The bequest left to the Operation Smile Foundation of Mexico by Jack Hammet of Ajijic when he passed several weeks ago has altered the direction of collecting funds to operate the life-changing organization.
“In the United States and many other countries, Operation Smile launches huge mail campaigns very successfully,” says Lakeside resident Ruben Pettersson, the vice president of Operation Smile Mexico. “But here in Mexico where the mail system isn’t as strong, we have sought and received help from several corporations. Recently, however, more individuals are contacting us to let us know that they would like to remember our work in their wills.”
One woman who had planned to leave the foundation a large sum of money passed away before the paperwork could be completed. “Admittedly it takes some organization to make these bequests legal and possible,” says Petterson. But being well organized isn’t foreign to the foundation that utilizes the services of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 80 countries to change the lives of thousands of kids who suffer from cleft lip and/or cleft palate. The condition of either is not just unsightly and isolating to the youngster, but is also debilitating, making eating and speaking, in many cases very difficult. About one child in every 500 to 800 is born with the defect and these children are often shunned or teased by their peers.
Operation Smile completed a mission in Guadalajara two weeks ago. Volunteers from the United States, Italy and Mexico put smiles on the faces of more than 90 children from 12 states in Mexico (and the mother of one of them who was afflicted with the same defect). The teams operated at the Instituto Jaliscience Cirugia Reconstructiva in Guadalajara. These top-notch medical volunteers pledge two weeks each year to the Operation Smile organization that pays for their transportation to the mission and room and board. The organization also pays for consumable medical supplies and sometimes rent on the facilities used for the mission.
All of the information one might need before making a decision to leave something behind for Operation Smile can be found on www.operationsmile.org or www.operationsmile.org.mx. The foundation makes a point of keeping all bookkeeping completely transparent so donors have access to information about where the money comes from and to where it goes. Contact Ruben Pettersson at (376) 766-1215 for any more information.