Restoring 100,000 Smiles and Counting

In the time it takes you to read this post, a child will be born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.

Without surgery, that child could suffer from a number of physical and emotional hardships that include everything from ridicule or mistreatment, malnourishment, and difficulty with speech. And in some cases, the condition can be fatal.  

Correcting a cleft lip or cleft palate is a relatively simple surgical procedure. But for families who lack access to safe and affordable surgery, even a basic procedure like this one is out of reach.

For the past 30 years, we’ve partnered with Operation Smile to transform the lives of more than 100,000 children and families around the world who wouldn’t otherwise have access to this life-changing surgery.

When I attended a medical mission at Tongren Hospital in Beijing, China, I saw firsthand that Operation Smile volunteers repair more than a cleft lip or cleft palate—they restore hope to the families who so desperately want their children to be happy and healthy. 

What a difference this simple yet crucial surgery makes for those in need.

I am proud to say that as part of our company’s $25 million commitment to Operation Smile, each and every surgery includes instruments from the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, including a new surgical instrument set that our team developed in partnership with Operation Smile to meet the unique needs of their medical volunteers.

Each year we host a Smile Week at Johnson & Johnson to celebrate our commitment and mobilize our employees to support this important cause. At an inspirational event hosted last night at the Johnson & Johnson Powerhouse museum in New Brunswick, NJ, we recognized Operation Smile founder, Bill Magee, as well as the work of our employees who’ve given their time and expertise to help make a difference.  

If you’d like to join us in making an impact on the lives of children and families through Operation Smile, download the Johnson & Johnson mobile app for social good called Donate A Photo and we’ll contribute $1 to Operation Smile for each image donated. You can also contribute to Operation Smile through the Charity Miles app.