Imagine the moment that Hannah, pictured above, got to see her new smile for the first time. She was born with a cleft condition that makes eating, speaking, and socializing a challenge for thousands of people every year. After years of living with the condition, she was able to get surgery to fix it — for free. Her life-changing moment was made possible by the work of Operation Smile, a global nonprofit, bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and healthcare, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care. 

It can be hard to know what causes will resonate with your workforce, but Operation Smile’s impactful before-and-after photos are worth a thousand words. The organization’s straightforward mission is an evergreen, moving cause that’s sure to strike a chord with your employees. Who wouldn’t want to deliver free smiles to kids in need? By partnering with Operation Smile, your company can make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of children in need around the world. 

And beyond delivering smiles, collaborating with Operation Smile also offers tremendous value for companies and their employees. Employees increasingly want to work for organizations that prioritize social good. Millennial employees in particular seek out employers with strong corporate social responsibility programs. Partnering with Operation Smile provides a meaningful way for companies to engage their workforce, boost morale, and attract top talent. 

Let’s explore the many creative and impactful ways that companies can get involved with Operation Smile, from employee volunteer trips to cause-related marketing campaigns. With the right approach, your partnership with Operation Smile can become a point of pride for your organization and a key differentiator in the eyes of your customers, partners, and employees. 

Employee Engagement Offering: Customized Solutions for Every Workforce
Operation Smile’s flexible and collaborative approach allows companies to tailor their partnership to align with their unique goals and priorities. Here are some of the ways they can engage with your company: 

  • Employee Engagement Events: Volunteering, field visits, and interactive workshops that foster employee connection to the cause. 

Example: Operation Smile’s Interactive Empathy Workshop educates participants about the barriers to healthcare that patients with cleft conditions face globally and aims to increase their empathy for what these patients go through. Give your employees a chance to step into the shoes of a patient’s family and tackle challenges together as a team to solve how to get the group’s child to an Operation Smile surgical program.  

  • In-Kind Donations: Contributions of medical supplies, technology, and other resources to reduce operational costs and enable high-quality patient care. If you work in the medical field, organizing a donation drive of equipment could be a great way to empower your workers to give back. 
  • Cause Marketing Campaigns: Co-branded initiatives that raise awareness and drive support and donations from the company’s customer base. 

Examples: Operation Smile has partnered with many companies to launch meaningful campaigns, including Lay’s “Get A Smile, Give A Smile”, Listerine “You Swish, We Donate, Everyone Smiles” and Johnson’s Baby Care “Tres Por Un Cambio/Three For Change.” 

  • Customized CSR Initiatives: Programs aligned with corporate social responsibility goals, demonstrating commitment to global health and community impact. 

Example: see how companies like Stryker weave Operation Smile into their annual CSR work.  

  • Global Events and Conferences: Opportunities to participate in high-profile medical forums and discussions, expanding networks and visibility. 
  • Impact Reporting: Detailed reports on the impact of contributions, helping communicate successes to stakeholders. 
  • Strategic Sponsorships: Tailored sponsorship opportunities for specific programs, events, and conferences, allowing direct impact on access to surgery. 
  • Youth and Community Programs: Support for empowerment and development initiatives in regions served by Operation Smile. 

Exploring the Impact
With Operation Smile as your philanthropic partner, you can strengthen your brand, engage your workforce, and make a lasting difference in the lives of children around the world. Hear about another child whose life was changed like Hannah’s:  

On a day that is intended to bring a family joy, the birth of Akekapop “Ake” was met with unforeseen sadness.  Ake was born with a cleft condition. 

His parents were rice and cassava farmers. They neither expected his cleft lip nor knew how to treat it. Samai, Ake’s father, thought his son would be subject to painful bullying, fearing that Ake would develop an inferiority complex. With many misconceptions surrounding cleft in low-income countries, members of his family believed that a cleft condition was bad luck.  Yet, it wasn’t long before Ake’s family discovered Operation Smile Thailand.  Following their bus ride to reach the surgical program site, Ake and his family met more parents and children affected by cleft. These interactions helped make them feel more confident that Operation Smile would take care of their son. Prior to his surgery, Ake’s family rarely took photos of him. Today, Samai and his wife said they proudly take many photos of him and his new smile. 

Samai attributes his son’s happiness to the medical volunteers who devote their time and skills to changing the lives of children like his son so that they can be treated with kindness and accepted by their communities. 

When asked if he wanted to say anything to Operation Smile, Samai said, “I was very happy that Operation Smile Thailand had a mission to provide free surgery. Earlier, I was very worried. Now, Ake got surgery and he’s very happy. He would like to say thanks to medical volunteers and the Operation Smile team who help create smiles for Thai kids.” 

Need help?
At Global Impact, we are dedicated to empowering companies to create meaningful and impactful employee engagement experiences. As a proud partner of Operation Smile, we offer comprehensive support to help you make the most of their incredible offerings. Whether you’re looking to introduce Operation Smile to your organization, need assistance with event planning, or want fresh ideas for themes and topics, we’re here to help.  

Let us help you inspire greater giving and foster a culture of social responsibility within your organization. Reach out today to get started!