Our Stories

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. 

Thanks to you, thousands of children will think of 2020 as the best year ever.

When endurance events got canceled around the world, these Smile Train supporters ran anyway.

Why Dave is a proud monthly donor to Smile Train. 

The plan was simple: Raise $12,500 by having someone, somewhere, running or walking for smiles every minute of the day July 1.

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

How Smile Train helped Grace go from a girl looking for answers to global cleft hero.

When he turned 30, Mark knew he had to turn his life around and get fit. Thanks to Team EMPOWER, his good decision is also changing the lives of children in need around the world.