Smile Train: Allowing Patients Born with Cleft Lip and Palate to Live Normal Lives

BEIJING, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Smile Train recently announced its new mission of "providing a child born with a cleft the same opportunities in life as a child born without" at a global conference in Beijing. Under the previous mission statement of actively helping each patient with cleft lip and palate, Smile Train has already performed more than 250,000 cleft repair surgeries in China over a time span of approximately 13 years, making it one of the largest contributors to cleft lip and palate charities in China.

Headquartered in New York, Smile Train is a not-for-profit organization focused on providing free cleft repair surgeries for poor cleft patients in developing countries. Charles B. Wang, one of the foundation's key co-founders, also is a co-founder of Computer Associates International. Providing free surgeries for patients with cleft lip and palate and speech therapy to patients that need it in order to live normal lives is a new challenge for Smile Train. However, Charles and his outstanding team have worked out a relief system. They take full advantage of locally based medical personnel and provide them with tools so that they can become self-sufficient. Instead of sending over medical teams from other countries to operate in the developing world, they provide local doctors in each country with free training to enable them to perform free, high-quality surgeries. Smile Train also co-operates with local governments and departments who can effectively help in getting the message out into their local communities.

To date, Smile Train has helped over 700,000 patients in more than 80 countries worldwide. During the past 13 years, Smile Train has donated more than 1.2 billion yuan (approx. US$ 190 million) to charities in China, where it has helped over 250,000 patients. Meanwhile, through cooperation with China's Ministry of Health, the China Charity Federation, the Chinese Stomatological Association and participating hospitals, Smile Train has provided training to more than 12,000 medical professionals and has introduced advanced medical technologies and scientific management models across China.  

Smile Train has been widely recognized in China. As a charitable foundation for cleft lip and palate aid, the concepts, management mechanisms and achievements of Smile Train have not only promoted the positive development of Chinese philanthropy but also won the high praise and recognition of the Chinese government.

Contact:
Dr. Shell Xue
+8610-85806540