Service Organizations

General Federation of Women's Clubs

The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) is one of the world's largest women's volunteer service organizations with 5,500 clubs in 52 states and with federations and international affiliates in over 20 countries. The clubs have been involved in volunteer service activities for 111 years, and for 19 years, these dedicated women have supported Operation Smile. They've raised money for missions and donated many personal hygiene products, quilts, smile bags, toys and hospital gowns. They've also donated their time; many GFWC members, as medical professionals, have accompanied us on missions, filling vital roles to help repair children's deformities.

The GFWC donated more than $220,000 in the two-year administration ending June 30, 2002. Additionally, during the most recent fiscal year, an additional $86,000 was raised and donated by the GFWC Florida Federation of Women's Clubs as they had united in their common goal to support Operation Smile. The monetary donations are in addition to the smile bag supplies that are donated solely by GFWC members and given to children in each mission country following their surgeries. Operation Smile thanks all the GFWC members for their ongoing support and for recognizing that every child deserves the chance to smile.

Become involved

For detailed information in developing a volunteer project to benefit Operation Smile in your club please download the information packet we've prepared for members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

To download click here.

Operation Smile/GFWC newsgroup

If you would like to receive information about upcoming volunteer opportunities, international medical missions, patient stories, and scheduled events on a regular basis, please send a message to Dory Morrison at and provide your email address.

Becoming a member of the Operation Smile / GFWC newsgroup is a fun and interactive way to stay informed about the work that the federation is helping to make possible.

Thank You! -If it weren't for members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs like yourself, we would not be able to continue to change lives, one smile at a time.

Rotary International

Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. With over 1 million members in 31,000 clubs, Rotary International has representation in 167 Nations. Over the years, Rotarians around the world have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support our medical missions in building sustainable development. Operation Smile depends on these donations and Humanitarian Grants from Rotary International to help more children live happier healthier lives. Just look into one of these children's faces and you'll agree the Rotarians "provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world."One of the ways in which clubs have contributed significant financial support is through the Rotary Foundation's Humanitarian Grants Program. Within the Rotary Foundation's Humanitarian Grants Program, several Matching Grants have been awarded to Operation Smile. By acting as a bridge to unite Rotarians around the world, Operation Smile has been able to bring Rotarians together from different countries to help thousands of children in need. Operation Smile received its first Matching Grant in 1991 for its international mission to Panama. Since then, Rotarians partnering with Operation Smile have successfully organized Matching Grants to assist children in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Thailand and Venezuela. Rotarians have not only provided monetary contributions, but have worked tirelessly to help Operation Smile here at home and abroad. Rotarian volunteers have actively participated on-site on our missions by assisting as translators, unpacking cargo, and insuring a successful mission. They are willing to lend a helping hand wherever they can, whether it networking with local Rotarians in our mission countries, or bring a child back to their family after surgery, the Rotarian's stewardship has been instrumental in assuring a winning partnership which benefits all.

Operation Smile would like to extend its deepest appreciation to all the Rotarians who have helped us over the past several years. We thank you for your financial support and your thousands of hours of volunteer time you give to help children in need.

Supporters