Our Stories

The model and activist on why Smile Train's work is so close to her heart.

In honor of Cleft Awareness Month 2021, Smile Train's Cleft Community Advisory Council presents real-life stories of growing up with a cleft or being the mom to a child with a cleft from people who have been there. 

Mathias Kiwanuka knows the true meaning of greatness.

When Chelsea learned Luca would be born with a cleft, she couldn't find a community to comfort her. So she started her own.

Grace combined her two passions by hosting a tie-dye party to benefit Smile Train. 

"Knowing the strong emotions I felt when Ethan was born, it was hard to imagine how a family with no access to life-saving surgery would feel. I wanted to help."

How Riley used her passions to get her whole community involved in raising money for smiles.

How one enterprising high school student brings smiles to children, and a planet, in need.