About Us
Operation Smile was founded in 1982 by Dr. William (Bill) P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife Kathleen (Kathy), a nurse and clinical social worker, after travelling to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates.
What they found was overwhelming. In Naga City, approximately 300 families arrived hoping their children would receive surgery, but the team could only treat 40 children. As they prepared to leave, the Magees made a promise they would return to help more children. They returned and helped approximately 100 more patients. Again, hundreds more still waited.
Today, Operation Smile is a global medical charity helping to improve the health and lives of children in more than 60 countries. We’ve provided more than 270,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. We train doctors and local medical professionals, donate medical equipment and supplies and provide year-round medical treatments through a network of comprehensive care centres. Operation Smile Canada was established in 2011 and became a registered charity in 2012.
60+ COUNTRIES
270,000 SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Canadian Leadership
Mark Climie-Elliot, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Ken Wilson, MD
Chair of the Board
Lori Tymchyk
Treasurer
Jim Siti
Director
Keith S. Jespersen
Director
Meet The Team
Patricia Vidov
Director, Total Quality Innovation
Brenda Heyer
Senior Manager, Database Integrity & Analytics
Diana Church
Director, Volunteer & Student Programs
Ginelle Alvaro
Administrative & Reception Services Assistant
Rita D’Amico
Donor Relations Administrator
Leslie McCourt
Office Manager
Ahmad Nataj
Accountant (Accounts Payable and Receivable)
Ken Butland
Senior Development Officer, Major & Planned Gifts
Lana Liss
Manager, Community Engagement & Sponsorships
Michael Lowery
Manager, Direct Response & Digital Marketing
Hilary Kellam
Coordinator, Volunteer & Student Programs
Zak Bailey
Development Counsel
Financial Overview
Program Expenses by Type Fiscal Year 2018
- Medical Supplies & Equipment (37%)
- Shipping & Cargo (22%)
- Volunteer Travel, Accommodation & Food (16%)
- Honduras Care Centre Support (14%)
- Training for Local Medical Professionals (7%)
- Patient Transportation, Shelter & Food (4%)
Operation Smile Canada Foundation (OSCF) is a registered Canadian charity (Registration Number 84064 3605 RR0001). Our first fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. We comply with all of Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) annual reporting requirements for charities.
Audited Financial statements can be requested by email to ca-supporters@operationsmile.org. All of our audited financial statements since we became a registered charity are available for viewing or downloading.
Our Impact
We’re proud of our work and know you’re proud to support us. Being transparent and accountable to our donors, supporters and partners is important to us. Thank you for helping make this work possible.
Current, insightful, and filled with stories about the smiles you bring to the faces of patients and their families, our Smile Report donor newsletters are your window into the life-changing and life-saving work of Operation Smile.
