Operation Smile Club raising funds for global charity

Operation Smile is a global charity dedicated to providing reconstructive surgery to children with cleft lip and cleft palate. These surgeries can completely change a child’s life by helping them to better breathe, eat, speak and interact with others. 

A child with a cleft condition is born every three minutes due to a number of factors, including genetics and family history. However, some of the causes are still unknown.

Operation Smile, alongside the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, started the International Family Study to learn more about cleft conditions and hopefully find a way to prevent future cases.

In the meantime, the charity has been successful in its goal of providing free life-changing surgery. Operation Smile has funded more than 200,000 surgeries for people in over 60 countries.

A huge reason Operation Smile is able to do this is because of donors and suborganizations around the world raise money for the cause. Utah State is a part of this through its Operation Smile Club.

Nate Nelson, who is finishing up his last classes at USU, was the president of the club for the 2022 school year. The year before marked the revival of the club on campus.

“The club has been at Utah State off and on over the past couple of decades,” Nelson wrote in a response. 

He and some other members were able to get it started again. “We created several successful service projects and fundraisers,” Nelson wrote.

According to Nelson, the impact the club is having on the world is very powerful. 

“Our club’s mission directly affects the lives of kids around the world,” he wrote.  “Imagine being a student at school and not having the ability to effectively convey your thoughts, feelings, and opinions.”

Markelle Luddington is a senior studying communication disorders and deaf education. She took on the role of president this year after being Nelson’s vice president last year, and she is planning the first club initiative of the year.

“We are having a fundraiser with Chick fil A, which we’ll be advertising in the TSC,” Luddington said. “It should be in the next couple of weeks.”

For this fundraiser, students can pick up a flier in the TSC and take it to Chick-fil-A. From there, they can order a meal with their flier, and 15% of the proceeds will go to Operation Smile.

According to Luddington, the club is very excited about this fundraiser.

“Last year we were able to raise funds for many surgeries,” Luddington said. “But we’re hoping to raise more money this year.”

Historically, students at USU have taken an essential role in the club’s success.

“I am happy to report that when we have had our fundraisers on campus, the students here were very generous and willing to help,” Nelson wrote.

For students interested in helping out the Operation Smile cause, there are multiple ways to get involved. Participating in the fundraisers, donating online and going to the weekly club activities, set to start later in the year, are options open to all students. 

“I would recommend any student of any major to come and participate,” Nelson wrote.

For both Luddington and Nelson, being a part of the club has been a valuable experience for both personal and professional reasons.

Luddington recognized the value the club has for leadership opportunities. 

“It also is a really good service opportunity if you want to get involved with a really good cause,” Luddington said.

“Of course it does look good on a resume and for graduate school applications,” Nelson wrote. “But the biggest benefit is the feeling of satisfaction that comes by knowing you are serving others.”

For more information on the club, visit their Instagram page @usu_operation_smile, or the website at operationsmile.org.