Founded in 1982, 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 volunteers have treated more than 115,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Cleft lips and cleft palates are the 4th largest birth defect in the world. 1 of 500 in developing countries is born with correctable facial deformities. Around the world, 200,000 children are born each year with a facial deformity. Today, tens of thousands remain untreated. Facial deformities are often life-threatening and emotionally traumatizing; many children are unable to eat or speak; some are even kept out of school.

In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 26 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.

Operation Smile Singapore, a recently set-up Singapore registered charity, is a Resource Centre for the Asia region, covering the countries of Cambodia, China, Philippines, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

Operation Smile. Changing lives, one smile at a time.

For more information on Operation Smile, visit www.operationsmile.org.sg or email Operation Smile Singapore at info@operationsmile.org.sg

Class 95FM is proud to adopt Operation Smile for the year 2008. 

Operation Smile Singapore & TSMP Law Corporation Charity Dinner

My name is Min Zhu Lei. I'm three years old and already, I'm wary of strangers. All too often, they stare at me, or look away in disgust or horror. I have a cleft lip and my mother and I came to the medical mission in Xi'an, China looking for help. My family, including my mother, father, older brother and sister live in very poor conditions, and ever since I was born, we've been looking for an opportunity or money to get treatment for me.

When my mother was almost without hope, she saw an announcement on TV saying that Operation Smile was coming, and my father started to put aside money from his meager wages as a taxi driver for the two-hour bus trip to Xi'an. Their hard work paid off - just look at the difference in my face, my eyes, not just my mouth. My transformation has brought hope to my whole family.