NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of #GivingTuesday and the holiday giving season, Smile Train, the world's largest cleft organization, launched its new "Give Smiles" campaign today to help more children around the world smile and live happier, healthier lives.
From now through December 31, Smile Train will strive to raise enough funds to Give Smiles to 2,017 children with clefts. Leveraging the latest in cutting-edge technology, Smile Train is officially launching a new fully-digital, social fundraising platform on #GivingTuesday with the goal of raising the funds for 33 smiles on that day. In place of asking for presents this year, Smile Train suggests that supporters create their own personalized social fundraising pages so their friends and family can Give Smiles instead.
"We are so excited to celebrate #GivingTuesday and launch our new Give Smiles campaign," said Susannah Schaefer, CEO of Smile Train. "We are hopeful that through the support of our donors, celebrity ambassadors, corporate partners, community fundraisers and medical partners, by the end of the year we will reach our goal and give an additional 2,017 smiles to children with clefts and improve their lives!"
As a part of #GivingTuesday and Give Smiles, a number of Smile Train celebrity ambassadors, corporate partners and community fundraisers from around the world will participate. Below, please find an overview of key activities:
To learn more about Smile Train, set-up your own social fundraising page or to make a donation during this holiday season, visit: smiletrain.org/givesmiles. Follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrain for new updates throughout the year.
About Smile Train
Smile Train is an international children's charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Millions of children in developing countries with untreated clefts live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate. Our sustainable model provides training, funding and resources to empower local doctors in 85+ developing countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.
Press Contacts
Smile Train
Nijha Diggs, Director of Public Relations
646.751.3231
ndiggs@smiletrain.org
Edelman
Matthew Frappier, Vice President
212.277.3786
Matthew.Frappier@edelman.com