Dining for Smiles Events
Alliance for Smiles supporters have been busy in the last few months holding many fundraisers! These volunteers have held creative, out of the box events with huge successes.
Dining for Smiles is the most popular type of event that our volunteers hold. The volunteers prepare a meal or party and ask their guests for donations to Alliance for Smiles. Ten-time volunteer dental hygienist Dorothy Ferreira held her annual barbeque event, which raised over $4,600. Dorothy passed out a unique favor to her guests – a sample of the card she gives to each of her patients. Each card has a unique photo of that patient. For many children, this is the first photograph they have seen of themselves; for all, it is the last with an unrepaired cleft.
Laure Lisk, a recovery room nurse who has been on five missions, held a crawfish boil. The table was set with Mardi Gras decorations and guests enjoyed an authentic taste of New Orleans in Colorado. Laure’s event raised over $4,000!
Board member Tina Hollcroft was once again extraordinarily successful with her wine fundraiser that has become a signature event in her Georgia community. This year her fundraising efforts brought in over $10,000.
The Rotaract Club of CSU Sacramento held a very special event: a giant teeter-totter-a-thon! The club built an 85 foot teeter-totter on campus and asked for donations to Alliance for Smiles in exchange for a ride. Not only did the club raise money for AfS, but also broke the Guinness World Record for longest teeter-totter in the process!
Trip Report: Lagos, Nigeria
In June Alliance for Smiles completed a two week medical mission to Lagos, Nigeria. This is AfS’ first mission to Africa this year, and our second trip to Nigeria overall. The AfS team, led by Barbara Fisher, worked closely with local staff in order to provide 62 surgeries to 48 patients.
Unlike other missions, the majority of cases on this trip were palate repairs. Palate repairs are extremely important for the development of a child’s speech, hearing and eating. These surgeries take longer than lip repairs but are necessary for a child to grow up normally.
One grateful mother sent the following message to one of our team members:
Your adorable words, efforts, and ingenuity over the short time spent here, specifically on my son and other beneficiaries of cleft repairs have given us strength. Your group is a beacon of hope inspiring us all. Leading and showing the way by God’s mercies. Putting new songs into our hearts and giving us newdreams, radiating love, spreading joy and happiness. Helping us to remold our future, so that this only world will be a better place for us. A place of abode for peaceful co-existence and tolerance for all. To you, lovely Ruth, and your team, as you are bestriding the medical world like a colossus, your shadow shall never grow less, your sojourn on earth shall be more fruitful and impactful with sound health. God shall abundantly reward your labour of love and sacrifices. We thank you for your pristine love, adorable sacrifices, hilarious inventiveness, incredibly contagious smile and to have successfully touched lives and carried out humanitarian service worthy of emulation and accolades.
We are hopeful that the hospital in Lagos may be developed as an AfS treatment center!
Laure Lisk Wins Community Service Award
Laure Lisk, five-time Alliance for Smiles volunteer nurse, has won the David Lawrence Community Service Award from Kaiser Permanente. Laure was honored in the international service category for her many trips with AfS, as well as work with other organizations in Tajikistan and Ukraine. Laure has a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado School of Nursing and has over 30 years experience in the field. She has been on AfS missions to Tanzania, Nigeria, the Philippines and China. Laure designated her $10,000 prize to go to Alliance for Smiles to benefit future missions. Join us in congratulating Laure for her lifetime of service and achievement!
Volunteer Testimonial
This is Connor, the Quartermaster from the Anshun team. I just wanted to thank everyone for giving me a 2-week memory I will never forget. For the first time being out of the country and participating in a medical mission, I was exposed to something words cannot describe. Not only has this mission changed my perspective on life, it has confirmed my decision to pursue a career in the medical field. Of the many highlights, I watched a full operation on a young child and continued to wait in the recovery room until the individual awoke. I cannot explain what I felt, but I now know why every doctor and nurse volunteers for these missions. You have all exemplified true compassion when it comes to the children, and not only will I cherish this 2-week memory, but I will continue to be inspired by my experience. Additionally, I personally want to thank Dr. Fang, my lovely mother, and all my other supporters for giving me this opportunity and believing in me. Thank you. – Connor Riordan
Save the Date!
2014 Winter Holiday Party
On Thursday, December 4th, 2014 AfS will host our annual Holiday party! This complimentary evening is open to all with no RSVP necessary. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. You will also have a chance to purchase unique holiday gifts from around the world. The party is from 5pm to 8pm at our office at 2565 Third Street, Suite 237, in San Francisco. Come celebrate everything you have achieved with us this year!
2015 Gala Celebrating our 10th Birthday!
Alliance for Smiles will be holding its 10th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown San Francisco. The date is set for April 11th, 2015. This special milestone event will honor everyone who helped us achieve so much in the past ten years. If you would like to receive a hard copy invitation to the Gala, or would like to donate an item for the live or silent auction, please email events@allianceforsmiles.org. Tables of 10 seats purchased before February 13th, 2015 will be discounted. Please consider sponsoring a table for your company, family, or friends.
Volunteer Training
On Sunday April 12th, 2015 (the day after the Gala) we are holding our annual Volunteer Training session. We will be covering both medical and non medical positions. More information to follow.