MANILA, Philippines - The Miss Universe Organization recently announced that it will support Smile Train to raise awareness about the problem of cleft lips and palates across the globe.
As part of her homecoming, newly-crowned Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach met with Smile Train in the Philippines. Wurtzbach shares, “Through the partnership between Miss Universe and Smile Train, I am proud to continue helping children born with cleft lip and palate, giving these children and their families’ new smiles and new lives.”
“Smile Train is extremely proud of our partnership with Miss Universe. We hope that this partnership will help us reach more children around the world in desperate need of cleft surgery, a simple surgery that, not only creates a new smile, but also a new chance at life,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Country Director for Smile Train in the Philippines.
She adds, “It is a bonus that the current Miss Universe is from the Philippines, where there are close to 5,000 babies born every year with clefts.”
The new charitable partnership between The Miss Universe Organization and Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft charity, will help raise awareness of the issues faced by children living with unrepaired clefts in the developing world. The new relationship will provide opportunities for the reigning Miss Universe and international titleholders to get involved with Smile Train’s global initiatives in 85 countries where the charity helps children.