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Life Update & Operation Smile

02/11/13 | New Year's Resolutions

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone has had a great weekend whether sledding in the aftermath of Hurricane Blizzard Nemo, planning for Valentine’s day, or spending a relaxing weekend with friends and family – I did a bit of all three!  The snow that blanketed Manhattan was absolutely gorgeous and I love this photo I took on my walk to the gym on Saturday.  I have been so excited to watch the amazing trends coming out of New York City’s Fashion Week (um, yay) and I was so excited to read this wonderful article Adriana wrote about me.

  After a month at my new job I am really liking it and it is so different but one of the only things is that I do not have a lot of time to actually volunteer to help those in need.  As I have been keeping a tighter budget since the beginning of the year I am happy to report I am about to make my first small donation to charity, one of my New Year’s Resolutions.

 

When looking for a charity to donate to their are a few things I identify: (1) What the cause is and what  my money goes towards (2) How much of my donation goes to help those in need (3) What’s the catch? After a few weeks of researching I am ready to make my first donation to Operation Smile.   I am sharing this because I was really taken by their mission and all of the good they are doing. You have probably heard of this affliction but in case you have not here is a VERY BRIEF summary:

Cleft lip and/or palate occurs in approximately 1 per 500-700 births, the ratio varying considerably across  geographic areas or ethnic groupings.  A cleft is an opening in the lip, the roof of the mouth or the soft tissue in the back of the mouth. It occurs when the two sides of a palate do not join together, resulting in an opening in the roof of the mouth and 1 in 10 children born with a cleft palette will die before their first birthday and many are abandoned by their parents.

Okay, that was all I needed in order to get my hooked on this cause.  With their financial statements and annual reports (here) very public on the Internet this was a great facet of the program for me because you can see exactly where the money goes.   I was really impressed with the site, press, and testimonials.  The company has surgeons who volunteer to perform free surgeries and to teach other doctor’s how to do the procedure which is how the cost per surgery is only $240. It is amazing that this amount of money, the same as a mid-level handbag, and 45 minutes can make such a difference in a child’s life.  Unfortunately, I am not in the position to donate the cost of a full surgery right now but reading this blurb on their website, “The Argyros Family Foundation knows how heart-breaking — how life-threatening — cleft lip and cleft palate are, and how urgently these children need surgery to fix their broken smiles. They’ve pledged $1 million, and they’ve challenged supporters like you to match it.”  made me feel like my donation really will make a difference! 

NOTE:  This company did contact me and brought the great cause to my attention again (I had originally learned about it through The Apprentice).  In gratitude for sharing this cause I am going to receive $25 from the company which I am VERY excited to combine with my donation and give to this great cause. 

One other great thing about the company is that you do not have to donate money in the way I am doing – , I love that through this charity you can donate by purchasing a book through their partner Campus Book Rentals and they automatically donate for you! If you are like me and no longer a student this is still important because they with Operation Smile and are donating over 1,000 life saving cleft lip surgeries this year to children in need!  Yay, I love when companies do something for good!  Looking back on my four years at university, I really should have rented more text books, or when I bought them done something like Rent Back where you rent them to other students and actually MAKE money on textbooks.  A ton of work? Yes. Worth it? I should think so!

Do you give to charity?  What is your criteria?
Did you know about Operation Smile before my write up? 

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Comments

  1. Annie says

    February 13, 2013 at 10:07 pm

    I was involved with Operation Smile a little in high school. Great organization!

    http://thecoyotethistle.com

  2. Diana Marks says

    February 13, 2013 at 3:25 am

    Thanks for sharing with us about this charity!

    LA By Diana Live Magazine

  3. Jessica says

    February 12, 2013 at 6:26 am

    This is such a sweet post!!

    The Fashion Heels
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  4. Richelle Lynn Garn says

    February 12, 2013 at 1:11 am

    Kelly, thank you for this post. I can tell that your heart is so full of love and compassion for others and that makes me love you even more.

  5. Elisabeth @ Bella says

    February 11, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    i’d heard about it but definitely learned more reading this. we had a filipino baby in a family we were close to born with something like this…luckily she was able to get treatment.

    thanks for sharing this kelly!

    love,
    elisabeth
    http://www.bellatheblog.com

  6. Brady and Jamie Sefcik says

    February 11, 2013 at 6:35 pm

    Such a great cause and foundation. You’re very sweet!

  7. Tatiana Biggi says

    February 11, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Such a great foundation!!
    Kiss

    Win a bijoux from Les Jumelles! Giveaway open worldwide
    Tati loves pearls facebook page

  8. Bex Doctor says

    February 11, 2013 at 3:11 pm

    That is so incredible of you for joining this charity. God bless your heart.

    xoxo

    My Blog
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  9. Jamie says

    February 11, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    what a great organization!! xo
    Jamie
    http://www.candystilettos.com

  10. Jill J @ Classy with a Kick says

    February 11, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Such a great cause. I have a friend who travels with her dad who assists with surgeries around the world! 🙂

    Jill
    Classy
    with a Kick

  11. McKenna Ryan says

    February 11, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    What a great opportunity! I love volunteering for charities. This is a wonderful post and I simply love your blog. xx. McKenna Lou
    http://www.lynnandlou.com
    p.s. Hop on over to Lynn and Lou to win a $50 gift card!!

  12. Hena Tayeb says

    February 11, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    A great cause. Good to hear you have more time to volunteer.

  13. Rachel says

    February 11, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    I volunteered a lot in high school and loved it, but I just don’t have the time or money anymore. But even the smallest gestures can help- and blogging about a cause is the first step!

  14. Alyssa Longobucco says

    February 11, 2013 at 11:22 am

    This is such a sweet post–I’m definitely making an effort to volunteer more, but I have the same problem as you: not a lot of time!

    Alyssa
    The Glossy Life

  15. s says

    February 11, 2013 at 11:02 am

    i love this post! love your heart. xO!
    http://www.thehautecookie.com

  16. Chloe Polo says

    February 11, 2013 at 10:55 am

    Aww this is a lovely post. Defo put everything into perspective and to see their beautiful smiles <3

    http://www.candyliquor.co.uk
    UK High Street Fashion & Style
    xoxo

  17. Lian says

    February 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

    i know about Operation Smile before this post and yes… i give a charity, is is so important! nice idea for post
    anyway, have a great day kelly!
    ♥
    http://herlifeinstyle.blogspot.co.il/

  18. Erin says

    February 11, 2013 at 9:10 am

    Haha see this is the problem with naming snowstorms…people will start calling them hurricanes just like you did. Too funny! And yay for fashion week 🙂 If only I could get myself a ticket.

  19. Edita says

    February 11, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Charity – what a sensitive subject :S I do give to charity, often clothes that I wear no more go to a local charity shop, sometimes I contribute in other ways… I want to think that the money/effort goes to where i intend it to, but that’s not always the case, very sadly 🙁

    Edita
    http://www.pret-a-reporter.co.uk

  20. Coline Chavaroche says

    February 11, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Nice blog 🙂
    Following on fb and twitter

    http://Fashioneiric.blogspot.com

    Coline !

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

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