Ruritan National has added Operation Smile as the charity of choice for their 2012-2013 national convention – a charity with a special meaning to 2012 National President Phyllis Lewter and First Gentleman Bill Lewter.
In early 2013, President Phyllis and First Gentleman Bill presented Operation Smile with the first Ruritan proclamation ever given to an organization. “It was such an honor to be able to raise funds for Operation Smile. Each year the Ruritan President and family select a charity and ask all Ruritans to support. We couldn’t be more please to support this organization,” said Phyllis.
The Lewters’ granddaughter Charlotte, adopted from Yang Chung, Guandong China, needed cleft lip and cleft palate surgery when she came to her new home in the U.S. Charlotte is the daughter of Carla and Jay Lewter and while her parents’ insurance covered the procedure for Charlotte – the Lewters’ understand that many such children are not as fortunate.
Operation Smile exists for just that reason – for children who would not otherwise be able to afford the care they need. Charlotte had her first surgery to close her cleft lip at 18-months -old. A second surgery in June of that year closed her cleft palate. Two more surgeries accomplished additional facial reconstruction. As with many children undergoing this process, she will require additional comprehensive care as she grows and matures.
Charlotte’s mom Carla noted, “We had heard of Operation Smile before we adopted. Being that the national headquarters are based here in Virginia, we see events and media coverage often. We contacted a volunteer nurse with Operation Smile once we knew about Charlotte to ask a few questions on feeding. Charlotte’s surgery was not performed by Operation Smile; however, since she was adopted we were able to use our own medical coverage to pay for the surgeries. The team of doctors that worked with Charlotte at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters are some of the same doctors that donate their time and talents with Operation Smile changing the lives of children around the world. We loved all of the nurses and doctors we worked with. They are really top-notch.”
Dr. Richard S. Rosenblum from Norfolk is one of those doctors, and has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to Operation Smile. In his youth, Dr. Rosenblum was one of the first students to participate on a medical mission with Operation Smile when he volunteered in the Philippines. After later attending the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond to further specialize in facial and cosmetic surgery, he completed a fellowship with Operation Smile’s Co-Founder.
In 2007, Dr. Rosenblum returned to the Philippines with Operation Smile during the World Journey of Smiles initiative. Charlotte’s parents are thrilled that President Phyllis and First Gentleman Bill have decided to focus on Operation Smile as a charity for Ruritan giving.
Carla said recently, “We think Operation Smile is amazing; they really give so many children a chance at a life full of hope. We were blessed to be able to pay for Charlotte’s surgery on our own, but know there are so many children in the world that would not have the surgery without the work of Operation Smile. I think it is a very worthy organization and Ruritan National will be changing many lives through this project.”
To date, Ruritan National has contributed over $27,000 to heal children's smiles.
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