OUR FOUNDING STORY
More than 25 years ago, a small group of surgeons, nurses, and volunteers from AdventHealth in Central Florida had a simple but powerful conviction: that every child deserves a chance to smile.
For over two decades, this mission lived within the AdventHealth Foundation. Then, in 2026, the program took a bold step forward. Sharing Smiles International launched as its own independent organization built to carry this legacy into its next chapter, with the agility to grow, the governance to sustain, and the mission that has always been at its heart.
The structure changed, but the work remains the same: giving children the gift of a smile that lasts a lifetime.
Sharing Smiles Inernational fills gaps in care through volunteer medical missions while building the capacity of public systems to provide comprehensive cleft and dental care. Working closely with partners, we do this by:
OUR MODEL
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Bringingtogether international, world-class medical teams to offer high-quality care
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Investing in advanced training of local surgeons and health care interested and willing to offer cleft care year-round
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Identifying gaps in comprehensive care and work closely with hospitals to fills those gaps, including speech therapy, orthodontics, nutrition, and psycho-social support
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Supporting early identification of cleft patients and timely care throughout their childhoods