Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where millions of children are suffering with un-repaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly and aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. Being born with a cleft in a developing country is truly a curse. Every baby born in Uganda with a cleft is given the name Ajok which means “cursed by God,” with some newborns killed or abandoned right after birth. The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes. Founded in 1999, Smile Train has developed a network of 1,100 hospital partners in 87 countries that can provide cleft care 365 days a year. Thanks to this local partnership model, a Smile Train-sponsored surgery takes place every five minutes every day of the year. The John P. Previti Memorial Foundation is helping Smile Train change the world one smile at a time” – William Horan, VP, Principal & Planned Giving
We are extremely honored to have been a part of these transformations, seeing the difference Smile Train makes to both the children’s confidence and their families is so rewarding. Click here for more information on how you and/or your business can support Smile Train.
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