ABOUT AfS
Alliance for Smiles is dedicated to transforming the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate conditions through free surgical care, comprehensive treatment, medical training, and sustainable partnerships around the world.
Alliance for Smiles was founded with two goals: to provide immediate surgical care for children with cleft conditions and to help create sustainable, long-term treatment solutions within local communities.
Through surgical missions, training initiatives, and partnerships with local providers, Alliance for Smiles works to ensure children receive not only life-changing surgery, but ongoing access to comprehensive care and support.
Our
Mission
To forever improve and transform the lives of children and communities impacted by cleft lip and palate by providing free comprehensive treatment while training and equipping local teams to sustainably provide quality, long-term care.
Our
Story
What began as a mission to provide cleft surgery to children in need has grown into an international effort focused on treatment, education, and sustainable care.
Since its founding, Alliance for Smiles has completed surgical missions around the world while continuing to expand partnerships that strengthen local medical capabilities and improve long-term patient outcomes.
Founders (L to R): Jim Deitz, Anita Stangl, James Patrick, John Goings & John Uth (not pictured: Burt Berry)
Our
Founders
In October 2004, six members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco founded Alliance for Smiles (AfS). Having worked with other cleft organizations, they shared a vision of providing corrective surgery through medical missions while establishing treatment centers that could replicate the comprehensive cleft care model used in the United States. To help achieve that vision, AfS recruited Dr. Karin Vargervik, Director of the Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center at UCSF Medical Center, to lead its Treatment Center Program.
While Alliance for Smiles was formally founded by John Uth, John Goings, James Patrick, James Deitz, and Anita Stangl, the organization also recognizes a special group of Contributing Founders whose early generosity helped transform the vision into reality.
Individuals who contributed $20,000 or more during Alliance for Smiles’ first four years of operation are honored as Contributing Founders and recognized in perpetuity for their leadership and commitment to the mission.
| Mr. Burton Berry | Mrs. Debbie Jefkin-Elnakave |
| Mr. Bill Benter | Mr. Benjamin Lam |
| Mr. Wilber Breseman | Mrs. Noime Liangco |
| Dr. Wallace Chang, M.D. | Dr. Thomas Mack, D.V.M. |
| Ms. Cecile Chiquette | Mr. Donald Parachini |
| Dr. Scharleen Colant, Ph.D. | Mr. James Patrick |
| Dr. James Deitz, Ph.D. | Ms. Esther Rebizzo |
| Ms. Barbara Fisher | Ms. Dee Dee Ricks |
| Mr. John Goings | Dr. Alan Stormo, M.D. |
| Allan and Nancy Herzog | Mr. Eng-Rung Tsai |
| Mr. Howard Ho | Mr. John Uth |
| The Family of Taipei | Tai and Tony Wang (W.A.C. Lighting) |
| Mr. Joseph Hoffman | Dr. Colin and Mrs. Silvana Wong |
Alliance for Smiles also recognizes its Founding Rotary Clubs, whose support during the organization’s formative years helped establish and grow its programs around the world.
Founding Rotary Clubs
• Rotary Club of San Francisco
• Rotary Club of Chicago
• Rotary Club of Wanchai, Hong Kong
Alliance for Smiles gratefully acknowledges these individuals and organizations whose early support helped build the foundation for the life-changing work that continues today.
Founded in 2009, the Alliance for Smiles Legacy Club honors donors who contribute $5,000 or more in support of our mission. These generous supporters help provide life-changing cleft care while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Alliance for Smiles programs worldwide.
Legacy Club Charter Members Legacy Club 2010-2011
Burt Berry Burton Berry
Wilber Breseman Wilber Breseman
Tai Can -Wang Tai Can-Wang
Dr. Wallace Chang Cecile Chiquette
Cecile Chiquette David De Roode
David De Roode Jim Deitz
James Deitz John Goings
John Goings Allan Herzog
Allan Herzog Silvia Iselin
Bing Shin Ho Mary Jensen
Howard Ho Benjamin Lam
Joe Hoffman Dr. Quentin Li
Benjamin Lam Anna Marie Marcias
Edward Lau Dr. Thomas Mack
Jojo and Noime Liangco James Patrick
Dr. Thomas Mack Angelo Rebizzo
Gary Mitchell Dr. Colin Wong
James Patrick Edith Richter
Stacey Quo Robert and Kathryn Smith
Eng Rung Tsai John Uth
John Uth Dr. Karin Vargervik
Karin Vargervik
Dr. Colin Wong
Choi Chung Yuen
CPWF Staff Picture CPWF Staff with Dr. Colin Wong
When AfS plans a medical mission, we need to work with on‐site partners to coordinate all aspects of the mission. Since our first days, our primary partner in China has been the China Population Welfare Foundation (CPWF). We could not complete a mission without their invaluable support. Months before a mission even begins CPWF works with other governmental organizations to find the hospitals, complete patient screening, and deal with obtaining temporary medical licenses for our team. Once we are on site, CPWF provides food and accommodation for our team and for the patients and their families. They also send representatives who remain on site for the entire mission to handle any other logistics.
In 2012 a campaign was conducted by the Guizhou Provincial Family Planning Association to provide an approximate count of un-repaired cleft lip and palate cases in the Guizhou Province of China. Twelve Hundred untreated children were found, and they subsequently signed an agreement with CPWF to treat these children. Alliance for Smiles, as part of the Happy Smiles program, developed a plan with these two agencies to treat this backlog of 1200 patients over a three year period, and to eventually establish two Treatment Centers in major cities of the Province.
As part of this plan, AfS has completed ten medical missions in the Guizhou Province, and the two Treatment Centers have been founded in Zunyi and Guiyang! We are very proud to be part of this important project, and it would not have been possible without our partnership with CPWF.
Our Supporters
Alliance for Smiles partners with medical organizations, foundations, corporations, Rotary clubs, and community supporters to expand access to cleft care worldwide.
These partnerships help provide surgical missions, medical supplies, training opportunities, and long-term support for children and families in underserved communities.
Wrap-A-Smile Quilt-Makers • HEDCO Foundation • Frankenburg Foundation • Tarbell Foundation • Guo FengCharity Foundation
Honorary Board Members
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What causes cleft lip and palate anomalies?
A.
Cleft lips and palates are anomalies that occur during the early weeks of embryonic development. Predisposition is the main cause, and studies indicate that other contributing factors might include folic acid or vitamin B deficiency, the use of anti-seizure medications, exposure to chemicals and infectious disease in the mother during pregnancy. Certain environmental agents have also been cited as disruptive to the normal development of a fetus.
Q. How often does this anomaly occur?
A.
Traditional international efforts to repair cleft lips and palates have consisted of small teams that perform surgical procedures to correct defects. However, the initial surgery only addresses one part of the problem. Cleft patients require ongoing treatment in the disciplines of dentistry, orthodontia, speech therapy, and sometimes psychological counseling. Time and funding constraints typically make it impossible to address those needs on our short two week trips.
Even if information, expertise, and treatment were available, it would pose an impossible financial burden to the families of our target population, whose budgets are already strained by their basic daily needs for food and shelter.
Our multi-pronged approach and long-range model distinguish us from traditional international surgical teams in several ways:
- To respond to the immediate need, we conduct two week surgical missions.
- We provide advanced training for health care providers who are dedicated to the treatment of underserved cleft lip and palate patients.
- We are establishing treatment centers where patients can receive follow-up and ongoing care, using the same treatment protocols used in the United States. Eventually, the centers will be owned and operated by the communities that they serve.
Q. How much does it cost for this surgery?
A.
For the courageous families in under-served countries who decide to seek medical assistance on their own, very little is available that is financially feasible. With the average cost of surgery being half of what a typical rural family earns in a year, it is clear why they feel overwhelmed and without options.
Our surgeries which transform lives cost $1,000 per child.
Q. Are my donations tax-deductible?
A.
Yes, since Alliance for Smiles is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible. AfS will supply you with a tax receipt for your donation.
Q. Where do my donation dollars go?
A.
We have a very efficient business model which means that only .04 cents of every dollar you donate goes to our overhead expenses. This means that .96 cents of every dollar goes directly to our missions around the world.
Q. Who covers the expenses of a mission?
A.
Most of our funding comes from individuals and from Rotary Clubs; we also receive many donations of equipment, supplies, and in-kind donations. Please see our Partners Page for more information. AfS pays the airfare for all medical volunteers. Non-medical volunteers pay their own way. All volunteers pay a $380 trip participation fee to cover administrative costs.
Q. What medical volunteer opportunities are available?
A.
There are medical volunteer opportunities for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Pediatricians, OR Nurses, PACU Nurses, Dentists, Orthodontists, Dental Hygienists, and Speech Pathologists. Please visit our Volunteer Page to learn more.
Q. What non-medical volunteer opportunities are available?
A.
Mission Directors, Quartermasters, Translators, Photographers, Instrument Sterilizers, Medical Record Keepers, and Patient Ward Coordinators.
Please visit our Volunteer Page to learn more.
Anyone is welcome to apply for a non-medical volunteer opportunity, however if a Rotary club is sponsoring a specific trip, priority will be given to Rotarians from that club. Volunteers must be in good physical health, as the days are long and demanding.
Flexibility is an important quality, as the responsibilities may change during the course of the mission. We also expect the commitment of volunteers to go beyond the mission by raising public awareness and conducting fundraising programs.
Spouses of volunteers may participate, as long as both spouses are volunteering as team members in specific positions.
Sorry, we do not accept minors.