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Our Story
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Our StoryNow in its eighth year, the Grin Gala was founded by four friends with the purpose of raising awareness for the mission of Operation Smile, raising funds to support life-changing surgeries for children with facial deformities, and finally, encouraging international philanthropy and stewardship. Nicole Barilka, Morgan Foster, Bridget Morris and Stephen O'Neil conceptualized the Grin Gala around a kitchen table one blustery winter night in 2008. Less than three months later, 250 attendees celebrated under the stars in Georgetown and helped the first Grin Gala raise $10,000 for Operation Smile. In its second year, the Grin Gala formed an invaluable partnership with Olivia Machado Leonard from Operation Smile and Clint Wheeler with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce allowing the event to expand to 450 attendees, accommodate a live band and ultimately raise $85,000 for Operation Smile — enough to fund over 350 surgeries. After the 2009 Event, co-founder Bridget Morris volunteered on a medical mission to Sikkim, India, with Operation Smile. In 2010, the Grin Gala grew and exceeded expectations once again, raising over $100,000, for the organization. In 2014, we experienced our most successful and well received event to date, raising close to $600,000 on behalf of Operation Smile. Friday, April 24, 2015, marks Operation Smile’s 32nd Anniversary and the 8th year of the Annual Grin Gala. In addition to funding much needed surgeries for children around the world, the event will support a new, ambitious program piloted by Operation Smile. From May 16th -24th, over 150 medical volunteers will travel to 4 sites in Nicaragua, as well as aboard the United States Naval Ship Comfort, to provide over 400 life changing surgical interventions to children. These missions will be conducted in memory of our beloved Grin Gala Chairman, Clint Wheeler, continuing his legacy, his interminable and impassioned efforts to help vulnerable children born with cleft lips and cleft palates across the globe. The missions are a part of Operation Smile’s Global Cleft Eradication Campaign, recently launched in 8 partner countries to provide specialized surgical care for annual cleft cases while simultaneously tackling the surgical backlog of those left untreated. With your help and the help of our committee, we hope that the 2015 Grin Gala will surpass last year's numbers for funds raised! Thank you for your support! Executive Chairs:
Advisors Committee:
Executive Committee:
Founders Circle:
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