FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 20, 2009

CONTACT:

NORFOLK, VA – Operation Smile is proud to have one of the world’s most dedicated volunteer networks — more than 4,000 medical and non-medical volunteers ready to share their time and talent to help children. In celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), Operation Smile will hold a Volunteer Awards Ceremony and reception to honor seven exceptional volunteers with the following awards: Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award, The U.S. Care Network Award, The Donna Poe-Davis Nursing Award of Excellence, and The Be Someone Student Programs Award. Operation Smile Co-Founders Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee will present the awards to these dedicated volunteers.

The reception will take place on Monday, April 27, 2009 from 6 p.m.– 8 p.m. at the Town Center City Club, located in the Armada Hoffler Building at 222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 230 (2nd floor) in Virginia Beach, Va.

Rachel Wallis, retired R.N., of Newport News, VA, will receive Operation Smile’s Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award. Wallis has been involved with Operation Smile for more than 20 years, where she currently volunteers at Operation Smile's international headquarters in the warehouse, helping maintain some of the medical equipment used to perform life-changing surgeries. Wallis’s years of volunteer service with Operation Smile actually began as a nurse volunteer. “I have been a long-term volunteer with Operation Smile, and I’ve always believed in what it does for children who wouldn’t otherwise get treatment,” Wallis said. Her care for others is also evident by the mission trips she’s participated in with her church and other groups as well.

Chris Weatherly-White, M.D., of Denver, CO, will also receive Operation Smile’s Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award. Dr. Weatherly-White, a retired plastic surgeon, has demonstrated vision, determination, resourcefulness and integrity in his pursuit to help children and people in need. In 1996, Dr. White became an active medical volunteer with Operation Smile after meeting Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee in Switzerland. His first mission was that same year to Ecuador. Since then, Dr. White has participated in 28 medical missions in countries such as Morocco, Peru, the Philippines and Russia. In 1998, Dr. White joined other supporters in the Denver area and founded the Operation Smile Colorado Chapter. “I’m very grateful to Operation Smile for giving me the opportunity for this endeavor in my life. Not only does Operation Smile change the lives of the children it touches, but it also changes the volunteers’ lives as well,” Dr. White said. During the awards ceremony, Dr. Weatherly-White will be participating in his 30th medical mission to India.

Beth Nielsen, R.N., of Barrington, IL, will receive The Donna Poe-Davis Nursing Award of Excellence. This award is presented to an Operation Smile volunteer nurse who has served on international medical missions, shown leadership and made significant contributions to Operation Smile. Since 1992, Nielsen’s dedication to the goals of nurses and her field, relate directly to the quality of care Operation Smile’s patients receive. She has participated in more than 20 medical missions. “When I talk about Operation Smile, I call it the golden thread in my life tapestry. There have been so many colors and backgrounds and themes. It’s a richness and a blessing in so many ways,” Nielsen said.

Coridalia Scott, M.D., originally from Panama, now residing in Greensboro, NC, will receive The U.S. Care Network Award. The U.S. Care Network Award is given to an individual who has reached above and beyond Operation Smile’s call to service on international missions as well as demonstrated tireless compassion for domestic cleft patients. Usually presented to a physician, this individual has been instrumental in providing care to cleft patients in his/her local area who otherwise might not have had access to proper treatment. This is the first year of this award. Dr. Scott has been involved with Operation Smile since 1990, having learned about the organization through her neighbor, Beth Marshall, Operation Smile Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America. Dr. Scott has helped coordinate the care of more than 35 local patients, as well as five World Care Patients from Latin America. Whether helping children from remote counties get to their appointments or translating for Spanish-speaking patients, Dr. Scott has tirelessly supported Operation Smile over the past 15 years. Above and beyond managing patients’ medical treatment, she also coordinates the domestic patient speaker program, prepping patients for presentations at various organizations as well as accompanying them to the presentations.

Ed Beason, retired M.D., of Winston-Salem, NC, will receive The U.S. Care Network Award. Dr. Beason, a plastic surgeon, has demonstrated vision, determination, resourcefulness and integrity in his pursuit of helping children and people in need through the U.S. Care Network. Dr. Beason’s true compassion for humanity shows not only in his work abroad, but his never-ending support for patients in his own backyard. In addition to performing minor surgery in a free clinic for several years, Dr. Beason has also collaborated with Operation Smile’s North Carolina chapter to facilitate the care of many local cleft patients. He believes strongly in the mission of Operation Smile U.S. Care Network and believes that no child should go without medical care, whether they live in a developing country or North Carolina. Of his volunteerism with Operation Smile, Dr. Beason said, “It’s been the highlight of my medical career. I got more out of those missions than my practicing career as a plastic surgeon and a physician.”

The Frederickson Family, from Virginia Beach, VA, will receive The Excellence in Volunteerism Family Award. This is the first year Operation Smile will present this award, given to a family who, together, have generously shared their time to heal children's smiles and transform lives across the globe. The Frederickson family are recognized for outstanding volunteering activities performed as a family during the previous year within the U.S. or abroad. Since 2005, Mara Frederickson has volunteered in the medical records department at Operation Smile headquarters once a week, in addition to participating on a medical mission as the medical records specialist to Guadalajara, Mexico, last fall. Two of Mara’s children, Jenna, a 15-year-old sophomore, and Peter, a 17-year-old senior, also participate in the Operation Smile Student Club at Princess Anne High School, as well as volunteer at Operation Smile’s international headquarters. Jenna started the club at Princess Anne High School, now serving as the club president, and attended the Operation Smile International Student Leadership Conference last year in San Diego. “Operation Smile captured our interest for its simple mission of promoting human dignity. What began as an opportunity to share our time and talents has evolved into something much more special; sharing the human experience. Our volunteer time with Operation Smile is not simply something we do for others - it has become a part of who we are, a representation of our values, and a tangible measurement of how our contributions can make a difference,” Mara Frederickson said of her family’s involvement with Operation Smile.

Caitlin Dye, 11 years-old, from Norfolk, VA, will receive the Be Someone Student Programs Award. This is also the first year Operation Smile will present this award, which was created to honor an individual student volunteer who has shown exemplary service to Operation Smile. Caitlin has earned this award because of her involvement at Alanton Elementary School, in the Operation Smile Final Mile, and also for her recent volunteer work as a member of the medical mission team to Managua, Nicaragua, in February of this year. The Dye family also hosted two World Care Patients in 2007, Domingo Jose and Yilber Noel Rodriguez Davila, during their stay. Caitlin and her mother, Jennifer, were reunited with the Davila brothers during the Nicaragua mission. "Working with the children of Operation Smile has been an amazing experience for my family and me. I am so proud to be chosen as the recipient of the Be Someone Student Programs award. I will look forward to many more opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children around the world and to continue inspiring kids my age to make a difference," Caitlin said of her volunteer work with Operation Smile.

To participate or speak with the award winners, please contact Amy Kelly at 757-321-3251 or akelly@operationsmile.org.
 

About Operation Smile
Founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, 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 has treated more than 150,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 50 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.

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