Celebrating a Remarkable Year of Community and Transformation
This year gave us countless reasons to smile. And none of them would have been possible without your kindness and support. In each of the reports we’ve sent you, there have been stories and numbers that speak to the lives you’ve transformed throughout the year. You helped shape a better future for hundreds of children — and that’s what keeps us going.
Here are five remarkable moments from 2025 that make us beam with pride and remind us of all we can achieve when we rise together for children, their families and their communities:
Butterfly for a Smile Fashion Show
We saw creativity meet compassion at the Butterfly for a Smile Fashion Show, hosted by 11-year-old designer and model Mia Fuentes and her mother Rossy Del Rosario, in August. This inspiring event raised an incredible $10,000 to provide safe surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children in Honduras.
The beautiful evening was a testament to the power of community and generosity, proving that one ambitious idea can deliver many new smiles!
Johnson & Johnson’s Trek for Smile
A mighty team of 20 global caring partners from Johnson & Johnson took on the challenge of trekking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania this September to raise vital funds. We are so proud of this dedicated group who hiked nearly 80 km over eight days to an incredible elevation of 19,341 ft. — an extraordinary display of resilience and heart.
Together, their amazing expedition raised over $120,000 and will help Operation Smile volunteers deliver more than 500 new smiles to kids in Tanzania and beyond.
Sebastian and Lilia’s Transformation
We are moved by this adorable duo’s story of friendship and transformation. Sebastian and Lilia met at a surgical program in Mexico in 2021. They received life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries and have been on an incredible comprehensive cleft care journey with us ever since.
Sebastian, now 6 years old, is enjoying first grade and loves to play with his toy cars, trains and building blocks. Just like him, 5-year-old Lilia also thrives in school, loves dancing and enjoys giving warm hugs. The sweet pair of friends are discovering the world around them every day with a bright smile!
A New Website Look
In January, we launched a fresh new look for our website, making navigation more accessible for you! So many compassionate partners have explored new features, read stories of lives saved and transformed, and learned more about cleft conditions and our approach to treating patients.
Now, easier than ever, you can connect with our mission and join us in making a difference in the lives of people born with cleft conditions across more than 35 countries.
Introducing Operation 100
This year, we introduced Operation 100, our bold strategy built upon 40+ years of legacy and experience in treating cleft conditions. Our goal is to build local capacity and strengthen surgical spaces so patients can have reliable, safe cleft care closer to home.
In the next five years, we are equipping 100 cleft operative teams and enhancing health infrastructure across 100 hospitals. And 100 is just the beginning.
As we close the chapter on 2025, we look back fondly at the impact we’ve created together and the dedication of our caring partners who made it possible. Thank you for standing with our patients and giving them the promise of a brighter future.
Together, we’re creating a world where kids can grow healthy and happy. Let’s keep building hope in 2026 and beyond.
