Today we mourn the loss of Walter Haefner, a close friend and a founding benefactor of Smile Train. Due to his extraordinary generosity when we began Smile Train, we were able to lay the groundwork for providing smiles to over 750,000 children with cleft lip and palate.

Mr. Haefner lived a full and fruitful life during his 101 years. He not only was a great businessman, but an even greater philanthropist, as Smile Train could not be where it is today had it not been through his gifts. A few years ago while walking with Smile Train Chairman Charles Wang at his Zurich office, Haefner recounted how while amassing great wealth, his greatest joy was helping to put smiles on children's faces through his work with the Smile Train.

We send his family condolences and best wishes.