Smile Train Partners with Seda Hotels to Raise Awareness for Children with Clefts

The world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train has partnered with Seda Hotels for the third consecutive year to raise awareness for children with clefts through selling customized Smile Train ornaments and Christmas cards at each of their locations.

“For the first two years, we, the Seda Community and hotels and resorts under Ayala Land, were able to raise funds to support 100 cleft surgeries for Smile Train’s patients nationwide. We continue to partner with Smile Train as we aim to raise more funds to help support more children with clefts in the country,” said Senior Group General Manager of Seda Hotels Mr. Andrea Mastellone. “This holiday season, we invite our guests, employees, and partners to support us in this cause to help change the lives of many Filipino children, including their ability to eat, breathe, and speak.”

In celebration of their three-year partnership with Smile Train, Seda BGC hosted a tree lighting event for the benefit of Smile Train patients. Individuals brought their family and friends for a night of fun and to witness the beautiful lights. Apart from welcoming the Christmas season, the tree lighting ceremony also served as an appreciation party for Seda’s partners and clients, as well as a commemoration for the near-completion of its expansion tower.

“It is estimated that 5,000 babies are born with a cleft in the Philippines every year. As we celebrate our 20th year around the world, , we are thankful to our partners like Seda Hotels who have been enabling us to raise awareness and create a better future for children with clefts,” said Smile Train Area Director for South East Asia Kimmy Flaviano.

Since 1999, Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported more than 1.5 million cleft surgeries to children in need in their own communities. In the Philippines alone, Smile Train has supported more than 50,000 cleft surgeries since 2001.

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines, follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

Smile Train Partners with Glad® Philippines to Host “Glad® To Give Smiles” Family Fair to Raise Awareness and for Children with Clefts

The world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train, and food storage and cooking solutions provider Glad® Philippines recently held the Glad®-To-Give Smiles Family Fair to help spread smiles to Filipinos this Christmas season.

The Glad®-To-Give campaign is Glad®’s global corporate social responsibility platform. This year, the Glad®-To-Give Smiles Family Fair was filled with fun activities, delicious food stations and a cooking demonstration prepared by Glad®'s Ambassador, Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu.

Glad is ready to give a helping hand to working moms like Happy, as we navigate the Christmas season. Prep and cook without the mess using Glad's foils, cling wraps, Cook n' Bake and ovenware for your ready to serve dishes.

 "I am very proud to be a part of this meaningful campaign this holiday. It is an honor for me to help raise funds and awareness about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines,” said Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu.

The program was hosted by Ms. Suzi Abrera.  Other supporters include The Medical City, Alveo Land, Beyond® Yoga, Swell Sweets Cake Lab, and Ms. Natalia Santamaria Escano, who performed with Smile Train beneficiaries during the program.  Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Smile Train’s cleft programs in the Philippines.

Approximately 5,000 new babies with clefts are born every year in the Philippines. Without access to proper cleft treatment, these babies often have difficulty eating, breathing, speaking, and ultimately thriving. Smile Train’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training and resources to provide 100 percent-free, quality, comprehensive, and safe cleft care to children in need in their own communities.

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines, follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.