Nearly 1 in 600 infants will be born with a cleft, or opening, in the lip or palate. These openings can lead to speech, auditory, nutritional, and dental difficulties for the child. While there may be a heredity component to the formation of cleft lip and palate, the exact cause remains unknown, making prevention difficult. Multiple surgeries and long-term treatment can repair the problem, however, they can cost upwards of $100,000 and more trained doctors are needed.
Smiley Faces Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery’s Cleft Lip & Palate Clinic located at NYU Langone Medical Center. Formed in 2009 by Adam Bell, the Foundation raises awareness as well as funds to assist the Institute in providing proper treatment for all children in need of cleft lip and palate repair throughout the United States.
The cause of cleft lip and palate repair is a personal one for Adam Bell and his wife, Donna. In 2005, their youngest son, Ethan, was born with a fairly severe unilateral cleft lip and palate. The Bells were fortunate to have a pediatrician refer them to the NYU Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, the worldwide leader in cleft treatment and repair. A few years—and two successful surgeries—later, Ethan is one of the happiest little boys in the world and is always quick with a big smile. Adam and Donna owe a heartfelt debt of gratitude to the NYU Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.
Our inaugural event will take place on April 27, 2010 at Red Bull Space in SoHo. We will be showcasing portraits from children’s photo shoots with world-renowned photographers. Through their images of children who have undergone cleft repair at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, these creative icons will present their unique interpretations of what a Smiley Face means to them.
Some of the photographers participating in the 2010 event so far:
- Peter Lindbergh
- Kenneth Willardt
- Michael Clinton
- Cliff Watts
- James White
- Nigel Barker
- Marco Marezza
- Gabrielle Revere
- Ben Watts
- Rob Howard
- Timothy White
- Kwaku Alston
- Phillip Graybill
- Warwick Saint
- Liz Von Hoene
- Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
- Markus Klinko & Indrani
- Peter Ruprecht
- Jake Chessum
- Anne Menke
- Mary Spano
- Roxanne Lowitt
Public Viewing, April 28-30 from 11am-8pm
This exhibit is free to the public but contributions are encouraged through the donate button above.
Kids' Day, May 1 from 2pm-5pm
Kids' Day is a celebration of the success stories of the Smiley Faces Foundation. The day allows all Smiley Faces kids, friends and family to have a great time with loads of awesome activities such as miniature golf, skateboarding demos, digital graffiti artists, and much more. We'll also have the awesome DJ Josh Madden doing his thing and Carlo's Bakery is stopping by with tons of delish cupcakes. This event is free to the public but contributions are encouraged through the donate button above.