Miss Universe Supports Smile Train

CEBU, Philippines - The new charitable partnership between The Miss Universe Organization and Smile Train, the world's largest cleft charity, aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by children living with unrepaired clefts in the developing world. The alliance provides opportunities for the reigning Miss Universe and international titleholders to get involved with Smile Train's global initiatives in the more than 85 countries where the Smile Train helps children.

"Smile Train is extremely proud of our partnership with Miss Universe," says Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Country Director for Smile Train in the Philippines. "We hope that this partnership will help us reach more children around the world [who are] in desperate need of cleft surgery, a simple surgery that not only creates a new smile but also a new chance at life,"

Flaviano adds, "It is a bonus that the current Miss Universe is from the Philippines, where there are close to 5,000 babies born every year with clefts."

More information about Smile Train's global efforts is found at the website smiletrain.org. The cosial media accounts are at @SmileTrainPh on Twitter and Instagram. (FREEMAN)