Operation Smile Approved?

August 8, 2009 11:44 AM

Operation Smile: I saw the commercial, and want to donate. It appears to be quite legitimate. Can anybody vouch for it?
posted by jsonic to Human Relations (12 answers total)

Its totally legit. I know loads of people who've volunteered there over the years, they do great things.
posted by jeb at 11:49 AM on August 8, 2009

Totally legit. I have colleagues that go and work on their missions.
posted by 6:1 at 11:51 AM on August 8, 2009

Yup, legit. They've been quite active here in China for a long while now.
posted by FuManchu at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2009

Done a lot of great work in Morocco.
posted by HopperFan at 12:13 PM on August 8, 2009

Just got off a 4 month deployment aboard USNS Comfort, a hospital ship, to Central and South America. In the four days that Op Smile was aboard, they operated on 57 kids, so yeah... I've seen their work firsthand. Great organization.
posted by squorch at 12:23 PM on August 8, 2009

I too have colleagues who have worked with them and considered going myself; probably will at some point in the future.
posted by TedW at 12:23 PM on August 8, 2009

Response by poster: Great, thanks everyone. And thanks to my employer for matching the donation.
posted by jsonic at 12:34 PM on August 8, 2009

Absolutely! I work with doctors who are associated...great great great things!
posted by bdoop21 at 1:19 PM on August 8, 2009

Absolutely legitimate. A guy I used to work for knew one of the doctors involved personally, and I think he once organized a benefit for them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:02 PM on August 8, 2009

A little late to the party here, but I just wanted to add to the kudos for this organization. In fact, the plastic surgeon who has been treating my son's birthmark is partners with Dr. Magee, the guy who founded Operation Smile. Their children's practice is the Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery in Norfolk, VA, and all the work they do, both non- and for-profit is amazing!
posted by jenny76 at 6:03 PM on August 8, 2009

They got a mention on the Bravo show NYC Prep so I assume it must be legitimate. I know because I'm watching the episode right now. (What a strange coincidence!)
posted by lilac girl at 9:29 AM on August 9, 2009

Also late to the party, but I wanted to add that my dad is a pediatrician and clinical geneticist and he and his colleagues have volunteered with Operation Smile (Kenya, China, others I can't remember) in the past. Totally legit.
posted by Pax at 7:13 AM on August 10, 2009