SmileTrain.org - Charity that provides Free Cleft Surgery

Nobody in this world is perfect in every field however all of them have some unique qualities and skills. All people have some bad and good points in them as a natural gift. Every year thousands of children are born with clefts, i.e. a gap in the upper lip and/or palate. Among them lots of children live with unrepaired cleft lips and palates since they come from a very poor family which could not afford surgery. That’s where SmileTrain.org comes in – one of the world’s leading cleft lip and palate charities that provide free cleft surgery.

SmileTrain.org - Charity that provides Free Cleft Surgery


Smile Train has been founded in 1999 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang, which is a not-for-profit, 501(c) (3) organization based in New York City with the aim to offer free corrective surgery in around 80 developing countries for children with cleft lips and palate. Smile Train had performed above 280,000 cleft surgeries, raising $84 million with 30 people staff as of March 2008 and assisted nearly 500,000 children by 2009. It focuses on single problem – clefts, unlike several charities that do various things.



Child who is born with a cleft has to face many problems in the life like cannot eat or speak properly, not permitted to attend school or hold a job, can’t do marriage, and more. They always feel ashamed or guilty wherever they go. The only reason behind not having the simple surgery for cleft which has been from decades is that they are poor. You can imagine their life so if you are able to then surely provide help to them by donating. Your few help can give a new life to children and they can live happily.

Generally their contribution per surgery is as low as $250 and takes just 45 minutes; however cost per surgery varies across the 80+ different countries such as £150 in UK, Rs. 12,000 in India, etc. SmileTrain also gives financial support and training to on-ground institutions in numerous countries across the world. SmileTrain reaches to the poorest countries on the earth and takes your donation there. Cure has been already found just necessity is a little help delivering it, so donate now through any method that is most suitable to you. You can also spread the message about SmileTrain by telling to your friends and “Like” them on Facebook.

There are different ways available to donate at SmileTrain.org:

1, Donate By Mail: Download a printable form and mail your contribution to: Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231.

2, Donate By Phone: Make a call at 1-800-932-9541 to donate by phone.

3, Make A Tribute: Some people have habit or desire of donating on special occasions or in memory/honor of any near ones. You can enter any gift amount like $1,000.00 can provide cleft surgery for four children, $500.00 for two children , $250.00 for one child, $125.00 can cover half the cost of one surgery, $50.00 can provide medications for one surgery, or else.

4, Monthly donation: As soon as you sign-up, your primary gift is processed. Automatically your monthly pledge is then billed to your credit card or checking account on same date you initially signed up. If you want to do changes then modify the amount of your monthly pledge, alter your chosen credit card, or cancel any time you wish by visiting the service center.

5, Planned giving: Take advantage of many benefits like reduce tax costs by giving through your Will, life insurance or retirement plan.

6, Donate stocks and securities: Help children suffering from Cleft by giving the gift of stock. The most cost-effective assets to utilize in making a gift is appreciated securities. If you transfer ownership of longterm holdings to Smile Train, Inc., then you obtain a charitable deduction for their full market value and you deserve no capital gains tax that are subject to IRS deduction limits.

7, Create a Page / Find a Fund: Tell the world your story of raising funds to save children from living a life of sorrow by just signing up right now. You can find or create a fund for Tribute and Personal Funds or Memorial Funds.

8, Special Fundraisers: Fundraising with Smile Train is very simple as they have made it easy, fun, and also rewarding. You can motivate your friends and family with a fundraiser.

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