Operation Smile: Making people smile for more than 30 years

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 “We believe that all children deserve to live their lives with dignity. And for those suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate, or other facial deformities, dignity begins with a smile.” – Operation Smile

For children who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities, their imperfect smiles are a cause of social stigma and bullying. In addition, such deformities also keep them from living a normal life. Everyday activities such as eating, speaking, and smiling are greatly affected.

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 Knowing a single smile can heal hearts and inspire others, Operation Smile has pledged to bring the gift of smile to children with facial deformities. Founded in 1982, Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity that “heals children’s smiles, forever changing their lives.” More than a charity and an NGO, Operation Smile is driven by medical professionals and caring hearts with the interests of the children at the top of their list.

In a span of 30 years, Operation Smile has provided more than 3.5 million comprehensive patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults with facial deformities in over 60 countries. To date, the foundation continues its mission, taking one step at a time in bringing the gift of smile.

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 Many big names have been supporting Operation Smile through the years. Celebrities like Jessica Simpson, entrepreneurs like Alex von Furstenberg, and corporations like Johnson & Johnson have been helping Operation Smile bring new life to children around the world.

This website lists the different organizations that Alex von Furstenberg supports.

St. Jude Hospital Foundation: Running for a cause

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Everybody has the power to touch and change another person’s life. One does not need to do a grand gesture – even, running, no matter how small of an act it is, can do wonders in the lives of others.

For the St. Jude Hospital Foundation, everybody can be a hero to children battling cancer and other fatal diseases. Together with Nissan, the foundation is set to hold a marathon on April 27, 2013 at the Centennial Park in Nashville, TN. The race, called Music Marathon and Half, is set to achieve a larger goal of finding cures and saving the lives of the afflicted children. In this race, every runner will be hailed a savior; their every step leads to the increased chances of saving the children’s lives.

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Those who are interested in joining the race to help the children can do so by registering online. Runners must be at least 18 years old to join the Marathon and 12 years old for the Half Marathon. To thank the participants of this charity event, organizers of the marathon will give the runners Brooks Technical participant shirts, swag bags, free admission to the Finish Line Festival and Post Race Concert, and free admission to the two-day Health and Spa Expo. Proceeds of the run will be used to find cures for the children’s health conditions.

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Music Marathon and Half is one of the many efforts of the St. Jude Hospital Foundation in helping young cancer patients. Supporters of the foundation, such as Alex von Furstenberg and Eric Trump, are making it possible for the St. Jude Hospital Foundation to accomplish its mission.

Know how you can help by visiting this blog.

Building better cities

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It is commonly perceived that there is a wide gap between the rich and poor and that they do not share the same aspirations. But this notion is a far cry from what philanthropists do for the less fortunate. For the few who are blessed, their wealth provides the best avenue to create difference in society and help others who were born unlucky. Blessed as they are, the likes of the Rockefellers and the von Furstenbergs are reaching out their hands to those who need help.

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For the fortunate few, most funnel their wealth and money on improving education, health, communities, and the arts. The Rockefellers, the oil magnates, have been in the field of philanthropy since the 18th century. While oil magnate John Davison Rockefeller, who revolutionized modern philanthropy, has already passed away, his family’s efforts are continually felt through the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

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The von Furstenbergs are also noted for their philanthropy. Alex von Furstenberg, the director and secretary of The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, is one of the fortunate few who share their blessings with others. While he is of royal blood, he has made a name for himself in the field of finance and continues to support various organizations, including Friends of the Highline, City-meals on Wheels, and The Fortune Society.  

Know more about philanthropy here.

Corporate philanthropy: The benefits of giving back

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There are many companies that sponsor charitable causes, but what drives them to do so? Does sponsoring charitable causes really benefit companies as well?

Investing in philanthropic efforts may sound like a waste of company budget, but many businessmen, such as Alex von Furstenberg, believe that it is a worthwhile cause and that getting involved in charity work does not only make employees feel better, but also allows the company to build personal connections with them.

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These personal connections are important in building employee loyalty and productivity. By being involved in philanthropy, the company shows that it cares about other people. This is especially important in larger companies, where most employees are more likely to feel that they are just looked upon as workers instead of as actual human beings—these are the people who earn a lot and like their job but dislike the way their company treats them.

Business philanthropy can also be beneficial to a company’s bottom line. Customers are more likely to buy from a company that supports a charitable organization, increasing brand loyalty. Helping out a cause also enhances a company’s credibility and image, and promotes and educates the public about its products and services, creating product awareness and visibility, therefore increasing sales.

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Visit the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation website for more details.