This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Dr. Colin Wong, as stellar volunteer who was with us for 13 years.
Born in China and raised in Hong Kong, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California and his degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Dr. Wong practiced dentistry in Mill Valley for 35 years, later dedicating himself to helping underserved cleft children.

China was the first country to receive an AfS medical team. Dr. Wong’s contributions as a VP and Director of China Affairs, has been the driver to our success in China. He led more than 40 medical missions while communicating with city mayors and local hospitals to determine which towns were ready for treatment centers. Through his continuous efforts, five treatments centers were established: Jiujiang (Jiangxi Province), Wenzhou (Zhejiang Province), Harbin (Heilongjiang Province), Zhuyi, and Anshun (Guizhou Province).

Dr. Wong has decided to fully enjoy his retirement and is now off on other adventures with his family. Thank you for all those years of support Dr. Wong!

Alliance for Smiles’ journey to restore smiles for cleft lip and palate children began 13 years ago. Since then, the organization has been to 11 countries, completed 82 surgical missions and 21 teaching missions, opened 5 treatment centers and operated on 6,129 children with a total value of $30, 494,244 in donated medical medical services. These numbers would not have been possible without the unconditional and generous support of our volunteers and donors who have helped us achieve our goals.