Baby Samuel has been in Operation Smile’s care since the day his resilient mother brought him home from the hospital. Born in Izabal, a coastal region bordering Belize, his mother faithfully attended cleft evaluations six hours away at Operation Smile in Guatemala City.
When a surgical program was scheduled closer to their home in Petén, she seized the opportunity. Thanks to the sustainable support of our monthly donors, whom we affectionately call our Smile Partners, Samuel received his life-changing surgery at just six months old.
Monthly Giving Means Immediate and Long-Term Action
Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition. The need is constant, but so is the opportunity. Monthly giving provides the consistent support necessary to plan surgical programs, train local teams that exponentially increase surgical capacity, and deliver year-round cleft care.
Not only do our Smile Partners ensure children like Samuel get the timely surgical care they need and deserve, but they also help fulfill our promise to create health that lasts. Like all our kids, Samuel will have access to essential cleft care like nutrition, speech therapy, oral health care, psychosocial support, and integrated pediatrics for as long as he needs – at no cost to his family.
“Because every child deserves care. Every month should be meaningful.”
Why Monthly Giving Matters So Much
The journey to a new smile does not begin or end with surgery. There is so much more that a child born with a cleft condition needs to have a healthy, bright future. Our model of care takes time, because we believe in treating each child as if they were our own – and you don’t cut corners when it’s with someone you love. Monthy giving helps us treat the whole child, one step of the journey at a time.
It’s Easy. It’s Impactful. It’s Personal.
Giving monthly is simple. You set it up once, and it works in the background—quietly changing lives every single day. It’s budget-friendly, customizable, and you’ll always know the impact you’re making through stories, photos, and exclusive updates through our Smile Partner Monthly Newsletter.
You’re Giving More than a Monthly Gift
You’re giving the little things—like the first time a child feels brave enough to speak in class, the quiet confidence that builds when they no longer feel “different”, or the ability to blow out their birthday candles for the very first time. And you’re giving the big things too—like a brighter future. You’re not just changing smiles. You’re changing everything.
Because every child deserves care. Every month should be meaningful.
And because healing hearts before they break—that’s the kind of promise worth keeping.
