Local Kids Receive Thank You from Jordan

The K-Kids recently received a thank you email from Ellen Fernando, an Operation Smile nurse currently on a mission in the Kingdom of Jordan. 

Fernando is a volunteer in Amman, Jordan assisting doctors working with Operation Smile while they reconstruct cleft palates of Jordanian children whose families cannot afford the life changing surgery. Fernando met with the Bowling Green K-Kids late last year to discuss her volunteer work with Operation Smile.

Her presentation inspired the K-Kids to plan several fundraisers. The K-Kids fundraiser at California Pizza Kitchen raised over $400 to support Operation Smile.

Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that heals children's smiles by providing free corrective cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, forever changing their lives. Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places, these children are shunned and rejected.

“I told the other members of the Jordan Operation Smile mission about the K-Kids and what they have accomplished to help children all over the world," Fernando said in an email. "Everyone is very impressed and humbled by your altruism.”

Fernando also told the K-Kids that Russell Papineau, the Operation Smile coordinator for this mission, was amazed that they were all able to raise over $1,000.

The regional coordinator for India Operation Smile called the Bowling Green K-Kids "the coolest kids ever!"

 “I hope you know how humbled we all are by your donation," Fernando said. "The money you raised paid for four smiles, which also means you have taken part in changing the lives of four children around the world.”

Plans are already underway by the K-Kids Officers and Board for additional fundraisers to help Operation Smile with this year’s missions.