Donor Spotlight

Citigroup

Citigroup, through its foundation, has made an on-going commitment to the children that Operation Smile serves. Citigroup, which has financially supported Operation Smile since the early 1990s, has been instrumental in ensuring many successful medical missions. Not only have they provided funding for missions, but they have also provided employee volunteers who have offered their services on missions and implemented Operation Smile workplace programs at their facilities.

The Citigroup Foundation has helped Operation Smile provide missions and/or education programs in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam. Additionally, Citigroup has donated funds to Operation Smile to be used for special projects and the annual Physicians' Training Program.

Citibank, a subsidiary of Citigroup, has employees who spend much of their time each year volunteering to support Operation Smile medical missions. They have even helped Operation Smile create lasting in-country relationships and connected the organization with sponsors, supplies and contacts throughout the world.

Since 1997, Citibank has been one the strongest sources of volunteers for Operation Smile Honduras. Employees serve as non-medical volunteers during the international missions and provide monthly donations from them through a program they have established called "Un lempira por una sonrisa."

Since 1995, 141 Citibank employees in Colombia have been involved in missions to Bogotá, Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga, serving as translators, assisting with patients and helping with logistics. Citibank employee Mónica Alvarado (pictured) helps during Operation Smile Colombia's June 2005 local mission in Bogotá. Photo by Liliana Vélez

Financial Times

In April 2005, Operation Smile began a partnership with The Financial Times to help raise awareness for the organization. The Financial Times is published six days a week and provides more than 485,000 readers around the world with comprehensive coverage of global markets, combined with news and analysis. Since August 2005, The Financial Times has given Operation Smile 140 free insertions of a series of promotional ads, an in kind donation valued at $1,246,000.

Steve Howe, Vice President of Advertising for The Financial Times, The Americas, said, "As a global publisher, The Financial Times is very proud to help raise awareness of all the incredible work that Operation Smile does for the children around the world. We look forward to our continuing partnership in 2006."

Abbott Fund

In April, Operation Smile needed bottles of anesthesia for the Lima, Peru, mission in May. Operation Smile turned to the Abbott Fund, which has supported Operation Smile for more than 10 years. The foundation quickly came to Operation Smile's assistance by providing not only the needed anesthesia for the mission, but an annual supply valued at more than $500,000.

Ruth Abdulmassih, Abbott's Area Sales Director for the Western Region, attended the mission in Lima and witnessed how product contributions benefit the children treated by Operation Smile. The Abbott Fund took its support one step further and helped facilitate a meeting between Operation Smile Peru and Abbott Peru. Hector Moy, Abbott's General Manager for Peru and Ecuador, along with Jorge Bohórquez, Abbott's Hospital Division Manager, visited the mission. Abbott Peru is now committed to helping Operation Smile Peru further its goal to provide year-round care to children.

During the mission in Peru, parents and children gather with Ximena Palma, Operation Smile Peru Executive Director (second from left); Ruth Abdulmassih, Abbot's Area Sales Director for the Western Region (back center); Dena Liston, Operation Smile Gifts-in-Kind Manager (center); and Jorge Bohórquez, Abbott's Hospital Division Manager (back center). Photo courtesy of Abbott Laboratories Peru

Continental Airlines

On January 21, Operation Smile received a donation of 1,400 medical kits from Continental Airlines. The kits contain some of the basic medical supplies used during Operation Smile missions and by our global hospital partners. FedEx was instrumental in making this donation possible by shipping the kits from Houston, Texas, to Norfolk, Va., at no charge. The kits included stethoscopes, syringes, needles, airways, blood pressure cuffs, and various pharmaceuticals. These supplies served as emergency first aid kits on Continental airplanes.

Beth Marshall, International Director of Central and South America for Operation Smile, traveled to Houston to thank Continental and FedEx and the individuals who made the donation possible.

"Operation Smile is fortunate to have a partner in Continental Airlines,"said Beth Marshall. "It is impressive that during a time when airlines have scaled back on corporate donations, Continental found a way to provide a valuable contribution."

Dante Marzetta, Continental Airlines Senior VP of Technical Operations and Purchasing, said, "Continental Airlines has tremendous respect for the Operation Smile organization and the amazing work they do for thousands of children each year. It is our privilege to have this opportunity to partner with them."

Photo by: Ben Clark (Left to right) Katrina Manning, Continental Airlines Staff VP Corporate Purchasing & Business Operations; Dante Marzetta, Continental Airlines Senior VP of Technical Operations & Purchasing; Richard Siciliano, FedEx Houston Metro District Market Manager; and Beth Marshall, International Director of Central and South America for Operation Smile.

Molnlycke Health Care

Biogel^® powder-free surgical gloves and Molnlycke surgical gowns join the list of medical supplies contributed to Operation Smile. Molnlycke Health Care, formerly Regent Medical, donated surgical gloves and gowns valued at over $400,000, enough to supply all of Operation Smile's 2006 international medical missions. Through a Patented Puncture Indication System, the donated Biogel^® gloves will alert the wearer with a dark green spot if a puncture occurs in the presence of body fluids.

In addition, Molnlycke will donate an additional $175,000 of Biogel^® gloves to Operation Smile in 2007. "Medical gloves are critical because they protect both the patient and doctor,"said Dr. Robert Rubin, Operation Smile Chief Medical Officer. "Operation Smile is extremely grateful for the opportunity to provide our medical volunteers with the option of wearing the double-glove system."

In September 2006, Milt Hinsch, Technical Service Director, attended Operation Smile's gala in Beverly Hills. Hinsch said, "I was first introduced to Operation Smile at their Los Angeles Gala held in September 2004. The 2006 gala reminded us how much Operation Smile benefits the world and renewed our commitment to partnering with Operation Smile."

King Systems Corporation

In November 2003, King Systems Corporation quickly came to Operation Smile's assistance by providing critical anesthesia products for the Jordan mission. Since then, the company has generously donated enough single-use circuits and masks for all of Operation Smile's 2004 missions.

The support received from King Systems has helped Operation Smile to continually improve our high standards for the quality of care and patient safety on all medical missions. Through partnerships with companies like King Systems, we know our medical volunteers are using the best products available. An added bonus has been the scented masks, which are a huge hit with the young patients and anesthesiologists.

In August, Kevin Burrow, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, joined Operation Smile's mission to Fortaleza, Brazil. Upon returning, Kevin said, "The Brazil mission was an excellent opportunity to be involved directly with Operation Smile. The most amazing aspect was the compassion and dedication exhibited by the volunteers to other team members and to the patients. The teamwork was incredible."

Operation Smile thanks King Systems for the generous support and dedication to helping children around the world.

King Systems representative Kevin Burrow plays with children during the Operation Smile mission in Fortaleza, Brazil - Photo by Keith Bedford

Datascope Corp and Operation Smile Partner in Paris!

In April, Operation Smile had the occasion to attend the 2004 World Congress of Anesthesiologists (WCA) in Paris, France at the invitation and sponsorship of Datascope Corp. This wonderful opportunity provided Operation Smile with the chance to meet new medical volunteers from around the world. In addition, sharing a booth with Datascope, enabled Operation Smile to reinforce its commitment to using top-quality medical equipment on all of its international missions.

For over a decade, Datascope Corp's Patient Monitoring Division has partnered with Operation Smile by providing state-of-the art monitoring equipment for use in the operating rooms and recovery rooms for all of our international missions. As a result of this ten-year relationship, Operation Smile has increased the level of medical quality assurance.

Penlon Limited

Penlon Limited, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is among the world leaders in the production of anesthesia systems. Penlon's Delta vaporizer is a uniquely designed piece of equipment that delivers accurate concentrations under varying conditions of flow rate and temperature. Due to its superior performance, the Delta vaporizer has won Penlon a Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation. In 2003, Penlon agreed to fulfill Operation Smile's vaporizer needs by offering the highly acclaimed Delta vaporizer at a generous discount. This amazing contribution has saved Operation Smile thousands of dollars. Penlon's Craig Thompson, Key Account Director for U.S. Distribution, said, "Penlon chooses to support Operation Smile's fantastic work because these life changing operations offer hope to those who otherwise would not receive it."Penlon has agreed to give Operation Smile further discounts on additional Delta vaporizers needed for efforts during Operation Smile's 25th anniversary missions in 2007.

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