It was an afternoon filled with smile and art as Smile Train and Aboitiz Foundation celebrated World Smile Day with the former’s beneficiaries and the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 titleholders.
The World Smile Day, celebrated every first Friday of October, is dedicated to smiles and encourages people to do acts of kindness around the world.
Held at the office of Aboitiz Foundation at NAC Tower in Bonifacio Global City, over 20 Smile Train beneficiaries showcased their creativity in creating memorabilia plush toys with the help of Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gazini Ganados, Bb. Pilipinas International Patch Magtanong, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Resham Saeed, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Tiglao, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Leren Bautista, Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up Aye Abesamis, and Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up Samantha Bernardo.
Aboitiz Foundation supports Smile Train by raising awareness and funds for children with clefts through KINDer by Aboitiz, an online platform where the public can donate to various advocacies. In addition to Smile Train, KINDer supports other causes that benefit education, enterprise development, environmental, health, and other foundations.
“In less than a year, we have raised more than 60 percent of our target funds to support Smile Train and children with clefts through our KINDer website, which is part of our efforts to advance business and communities by co-creating safe, empowered, and sustainable communities,” said Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.
Marasigan added, “Smile Train Philippines supports more than 5,000 surgeries every year and we would like to inspire others to support their life-changing work. We encourage more people to support Smile Train’s cause by donating through KINDer,”
Since 1999, Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported more than 1.5 million cleft surgeries. In the Philippines, it has funded more than 60,000 cleft surgeries since 2001.