Smile Train and Glad Philippines Launch Third Annual #GladToGiveSmiles Campaign

MANILA - December 7, 2018 - Smile Train, the world's leading cleft charity, has partnered with food storage maker Glad Philippines for the third year in a row to help spread smiles and love this Christmas season.

"Every year we are Glad-To-Give back to Smile Train as we believe we can bring more smiles to children, families, our consumers and partners for the holiday season," said Mr. Paulo Lao, Sales and Marketing Director for Southeast Asia of the Clorox Company, which owns Glad. "Our continuing partnership with Smile Train is a product of the company's profound commitment to helping others."

The event was held at Sarsa Kitchen + Bar BGC where i first met Ms Kimmy of Smile Train. She invited me to sit next to her and join them for a wonderful dinner. 

Ms. Kimmy together with Glad Kitchen discussed about there campaign and some of the press interviewed her. 

Then after the dinner we transfered to Mercato Centrale for a cooking demo with Celebrity Mom Dimples Romana using Glad Kitchen products. The Glad-To-Give campaign is Glad's social response to encourage its patrons to perform acts of kindness. Under the partnership with Smile Train, the #GladToGiveSmiles program allows proceeds from the purchase of Glad food wraps, zipper bags, and storage containers from booths in Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City on December 7-8  and Glorietta on December 13-14 to benefit Smile Train's cleft programs.

"We are grateful that we have long-term partners like Glad, who value corporate social responsibility and partnerships that will benefit those in need," said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train's Area Director for the South East Asia. "This initiative gives more cleft patients another reason to smile and teaches them the value of giving, especially for the holidays."

More than 20,000 new babies with clefts are born every year around the globe. Without access to proper treatment, these babies often have difficulty eating, breathing, speaking, and ultimately thriving. Smile Train's sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training and resources to provide 100%-free, quality, and safe cleft care to children in need in their own communities.

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org  To learn more about Smile Train's programs in the Philippines, follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @smiletrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

About Glad Philippines

Glad is the leading brand when it comes to food packaging safety. We are at the forefront of every celebration because we know that people who love good food understand the importance of food safety and proper handling. Our flagship products consist of quality foil, wraps, holiday trays and containers. Here in the Philippines, Glad products are available in leading supermarkets - SM, Rustans, Unimart, Lnadmark, Robinsons, and Puregold.

About Smile Train

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's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive.

I'm so glad that i got to witness this kind of event. Thank you again for having me! 

#GladGetTogethers

#GladFeasts

#SmileTrainPh

#GladKitchen

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Seda Vertis North Tree Lighting Ceremony

Manila- November 16, 2018 - For the second year in a row, Smile Train, the world's leading cleft charity will partner with Seda Hotels to bring forever smiles to children with clefts this Christmas season. All Seda properties will be participating and selling Smile Train ornaments and Christmas cards at their locations to benefit the charity, including the newly opened Seda Ayala Center Cebu and Seda Lio in El Nido, Palawan.

"During the first year of our partnership, the Seda community raised enough funds to help support more than 30 surgeries. We are positive that we will be able to help more children this year," said Mr. Brett Hickey, Group General Manager of Seda Hotels. 'As Seda continues to engage in a number of CSR activities, we would like to give our guests and employees the opportunity to help change the lives of many Filipino children with clefts especially during the holiday season."

Seda Vertis North Tree Lighting Event

To mark the second year of the partnership, Seda Vertis North hosted a tree lighting event and art exhibit benefitting Smile Train. Individuals brought their family and friends to witness the beautiful lights filling the scene. The experience was made even better with the sweet sound of Christmas carols that filled the air as these were sung by a group of Smile Train's cleft patients.

An art exhibit was presented at the Seda Vertis North lobby which will extend until December 9. All of the artwork is up for sale and will benefit Smile Train. The artists include: Sinag De Leon, a UP Film Institute artist who specializes in making art out of paper cut-outs; Ivy Lim, a full-time artist with a background in fine arts who is celebrated locally and internationally for designs and packaging of fast-moving consumer goods; Roberto Sanchez, a DJ and entrepreneur by trade, but creatively a self-taught artist; Jirawat Pramphet, a Thai artist with shows in Cambodia, the Philippines and Bangkok; and Arthit Pansuay, an award-winning Thai artist whose work is currently feautured in an exhibit in London.

"Smile Train is grateful to be partnering with Seda Hotels again this year and looking forward to making an even bigger splash", said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train's Area Director for South East Asia. "Through their acts of kindness, more smiles from children all over the Philippines will surely shine brighter."

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org Follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

About Seda Vertis North
Awarded with a five-star rating by the Department of Tourism, Seda Vertis North is largest premier hotel in the upcoming Central Business District of Quezon City that offers a complete experience of genuine Filipino hospitality in a modern and refined setting, catering to the discerning taste of business and leisure guests. The hotel, located just a few steps from Ayala Malls Vertis North and Trinoma, features 438 guest rooms, 5 meeting rooms, a Grand ballroom, 3 restaurants including the all-day International dining restaurant, Misto, the roofdeck bar, Straight-Up, and an authenticChinese restarant; a fully-equipped gym and a spa and wellness sanctuary.

About Smile Train
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's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.

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Happy Holidays!

Megan Young Shares Smiles with Smile Train’s Patients

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, continues to spread smiles one week
after World Smile Day® this year through a storytelling event with
Smile Train Philippines’ Ambassador Megan Young at partner hospital,

Philippine Band of Mercy. The actress and beauty queen visited Smile Train’s
patients at the Philippine Band of Mercy to share the story of Simon, a bright,
red cardinal, hatched from his shell with a big gap in his beak. Smile with
Simon is a story of friendship, love, acceptance, and kindness written by one of
Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council members and active supporter of
the organization, Patricia Simon, a registered nurse who was also born with
a cleft lip and palate. Having had cleft surgeries herself, Patricia has dedicated
her life to advocating for those born with clefts all over the world.
“The story is one of love and acceptance and I am grateful to
Smile Train for giving me the opportunity to share this message with the children.

Similarly, by reading stories such as Smile with Simon to children with
birth differences, I hope to boost their confidence and treasure their individuality
when dealing with the world,” said Megan Young,
Actress and Smile Train Philippines’ Ambassador.
“It is always a pleasure to work with Smile Train.
You can see the impact of their work
when you meet the children they have helped.”
“For Smile Train, creating smiles and inspiring others to do acts
of kindness should happen every day,”
said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Area Director for Southeast Asia.
“We are grateful to have Megan come and spend time with
the children and our local medical partners
as we believe that she can continue to raise awareness and
inspire others to spread smiles as well.”
For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to
make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org.
Follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh,
and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

###

About Smile Train
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’s lives,
including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive.
To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach
means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.

Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council (CCAC)

The CCAC is an important part of the Smile Train community.
Its members help advance the organization's marketing initiatives
and communication strategies by serving in an advisory role.

Happy Times!

Smile Train and BEYOND Yoga Celebrate their Second Annual Yoga for Smiles Classes

Yoga for Smiles is back for the second year in a row to help raise awareness and funds for Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, and the many children they help around the world and in the Philippines. BEYOND Yoga, Manila’s premiere yoga and fitness studio, will host a series of classes at five of their studios to encourage participants to truly live the yoga philosophy of being of service to others.

Launched in August 2017, Yoga for Smiles, invites the public to genuinely practice the philosophy of seva, whichencourages one to serve others, BEYOND Yoga extends the invitation even to those who do not practice yoga. 

“BEYOND Yoga is excited to collaborate with Smile Train again this year,” said Benedict Bernabe, Head of Operations for BEYOND Yoga. “Smile Train continues to inspire others with their commitment to helping give more children their forever smiles, and we look forward to using our platformwithin the yoga community.”

Every Saturday during the month of October and one in November, BEYOND Yoga will host a Yoga for Smiles classat their studios in Serendra, Rockwell, Greenhills, Quezon City and Alabang. 

“We are grateful to partner with BEYOND Yoga for the second year in a row,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Area Director for Southeast Asia.  “It is exciting to see so many people and businesses wanting to get involved with our cause and help raise awareness for children born with clefts in the Philippines.”

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. Follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

About Smile Train
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’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.

About Beyond Yoga

Beyond Yoga is a leading yoga studio in the Philippines with five branches including Quezon City, Alabang, Greenhills, Rockwell, and Serendra. At Beyond, we believe that yoga is a transformational practice and that everyone should be able to experience its effects. Regardless of age, gender, fitness level, or range of flexibility, there is a yoga class that suits you. We offer a wide range of yoga styles including Vinyasa, Power Yoga, Ashtanga, Rocket Yoga, and Yin Yoga. And we complement this with other fitness systems, like Zumba® and AntiGravity®. Our internationally certified instructors will make sure that you will have an enjoyable experience in a safe and supportive environment. For schedules and rates, please visit igobeyondyoga.com. For more information about Beyond, please contact inquire@igobeyondyoga.com.