About Us

Joining a club in your school is the best way to help while making new friends and having fun.

Why students?

Because they are
our future

Operation Smile counts on the compassion of students, parents, and educators to help us bring as many smiles as we can to children all across the world. From the hundreds of sponsored clubs throughout the globe, to the student volunteers selected to accompany us on our missions, we depend on our young leaders to build awareness, raise funds and educate others on our mission.

Our Pillars

Leadership

We cultivate leadership by facilitating innovative and inspiring programs that teach valuable skills and grow confident leaders.

Service

We empower youth to understand the importance of being an active participant in helping others locally and globally.

Advocacy

We inspire youth to be an active voice for communities around the world who lack access to safe, well-timed and effective surgery.

Education

We instill the value of teaching and learning to promote social responsibility through exposure to authentic experiences, diverse communities and global health care.

What is Operation Smile?

Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has worked tirelessly to ensure every child in the world has access to exceptional surgical care. Our global network of medical professionals, volunteers, supporters and student leaders are driven every day to make a difference in the lives of children they’ve never met. After a medical mission to the Philippines to repair the cleft lips and palates of pediatric patients there, our Co-Founders Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee recognized the overwhelming need to help more families than their small team of volunteers could accommodate. As they prepared to leave, the Magees made a promise they would return to help more children — and Operation Smile was born.