BEIJING, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- On July 6, VERTU, a world luxury mobile phone brand, and globally renowned photographer Mary MaCarty jointly held a special photo exhibition in Pacific Place, Hong Kong. This exhibition presented the photos taken by Mary MaCarty in 2012 about candid smiles. These smiles belong to 4 children born with unformed cleft palates from China and Russia who have received help from Smile Train, the world's largest charitable organization dedicated to providing free cleft palate surgery to those in need. The exhibition aimed to increase awareness in society of care for children with cleft lips and palates and to show how children bloom with the light of life when they receive help.
Every year, in developing countries, more than 165,000 children are born with clefts and most of them can't afford the corrective surgery. America's Smile Train has formed partnerships with 1,200 hospitals in 76 countries. They can perform the life changing surgery in only 45 minutes, leaving children born with cleft palates blooming with smiles because of the help of Smile Train. In the last fiscal year, Smile Train treated and cured nearly 122,000 people with cleft palates worldwide.
That is why this steadfast and dedicated global charity attracted the attention of VERTU. Sharing the same wish with Smile Train, that is, to help children with cleft lip and palate change their lives with effort, VERTU launched VERTU Constellation Smile, a luxury smartphone about love and creating better communication. For each handset sold, VERTU will donate the cost of a life changing operation performed by Smile Train.
Only with the participation of the whole of society can the charity work be a success and shine with the bright light of warmth. We hope that more children with clefts can benefit from the charity and that this small change can influence their whole lives.