Tag Archives: Smile Train

#DifferenceMakers Susannah Schaefer – Chief SmileMaker at Smile Train

Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Smile Train

Susannah Schaefer is Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer of Smile Train, an international organization focused on empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft lip and/or palate surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.

Susannah joined Smile Train in February 2013, after serving as a member of the organization’s Board for over ten years. In her role as CEO, she leads Smile Train’s vision to expand access to healthcare and increase local capacity in countries in which Smile Train helps children. During her time as CEO, Susannah led an organizational rebrand, seeded funding for hundreds of thousands of new smiles, expanded cleft surgical training and education programs throughout the world and helped to establish organizational partnerships in Haiti and Rwanda. In addition, Susannah led the team in developing Smile Train’s ground-breaking Virtual Surgery Simulator, further accelerating cleft surgical training and enhancing the organization’s “teach a man to fish” model.

Susannah came to Smile Train after almost twenty years in operational roles, bringing a vast network and past experiences to the team. Previously, Susannah served as Vice President, Director of International Marketing at CA Technologies, where she led implementation of the company’s international marketing strategies. Earlier in her career, Susannah was the Director of Marketing, Asia for CA Technologies, where she built the organization’s presence throughout the region and hosted the first regional CA World conference in China.

Susannah is a Trustee of The Smile Train UK and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the State University of New York College at Oswego.

Contact SmileTrain

Website: https://www.smiletrain.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Smiletrain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmileTrain/

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference

Smile Train – Changing the World One Smile at a Time

Leave a reply

Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

Many children with untreated clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft treatment is safe, and the impact on the child is immediate.

Seeing the flaws in mission-based models, Smile Train was the first cleft-focused organization with a model of true sustainability – providing training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 90+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.

And through our sustainable “teach a man to fish” model, Smile Train is not only raising the standard of cleft care and safety – we’re setting it. The support we provide has elevated the standards of care for cleft patients at our partner hospitals around the world, ultimately elevating the standards of care for all patients.

As a result of our efficiency, and with the help of our donors and partners, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 1.5+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.

Contact Smile Train

Website: https://www.smiletrain.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Smiletrain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmileTrain/

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference

Day 2997: 4 Organizations worth Supporting this #GivingTuesday

Leave a reply

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” — Booker T. Washington

It’s 12: 05 PM on day 2997 of my journey towards independence and I managed to send time outside, pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Today is Giving Tuesday and if you plan to give I put together a list of organizations I highly recommend you support.

4 Organizations Worth Supporting

Smile Train – an organization providing free Cleft Lip and Palate repair surgeries to people in 87 countries around the world
MiracleFeet – an organization providing free Clubfoot treatment to people in 25 countries around the world
Breath of Life – a place of safety for orphaned and abandoned babies here in East London, South Africa that also provides counselling for women in crisis
Miss Earth South Africa – a leadership programme based in Johannesburg, South Africa that aims to empower women and children to be at the forefront of fighting climate change

Day 2945: #WorldSmileDay and my Smile Train family

Leave a reply

“Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.” – Connie Stevens

It’s 1 : 30 PM on day 2945 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray read a Bible verse and do some work

Today is World Smile Day and in this moment I think of my Smile Train family who work every day to correct clefts worldwide. A cleft lip is a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip. Clefts are correctable in 45 minutes and surgery costs $250. If you wish to make a difference this World Smile Day donate to Smile Train https://www.smiletrain.org

Day 2880: A Huge Shoutout to my Smile Train Family

1 Reply

“There’s nothing more confirming in your life than looking in front of you and seeing some really amazing people who you care a lot about who care a lot about you.” – Kathleen Edwards

It’s 12 : 23 PM on day 2880 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend some time outside and do some work.

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting and spending the day with Head of Smile Train Africa Dr. Esther Nyambura and her colleague Yonna I was amazed that people would travel 2 hours by plane just to see me and to express their gratitude I live in hope that I was worth it and am so grateful to have met and spent time with them (i’ve seen a lot of things in my 8 years of working with all sorts of NPOs but never before have I heard of or seen people from said NPOs visiting supporters and bringing tokens of appreciation it’s really the most awesome thing ever [the card really touched my heart it was signed by all the Smile Train staff based in New York]]. A HUGE THANKS to CEO of Smile Train Susannah Schaefer and her whole team for going above and beyond to make me feel appreciated I truly feel your genuine appreciation .

Day 2310: 25 Smiles Campaign Over. Thank you all

2 Replies

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca

It’s 10: 45 AM on day 2310 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Proverbs 16 : 9 and end my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday aunty and uncle donated $62 and Samantha And Kev donated $250 which helped end the campaign on a high note with $10 317.04 [enough for 41 smiles] (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign ).

Today marks the end of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train ninety-seven people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $10 317.04 which is awesome considering initially I only aimed to raise $6 250 (enough to sponsor 25 cleft surgeries) i’m so so thankful to everyone who has supported this campaign and me. Thank you Sneha Abraham, Frank Burns, Gaynor Young and Barbara Royce, Justine Perry, Madalyn Sklar, Catherine Cook, @Maewmb, David Boutin, Sarah Britten, Jim Mahar, Nancy, Rema aunty, Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio, Bev Bern, Julie and Don Faughnan, Amit Abraham, Benjamin and Amelia, Athira Issac, Liesel, Priyachechi, Joubert Botha, LA Janssens, Anatoli, Arun Babu, Stan Faryna, My Paper Parties, Happy Odd Girl, Adam Butler, Deepuchachen, Tinuchachechi and Jerynchachen, Duane, My Paper Parities 2, Joyce Childers, Jacqui Mackway -Wilson of Go Social SA, Kevin B (on behalf of Lesley), Meg Guegan, Susanchechi, Reshma Jacob, uncle Abraham Matthew, Debbie McMannis, Anish Krishnankutty, Ellyn Harris, Zak Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, Joseph John, Reshma Ravi, Wayne Mansfield, Jinuchachen, Samuel Kochukanayathil, Laura, Tim Fargo, author of Alphabet Success – Keeping it Simple. My Secrets to Success and founder of Social Jukebox, Shari Mason, Benjin Thomas, Bruce Sallan, Nithin Yohannan, Juliana Mullan, Fireman Max, Yusuf Abramjee, Nisha Kotecha, Deepthi Abraham, Jiya, Seema, Anush Alex, Daleen Bernard, Teresa Williams, Stacey Chassoulas, Maddie, Nay731, MJ Merk, Eapen family, Preethachechi and Tonychachen, Linda Mastroianni, Dr. Ann Abraham, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour , Eapen family, Bithun Babu, Sherilchechi, Tony Seifart, Benedict Joson, Ashwell Gleason, Jacqui Cooks, uncle and aunty. Samantha and Kev and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you uncle Abraham Matthew, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Susannah Schaefer, Sue-Ann Allen, Caryn Gootkin, Britt Michaelian, Lakshmi Pillai, Akhil Tomy, Thara, Anjali, Sherin, Pamela Eapen, Good News Shared, ViralFlash, GoodThingsGuy, 52 Feminists, Smart ZAR Girls, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Catherine Constantinides, Nicolette Human, Mireesha Narsai, Nk Obi, Kerri Stein, Beverly, Andrea, Kalay Maistry and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign.

Day 2279: 25 Smiles Campaign Eleven Months Later

Leave a reply

A smile is priceless – that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11 : 50 AM on day 2279 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Titus 2:11 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $9 186.04 only $3 313.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Today marks the eleven month anniversary of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train so far ninety people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $9 186.04 I am so grateful. Thank you Sneha Abraham, Frank Burns, Gaynor Young and Barbara Royce, Justine Perry, Madalyn Sklar, Catherine Cook, @Maewmb, David Boutin, Sarah Britten, Jim Mahar, Nancy, Rema aunty, Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio, Bev Bern, Julie and Don Faughnan, Amit Abraham, Benjamin and Amelia, Athira Issac, Liesel, Priyachechi, Joubert Botha, LA Janssens, Anatoli, Arun Babu, Stan Faryna, My Paper Parties, Happy Odd Girl, Adam Butler, Deepuchachen, Tinuchachechi and Jerynchachen, Duane, My Paper Parities 2, Joyce Childers, Jacqui Mackway -Wilson of Go Social SA, Kevin B (on behalf of Lesley), Meg Guegan, Susanchechi, Reshma Jacob, uncle Abraham Matthew, Debbie McMannis, Anish Krishnankutty, Ellyn Harris, Zak Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, Joseph John, Reshma Ravi, Wayne Mansfield, Jinuchachen, Samuel Kochukanayathil, Laura, Tim Fargo, author of Alphabet Success – Keeping it Simple. My Secrets to Success and founder of Social Jukebox, Shari Mason, Benjin Thomas, Bruce Sallan, Nithin Yohannan, Juliana Mullan, Fireman Max, Yusuf Abramjee, Nisha Kotecha, Deepthi Abraham, Jiya, Seema, Anush Alex, Daleen Bernard, Teresa Williams, Stacey Chassoulas, Maddie, Nay731, MJ Merk, Eapen family, Preethachechi and Tonychachen, Linda Mastroianni, Dr. Ann Abraham, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour , Bithun Babu, Sherilchechi and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you uncle Abraham Matthew, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Susannah Schaefer, Sue-Ann Allen, Caryn Gootkin, Britt Michaelian, Lakshmi Pillai, Akhil Tomy, Thara, Anjali, Sherin, Pamela Eapen, Good News Shared, ViralFlash, GoodThingsGuy, 52 Feminists, Smart ZAR Girls, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Minister Derek Hanekom, Catherine Constantinides, Nicolette Human, Mireesha Narsai, Nk Obi, Kerri Stein, Beverly, Andrea, Kalay Maistry and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign. ‏

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]

Day 2249: 25 Smiles Campaign Ten Months Later

Leave a reply

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness” – William Arthur Ward.

It’s 12 : 00 PM on day 2249 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Titus 2:11 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $8 961.04 only $3 538.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Today marks the ten month anniversary of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train so far eighty-seven people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $8 961.04 I am so grateful. Thank you Sneha Abraham, Frank Burns, Gaynor Young and Barbara Royce, Justine Perry, Madalyn Sklar, Catherine Cook, @Maewmb, David Boutin, Sarah Britten, Jim Mahar, Nancy, Rema aunty, Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio, Bev Bern, Julie and Don Faughnan, Amit Abraham, Benjamin and Amelia, Athira Issac, Liesel, Priyachechi, Joubert Botha, LA Janssens, Anatoli, Arun Babu, Stan Faryna, My Paper Parties, Happy Odd Girl, Adam Butler, Deepuchachen, Tinuchachechi and Jerynchachen, Duane, My Paper Parities 2, Joyce Childers, Jacqui Mackway -Wilson of Go Social SA, Kevin B (on behalf of Lesley), Meg Guegan, Susanchechi, Reshma Jacob, uncle Abraham Matthew, Debbie McMannis, Anish Krishnankutty, Ellyn Harris, Zak Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, Joseph John, Reshma Ravi, Wayne Mansfield, Jinuchachen, Samuel Kochukanayathil, Laura, Tim Fargo, author of Alphabet Success – Keeping it Simple. My Secrets to Success and founder of Social Jukebox, Shari Mason, Benjin Thomas, Bruce Sallan, Nithin Yohannan, Juliana Mullan, Fireman Max, Yusuf Abramjee, Nisha Kotecha, Deepthi Abraham, Jiya, Seema, Anush Alex, Daleen Bernard, Teresa Williams, Stacey Chassoulas, Maddie, Nay731, MJ Merk, Eapen family, Preethachechi and Tonychachen, Linda Mastroianni, Dr. Ann Abraham and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you uncle Abraham Matthew, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Susannah Schaefer, Sue-Ann Allen, Caryn Gootkin, Britt Michaelian, Lakshmi Pillai, Akhil Tomy, Thara, Anjali, Sherin, Pamela Eapen, Good News Shared, ViralFlash, GoodThingsGuy, 52 Feminists, Smart ZAR Girls, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Minister Derek Hanekom, Catherine Constantinides, Nicolette Human, Mireesha Narsai, Nk Obi, Kerri Stein, Beverly, Andrea and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign. ‏

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]

Day 2234: “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara”

Leave a reply

We die a little each time we stay silent about things that matter – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 10 : 26 AM on day 2234 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read 1 Peter 2: 9, learn one new thing – The English word alphabet came into Middle English from the Late Latin word alphabetum, which in turn originated in the Greek ἀλφάβητος (alphabētos), from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $8 136.04 only $4 363.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Yesterday I posted a video titled “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara” it’s basically an update on 25 Smiles (for my YouTube subscribers) and an introduction to the Western Sahara. Watch “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara” below:

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]

Day 2218: 25 Smiles Campaign Nine Months Later

Leave a reply

“Always wear a smile because you never know who is watching” – Gracie Gold.

It’s 10 : 26 AM on day 2218 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read 1 Peter 4:10 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday the Eapen family donated $36.04 (thanks SO MUCH aunty, uncle, Pam and Leslie) which brings the total raised to $8 011.04 only $4 488.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Today marks the nine month anniversary of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train so far eighty-four people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $8 011.04 I am so humbled and thankful. Thank you Sneha Abraham, Frank Burns, Gaynor Young and Barbara Royce, Justine Perry, Madalyn Sklar, Catherine Cook, @Maewmb, David Boutin, Sarah Britten, Jim Mahar, Nancy, Rema aunty, Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio, Bev Bern, Julie and Don Faughnan, Amit Abraham, Benjamin and Amelia, Athira Issac, Liesel, Priyachechi, Joubert Botha, LA Janssens, Anatoli, Arun Babu, Stan Faryna, My Paper Parties, Happy Odd Girl, Adam Butler, Deepuchachen, Tinuchachechi and Jerynchachen, Duane, My Paper Parities 2, Joyce Childers, Jacqui Mackway -Wilson of Go Social SA, Kevin B (on behalf of Lesley), Meg Guegan, Susanchechi, Reshma Jacob, uncle Abraham Matthew, Debbie McMannis, Anish Krishnankutty, Ellyn Harris, Zak Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, Joseph John, Reshma Ravi, Wayne Mansfield, Jinuchachen, Samuel Kochukanayathil, Laura, Tim Fargo, author of Alphabet Success – Keeping it Simple. My Secrets to Success and founder of Social Jukebox, Shari Mason, Benjin Thomas, Bruce Sallan, Nithin Yohannan, Juliana Mullan, Fireman Max, Yusuf Abramjee, Nisha Kotecha, Deepthi Abraham, Jiya, Seema, Anush Alex, Daleen Bernard, Teresa Williams, Stacey Chassoulas, Maddie, Nay731, MJ Merk, Eapen family and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you uncle Abraham Matthew, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Susannah Schaefer, Sue-Ann Allen, Caryn Gootkin, Britt Michaelian, Lakshmi Pillai, Akhil Tomy, Thara, Anjali, Sherin, Pamela Eapen, Good News Shared, ViralFlash, GoodThingsGuy, 52 Feminists, Smart ZAR Girls, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Minister Derek Hanekom, Catherine Constantinides, Nicolette Human, Mireesha Narsai, Nk Obi, Kerri Stein, Beverly, Andrea and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign. ‏

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]