Smile Train Partners with Glad® Philippines to Host “Glad® To Give Smiles” Family Fair to Raise Awareness and for Children with Clefts

Smile Train Area Director for Southeast Asia Kimmy Flaviano presents a plaque of appreciation to Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu for her support to Smile Train Philippines. From left to right: Kimmy Flaviano, Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, Glad Philippines Sales and Marketing Director for Southeast Asia, and Ms. Suzi Abrera.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES –The world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train, and food storage and cooking solutions provider Glad® Philippines recently held the Glad®-To-Give Smiles Family Fair to help spread smiles to Filipinos this Christmas season.

“As part of the Glad®-to-Give Smiles program, we held this family fair to help raise awareness and funds for Smile Train and babies born with clefts,” said Mr. Paulo Lao, Sales and Marketing Director for Southeast Asia of The Clorox Company, which owns Glad®.

“This program is the product of our long-standing relationship with Smile Train, as well as the company’s commitment to helping more consumers, including children and their families. Glad thrives on feasts and celebrations, especially during the Holiday and what better way to reinforce this message by bringing back the smiles of children affected with cleft lip and palate so they too can have happier mealtimes this Christmas,” Lao added.

The Glad®-To-Give campaign is Glad®’s global corporate social responsibility platform. This year, the Glad®-To-Give Smiles Family Fair was filled with fun activities, delicious food stations and a cooking demonstration prepared by Glad®'s Ambassador, Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu. “I am very proud to be a part of this meaningful campaign this holiday. It is an honor for me to help raise funds and awareness about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines,” said Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu.

The program was hosted by Ms. Suzi Abrera.  Other supporters include The Medical City, Alveo Land, Beyond® Yoga, Swell Sweets Cake Lab, and Ms. Natalia Santamaria Escano, who performed with Smile Train beneficiaries during the program.  Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Smile Train’s cleft programs in the Philippines.

Here are some photos taken during the event.

The whole family enjoyed the fun-filled afternoon event. Lots of activities, games and prizes, entertainment and of course yummy treats.

“As we celebrate our 20th year in the Philippines, we are grateful to our partners like Glad® Philippines who have been enabling us to fulfill our vision to raise awareness and create a better future for children with clefts,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Area Director for South East Asia. “We also thank the families for giving their time for the Glad®-to-Give Smiles Family Fair. With their help, we are able to raise funding for more cleft surgeries this holiday season.”

Approximately 5,000 new babies with clefts are born every year in the Philippines. Without access to proper cleft treatment, these babies often have difficulty eating, breathing, speaking, and ultimately thriving. Smile Train’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training and resources to provide 100 percent-free, quality, comprehensive, and safe cleft care to children in need in their own communities.

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines, follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.