Medical Programs

In many developing countries, one in every 600 children is born with a cleft lip or palate and will never be able to eat or speak properly. These children are often teased, tormented, or even abandoned by their own parents at birth. Most are unable to speak, eat, or drink properly.

For over a decade, Smiles for Lives has worked with numerous nonprofits, local governments, community organizations, and hospitals to provide dozens of free cleft lip and palate surgeries to children around the world. These surgeries have given new life to these children by allowing them to live productive, fulfilling lives.

Patients funded by the program receive treatment from the time they arrive at a hospital and all services are free: the initial evaluation, surgery, and post-surgical therapy. These life-changing surgeries are preformed in 45 minutes and cost as little as $250, thanks to support from physicians, institutions, and generous donors like you. Smiles for Lives also funds state-of-the-art surgical simulation software and medical education grants to participating cleft care teams.

Smiles for Lives Read-A-Thon

Each year, students and youth groups around the world participate in Kids Change the World's flagship program, the Smiles for Lives Read-A-Thon. Beginning in 2014, the program shirted to be coordinated by regional directors who will work directly with local chapters/schools because of overwhelming national participation. Donations and forms sent to international headquarters will still be accepted. Contact us to find a chapter in your area.

Daos Children's Center

In 2008, we began a partnership with the founding members of the Daos Children's Center in Mombasa, Kenya to aid children whose lives have been affected by (1) HIV/AIDS or (2) post-election violence. Major achievements in the first five years included restructuring of the daycare program, renovations of six major classrooms, and the establishment of a part-time health clinic. By 2016, the center had served more than 1,000 children and family members. In 2018, we began a daily transportation needs program at the center by providing 25 new bikes to be lent to 100+ people daily that would have to normally walk dozens of miles.

Clinical Research & Statistical Consulting

We are committed to accelerating the development of novel therapeutics and the creation of new knowledge to combat pediatric diseases. Our experienced research and statistical consultants have worked on a diverse portfolio of clinical studies and trials at a reduced rate compared to university-affiliated services. Our consultation grant program began in 2019 for select studies. Contact us to collaborate.

Medical Research Funding & Support

Since 2012, we have funded and support groundbreaking research for pediatric diseases at the world's leading institutions, including the Harvard Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine. Funds are carefully granted biennially to a number of investigators based on their previous track record and promise of advancing their respective fields. Contributions have been recognized by numerous Ministries of Health and multiple U.S. City Commissioners of Health.

Photos credits: The Smile Train