Smile Train Wins Gold at 4th Annual Anthem Awards

New York, NY – November 19, 2024 – Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, is thrilled to have been recognized today with two Gold and two Bronze Awards at the 4th Annual Anthem Awards, an event that honors the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide.

“These honors celebrate the impactful work of our global staff and medical partners, who are deeply committed to changing the lives of children with clefts,” said Phil Caroll, Smile Train’s Senior Vice President of Communications. “At Smile Train, we believe in the power of collaboration and storytelling to drive meaningful change, and these awards reaffirm the importance of our vision of supporting sustainable, lifesaving cleft care. We are incredibly grateful for this recognition and remain inspired to continue empowering communities worldwide."

Smile Train was recognized in the following categories under the health sector:

1. Gold winner: Best PR or Earned Media Campaign: World Smile Day 2023
2. Gold winner: Partnership or Collaboration: Smile Train and Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) Solar-Powered Operating Rooms
3. Bronze winner: Campaign - Non-Profit: World Smile Day 2023
4. Bronze winner: Nonprofit Leader: Susannah Schaefer

"To be named a winner in the Nonprofit Leader of the Year category at the Anthem Awards is a reflection of the incredible work and passion of the entire Smile Train team," said Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO of Smile Train. "Together, we are making sustainable cleft care accessible to children and families in need, and I am continually inspired by the resilience and strength of the communities we serve. This recognition motivates me to keep driving forward as we work to create a world where every child can smile confidently and live a healthy, fulfilling life."

This year’s Anthem Award Winners were selected from a pool of over 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Anthem judges are intellectually diverse leaders from across the impact industry with expertise that spans across the Anthem cause areas.

“The Anthem Awards were born out of the desire to amplify and celebrate the voices that are creating sustainable change and to inspire others to take action,” said Patricia McLoughlin, Anthem Awards General Manager. “In a year where so much is at stake, it is incredibly important to recognize impact work and celebrate the progress happening globally. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners.”

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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.

Media Contact

Emily Gay
Public Relations Strategist
egay@smiletrain.org
(561) 308-0089