Operation Smile is a program founded in 1982 by Dr. William P. McGee Jr. who travelled to the Philippines to repair children’s cleft lips and palettes. Realizing that so many families needed operations urgently, he and his wife raised funds and assembled a team of volunteer doctors where they led their own medical mission to the country.
Since then, Operation Smile has grown to be a big medical charity with different branches across the globe. They’ve provided free operations for children in need while donating various medical equipment, supplies, and support through their worldwide cleft centers.
In 2023, Pacific Union teamed up with Operation Smile for PUIC’s 1st Golf Invitational where the event’s proceeds went towards the program. It was a major success and managed to raise a huge sum of funds which helped the children in need of surgery. Afterwards, Operation Smile held a free operation on November 8 – 10, 2023 at the Bicol Medical Center.