Our History
Founded in 1982 by Dr William Magee a leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon and his wife Kathleen Magee, a former nurse and clinical social worker, Operation Smile’s team is driven by our universal compassion to care for children and give the gift of a smile. As an international children’s medical charity, the global partnerships we create in our work to provide free cleft palate and cleft lip surgery is long-lasting. The knowledge we share, the medical and professional infrastructure we build, all leaves a legacy that lives well beyond our medical projects and makes a lasting difference around the world.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, Operation Smile has reached some incredible milestones around the world, with over 160,000 children benefiting from surgical intervention. As we look to the future, Operation Smile UK continues to support the work of the international organisation, deploying even more medical volunteers on projects. We will also continue our support of the Centres in India and Morocco as well developing new opportunities in some of the most needing parts of Africa.
Landmark Achievements:
- Operation Smile UK celebrates its 10th Anniversary, culminating with the 10 Years of Smiles Ball for 600 guests at the Hurlingham Club, London.
- Inside the Human Body – the highly acclaimed BBC1 documentary featured Operation Smile’s work in India and using spectacular graphics based on real images, demonstrated the development and formation of the face.
- October 2009-10 BBC 1 Blue Peter Charity of the Year - Operation Smile UK was chosen as the 2009/10 Blue Peter Charity for the ‘Send a Smile’ Appeal. Children across the UK were invited to make hospital gowns for those children awaiting an operation.
- November 2008 BUPA grant awarded to support the development of 3 Comprehensive Care Centres in India. Today, these Centres treat an additional 5,000 patients for cleft lip and cleft palate annually. Operation Smile now manages 12 international Comprehensive Care Centres globally.
- November 2007 marked the 25th Anniversary of the global organisation, culminating with the
World Journey of Smiles whereby 40 simultaneous projects took place in 25 countries, providing new smiles and lives for 4,086 children living with facial deformities.
- In March 2002, Operation Smile UK proudly gained registered charitable status and has since raised several millions of pounds to support the organisation's global medical programmes.
- In June 2000, BBC1 aired a documentary entitled "The Facemakers" about Operation Smile’s work. The growing interest by donors and medics prompted the foundation of Operation Smile UK in 2001.
- 1996 – Operation Smile became a recipient of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize – an accolade awarded to a not-for-profit organisation doing extraordinary work to alleviate human suffering.
- Founded in 1982 with a first project to the Philippines, today, Operation Smile works in over 60 countries across Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean.
