Save The Date: Celebration of Smiles Event this April!

What is Operation Smile?

For the past thirty-four years, Operation Smile has been providing free, life-changing surgeries to over two hundred thousand patients as well as over two million healthcare evaluations to children with facial deformities, like cleft lip and cleft palate. Cleft lip or palate occurs when a baby's lip or mouth does not correctly develop during pregnancy. The cause is unknown but these deformities are more common than one might believe. It is now one of the most common birth defects in the United States and other countries as well. These defects lead to difficulty in eating or speaking and, in many cases, cause early death.

Their Mission

The mission of Operation Smile is to give families who cannot afford the surgery a chance at a normal life for their child and, of course, a brighter smile. Mr. William P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathy, a nurse, started the organization in 1982. Since it began, more than 2,500 smiles have been healed and over $700,000 has been raised since 2001. 5,000 medical professionals in over 80 countries around the globe participate in Operation Smile. These surgeries can cost as little as $240 dollars for these children.

What We Can Do and How You Can Help

Misty Westebbe Photography is honored to help with this amazing project along with the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and be a small part of making the world a little bit brighter . For a donation of only $24, you can receive a professional portrait for yourself or your loved one for your company or even your own desk! This is such a huge opportunity for us to help make a difference in many children's lives! We hope you will join us this April for your portrait mini-session. Together, let's give these amazing children the chance to celebrate their beautiful smiles all around the world!