May 28, 2008 – From May 29 to June 6 in the city of Guadalajara, Operation Smile, a worldwide children's medical charity, will bring together 40 medical professionals and dozens of other volunteers to provide life-altering care for hundreds of children in Mexico. The mission will provide surgeries for those who suffer from cleft lips and/or cleft palates.
Led by Operation Smile Mexico, A.C., the mission will mobilize volunteers from Canada, Mexico and the United States, who will provide complete physical examinations and reconstructive surgeries for those born with facial deformities. The mission will take place at Instituto de Cirugía Reconstructiva de Jalisco in Guadalajara.
Operation Smile Mexico, A.C., works with a local network of medical and non-medical volunteers to provide integral medical services that include evaluations, reconstructive surgeries, speech therapy and nutritional plans, among others. These volunteers work together to restore smiles and change the lives of children, young adults and families who face the challenges associated with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. XanGo, LLC is the title sponsor for this mission; other regional sponsors include José Cuervo, Banorte, American Express, Keery de México S.A. de C.V., Colgate Palmolive, Monte Alban Art Gallery Foundation and American School Foundation.
"As a global company committed to supporting the needs of children around the world, XanGo is honored to support Operation Smile Mexico, A.C, in its critical mission to better the lives of hundreds of children and families in Mexico," said Joe Morton, founder and board member for XanGo, LLC, category creator as the first company to bring a mangosteen beverage to a global market. "The work of Operation Smile and its volunteers will literally save lives and open up new avenues of opportunity that otherwise would not have been possible for the mission's recipients."
XanGo is promoting and actively supporting this medical mission to help bring attention to children and young adults with facial deformities. Through its global philanthropic movement, XanGo Goodness, the company has established a corporate alliance with Operation Smile Mexico, A.C. to extend this assistance to individuals and families in Mexico who are most in need. Already, XanGo has committed to sponsor a second mission to Guadalajara in September. Together, the two missions embody the XanGo Goodness vision of mobilizing the company’s global resources, employees and distributors to make a difference and improve living for those who are less fortunate.
"The support private companies provide, whether donating time or money, is fundamental for Operation Smile to be able to assist children and young adults around the world. Close to 100 children will be helped during this medical mission in Guadalajara. In as little as 45 minutes a cleft lip surgery can change the life of a child forever; however, there are many people who need this surgery who do not have the necessary resources," said Laura Trigo, executive director of Operation Smile Mexico.
The first Operation Smile medical mission in Mexico took place in 2005 and since then the organization's medical volunteers have provided free physical examinations to more than 450 children with facial deformities and close to 300 children have received free reconstructive surgery during medical missions. Operation Smile Mexico, A.C. recognizes and is grateful for the collaboration with the "Instituto de Cirugía Reconstructiva de Jalisco," the generous sponsor and center of all the medical missions and educational programs of the organization in Mexico.
The most recent mission in Mexico took place in November 2007 during Operation Smile's 25th Anniversary World Journey of Smiles, when volunteers from Australia, Canada and the United States worked together with the Mexican medical team in Puerto Vallarta. During this event, physical examinations were conducted for 88 children and young adults, and 50 were treated.
We have the great fortune on this week's live New School training webinar to have on as our very special guest XanGo Founder Joe Morton.
