MANILA, PHILIPPINES –The world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train has partnered with Seda Hotels for the third consecutive year to raise awareness for children with clefts through selling customized Smile Train ornaments and Christmas cards at each of their locations.
“For the first two years, we, the Seda Community and hotels and resorts under Ayala Land were able to raise funds to support 100 cleft surgeries for Smile Train’s patients nationwide. We continue to partner with Smile Train as we aim to raise more funds to help support more children with clefts in the country,” said Senior Group General Manager of Seda Hotels Mr. Andrea Mastellone. “This holiday season, we invite our guests, employees, and partners to support us in this cause to help change the lives of many Filipino children, including their ability to eat, breathe, and speak.”
In celebration of their three-year partnership with Smile Train, Seda BGC hosted a tree lighting event for the benefit of Smile Train patients. Individuals brought their family and friends for a night of fun and to witness the beautiful lights. Apart from welcoming the Christmas season, the tree lighting ceremony also served as an appreciation party for Seda’s partners and clients, and a commemoration for the near-completion of its expansion tower. “It is estimated that 5,000 babies are born with a cleft in the Philippines every year.”
Since 1999, Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported over 1.5 million cleft surgeries to children in need in their own communities. In the Philippines alone, Smile Train has supported over 50,000 cleft surgeries since 2001.
About Smile Train
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train’s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.
