By Haute Living
When celebrity guests and international VIPs gather to use their influential forces for good, the whole world smiles.
Dr. Magee serves as the chief executive officer of the children’s medical charity alongside his wife, who serves in her fulltime volunteer role as president.
When celebrity guests and international VIPs gather to use their influential forces for good, the whole world smiles. And thanks to the efforts of Operation Smile supporters, more than 130,000 children from all corners of the globe have been grinning from ear to ear.
On a balmy Manhattan evening in early May, 800 of the world’s most elite philanthropists will convene on Cipriani Wall Street to show their support for Operation Smile. The nonprofit organization performs life-altering surgery on children who are born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities. Now in its 27th year, they reach the youth of the world in more than 51 countries.
Leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon, Dr. William P. Magee, Jr., along with his wife, Kathleen, who worked as a nurse and social worker, founded the charity in 1982 after a trip to the Philippines. Their international travels with a group of medical volunteers revealed hundreds of children ravaged by deformities. It took little introspection to decide to heed the call to action and use their skills to serve the world. Today, Dr. Magee serves as the chief executive officer of the children’s medical charity alongside his wife, who serves in her fulltime volunteer role as president.
The upcoming charity gala, the 7th annual Smile Event, is one of the largest fundraiser of the year for Operation Smile. A long list of celebrity supporters are involved with the cause, including past fashion sponsors like Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Missoni, Monique Lhullier, and Versace. It seems fitting that those who have mastered the art of looking good would “pay it forward” in such a way to those whose inner beauty shines brightly.
Such a cause can’t help but tug on the heartstrings, meaning that the list of Operation Smile supporters is long and well recognized. This year’s Executive Committee Chairs include Vanessa Trump and Donald Trump Jr.; Lacey Tisch-Sidney and Lowell Sidney; and Gillian Hearst Simonds and Christian Simonds. Smile Committee Chairs include Haley Bloomindale, Georgina Chapman, Lydia Hearst, Dabney Mercer, Minnie Mortimer, Maggie Rizer, and Olivia Palermo.
7th Annual Smile Event to benefit Operation Smile
What A black tie VIP dinner with a specialty live auction followed by a cocktail and dessert after-event
When Thursday, May 7, 2009
Where Cipriani Wall Street
Who 800 guests from Manhattan and around the globe join forces to help children worldwide
Why One surgery can change a child’s life forever; you can make a difference
Dress Black Tie
Contact tsoutiriou@operationsmile.org
