Miss Universe Organization ends ties with Smile Train Foundation

@smiletrain IG 

The world’s largest cleft charity Smile Train Foundation announced on Monday that it has ended its nine-year partnershipwith the Miss Universe Organization.

On its social media posts, the non-profit organization shared a sentimental reel as it extended its gratitude to theMiss Universe Organizationfor helping it support the needs of children with cleft lips and palates.

“Today, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the Miss Universe Organization @missuniverse for their incredible partnership over the past nine years!  Your support has transformed the lives of countless children with clefts worldwide, giving them the gift of smiles and hope,” the foundation said in its post.

According to the foundation, the partnership with the Miss Universe Organization has greatly impacted the families of children around the globe who were the organization’s beneficiaries.

“Together, we’ve made an extraordinary impact, raising awareness about cleft lip and palate and ensuring that children everywhere receive the life-changing care they need,” it added

The foundation also extended its gratitude to the former queens including two Filipina Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray who served as the foundation’s ambassadors.

“Special thanks to Pia, Iris, Demi, Catriona, Zozi, Andrea, Harnaaz, R’Bonney, and Sheynnis, who wore the Smile Train Ambassador crown with dignity, grace, and compassion. From the beginning, we committed to being more than a photo-op for our Ambassadors we aimed to empower titleholders through active engagement and our patients through their example,” the foundation said.

Smile Train also noted how the Miss Universe Organization helped the foundation through its initiative in raising funds for the needs of the children.

“Throughout our partnership, more than 10,000 families learned about the free, comprehensive cleft treatment Smile Train sponsors and received the care they needed. Thousands of global titleholders supported our campaigns, with some even witnessing our local programs firsthand. Together, we raised nearly $2 million through direct giving, auctions, events, and campaigns, supporting tens of thousands of life-changing surgeries and other vital cleft care treatments for those in need, plus essential training for local medical teams in 75+ countries,” it added.

Ending their statement, the foundation wished Miss Universe great success in its future endeavors.

In the comment section, Gray wrote: “Will always support the incredible, life changing work of @smiletrain.”

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu wrote: “Thank you for changing so many lives ..including mine… you have being doing incredible work and it was my absolute honour to be a part of it… always here to support and bring more smiles….every smile matters.”

Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza also thanked Smile Train. “It has been an absolute pleasure working with all of you. I’ve truly fallen in love with your cause, and the incredible impact you’re making in so many lives. You can count on me to continue spreading the word and helping to change the lives of children together!” she wrote.

Smile Train is a nonprofit organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates. Headquartered in New York City and founded in 1999, the foundation provides free corrective cleft surgery in 87 countries, training local doctors and providing hospital funding for the procedures.