{"id":51702,"date":"2023-11-15T00:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T00:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/?p=51702"},"modified":"2025-07-11T03:20:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T03:20:25","slug":"brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the world\u2019s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train has supported 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate in the last two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every 3 minutes, in any part of the world, a baby is born with a cleft. Many of them grow up without their cleft conditions being treated, leading to difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Journey to a New Smile\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UXd77dCoU9Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognizing that clefts are a serious medical condition affecting the lives of millions of people globally, Smile Train made it a commitment to make safe, effective, and lifesaving cleft treatment always available to those who need it most. Founded in 1999, Smile Train has been working with local medical professionals and local hospitals to ensure cleft treatment may be provided throughout the year. This sustainable model of building stronger and more resilient healthcare systems, with patients able to access treatment year-round. Additionally, by investing in local healthcare workers and centers and providing them with the latest techniques, technologies, and equipment, Smile Train helps create a sustainable culture of medical excellence in underserved countries around the world, with benefits that go far beyond cleft care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>Over the years, Smile Train has worked toward providing comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos at zero cost \u2013 from surgery to post-surgery care, and other cleft treatment such as speech therapy, orthodontics, and even breast-feeding support for mothers of children with cleft.<\/p><cite><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\"><strong>Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano<\/strong>, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia<\/mark><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:-15px;margin-bottom:30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smiletrain.ph\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51716\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.229299363057325;width:156px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo.png 700w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo-150x67.png 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo-600x269.png 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-logo-696x312.png 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now the world\u2019s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train\u2019s sustainable model has resulted in a network of more than 2,100 partner medical professionals in 70+ countries delivering safe, reliable care to 1.5 million patients and counting \u2014 more than every other cleft organization combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Serving the Filipino cleft community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2001, Smile Train began to serve cleft-affected individuals in the Philippines, where it is estimated that&nbsp;5,000 babies are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both every year. Knowing that cleft lip and palate requires a range of long-term comprehensive cleft care interventions, Smile Train wanted to make sure that Filipino patients with clefts are able to access various cleft-related treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"51708\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-696x522.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-1392x1044.jpg 1392w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-1068x801.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-1120x840.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events1.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"749\" data-id=\"51719\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-600x449.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-696x521.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-561x420.jpg 561w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Corporate-events2-1-160x120.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Corporate partners and volunteers join Smile Train in various activities for the cleft community. | All photos: Smile Train<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As in Smile Train\u2019s programs across the globe, the success of its sustainable model is anchored on partnerships with local medical professionals and hospitals in the Philippines, which has helped to improve access to safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with a cleft lip and\/or palate. To date, Smile Train in the Philippines has:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Conducted 75,000+ Surgeries since 2001<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>50+ Partner Hospitals and Organizations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least 10 Partners Providing Cleft Palate Speech Services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least 6 Partners Providing Cleft Orthodontic Services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"51712\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-696x928.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera-630x840.jpg 630w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Celebrity-ambassador_Marian-Rivera.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Local celebrities like Marian Rivera conduct hospital visits to meet patients as well as use their platforms to build greater awareness about clefts and its challenges.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"51707\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-1392x928.jpg 1392w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health-1260x840.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-Art-Impact-for-Health.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Just this year, Smile Train celebrated supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines by hosting the Art Impact for Health event, which included&nbsp;an art workshop where young patients shared their creativity in painting masks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comprehensive Cleft Care <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cleft treatment is not a one-off process or a series of surgeries. It often requires a holistic approach including nutritional support, dental and orthodontic care, psychosocial support, and speech therapy, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smile Train\u2019s comprehensive cleft care programs include nutritional support, orthodontic care, psychosocial support, and speech therapy, with pilot programs in dental care and ENT services. Smile Train\u2019s goal is for individuals born with a cleft to receive optimum care, enabling them to live fuller and healthier lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>In the last two years, Smile Train has celebrated many milestones in the Philippines that helped advance our local expertise in treating cleft and then eventually expanding by launching more comprehensive cleft care centers in farther communities.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Philippines, Smile Train has established comprehensive cleft care centers in partnership with partners Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital, Philippine Band of Mercy, Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, San Fernandino Hospital in Pampanga, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation in ARC Hospital in Cebu, and Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao. Smile Train\u2019s Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines was also launched this year in partnership with Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-1024x837.jpg\" class=\"td-modal-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"837\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-1024x837.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51715\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-1024x837.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-768x628.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-150x123.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-600x491.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-696x569.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-1068x873.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-514x420.jpg 514w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners-1027x840.jpg 1027w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-New-partners.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Smile Train now has over 50+ partners in the Philippines, all helping to ensure accessibility of comprehensive cleft care treatment across the country.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver the years, Smile Train has worked toward providing comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos at zero cost \u2013 from surgery to post-surgery care, and other cleft treatment such as speech therapy, orthodontics, and even breast-feeding support for mothers of children with cleft.,\u201d said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-1024x619.jpg\" class=\"td-modal-image\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-1024x619.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51709\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-768x464.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-150x91.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-600x363.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-696x421.jpg 696w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-1068x646.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower-695x420.jpg 695w, https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-teamempower.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many Filipino celebrities and sports enthusiasts have joined Smile Train\u2019s Team Empower, raising funds as they participate in global events such as the New York Marathon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn the last two years, Smile Train has celebrated many milestones in the Philippines that helped advance our local expertise in treating cleft and then eventually expanding by launching more comprehensive cleft care centers in farther communities. By investing in local healthcare professionals and hospitals, we can reach more patients and provide safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with cleft lip and\/or palate,\u201d added Flaviano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">For more information about Smile Train\u2019s global efforts or to donate, please visit: <a href=\"http:\/\/smiletrain.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>smiletrain.org<\/strong><\/a><br>To learn more about Smile Train\u2019s local programs in the Philippines please visit: <a href=\"http:\/\/smiletrain.ph\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>smiletrain.ph<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:-5px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmileTrainPhilippines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><i class=\"fab fa-facebook-square\"><\/i><\/a>     <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/smiletrainph\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><i class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/i><\/a>     <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/smiletrainph\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><i class=\"fab fa-instagram\"><\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Smile Train<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children\u2019s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train&#8217;s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit: <a href=\"http:\/\/smiletrain.org\"><strong>smiletrain.or<\/strong><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/smiletrain.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>g<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the world\u2019s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train has supported 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate in the last two decades<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":51737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[671,292,595],"tags":[506],"class_list":{"0":"post-51702","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-671","8":"category-articles","9":"category-nonprofit","10":"tag-industrial"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the world\u2019s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train has supported 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate in the last two decades\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bridges Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/synergymediaspecialists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-15T00:00:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-11T03:20:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"SMS-Bridges\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"SMS-Bridges\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/\",\"name\":\"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-15T00:00:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-11T03:20:25+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/0f460f41b77935eeb5c3d31a4ea047b5\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":720},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/\",\"name\":\"Bridges Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/0f460f41b77935eeb5c3d31a4ea047b5\",\"name\":\"SMS-Bridges\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/828fbdff6eefa84daba0d148b56205f3122c729a938508c54f46b3debb474d04?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/828fbdff6eefa84daba0d148b56205f3122c729a938508c54f46b3debb474d04?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"SMS-Bridges\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/author\/jonas\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine","og_description":"As the world\u2019s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train has supported 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate in the last two decades","og_url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/","og_site_name":"Bridges Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/synergymediaspecialists","article_published_time":"2023-11-15T00:00:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-11T03:20:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"SMS-Bridges","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"SMS-Bridges","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/","url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/","name":"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care - Bridges Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg","datePublished":"2023-11-15T00:00:57+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-11T03:20:25+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/0f460f41b77935eeb5c3d31a4ea047b5"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2.jpg","width":1080,"height":720},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/brighter-smiles-brighter-futures-smile-trains-sustainable-approach-to-comprehensive-cleft-care\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures: Smile Train\u2019s Sustainable Approach to Comprehensive Cleft Care"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/","name":"Bridges Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/0f460f41b77935eeb5c3d31a4ea047b5","name":"SMS-Bridges","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/828fbdff6eefa84daba0d148b56205f3122c729a938508c54f46b3debb474d04?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/828fbdff6eefa84daba0d148b56205f3122c729a938508c54f46b3debb474d04?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"SMS-Bridges"},"url":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/author\/jonas\/"}]}},"author_meta":{"display_name":"SMS-Bridges","author_link":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/author\/jonas\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SmileTrain-FI2-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/category\/year\/2023\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">2023<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/category\/articles\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Articles<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/category\/industries\/nonprofit\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Nonprofit<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">2023<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Articles<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Nonprofit<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/category\/industries\/nonprofit\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Industrial<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Industrial<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 years ago","modified":"Updated 10 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on November 15, 2023","modified":"Updated on July 11, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on November 15, 2023 12:00 am","modified":"Updated on July 11, 2025 3:20 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51702"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75620,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51702\/revisions\/75620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}