Beast Philanthropy Brings Operation Smile’s Good Works to Tens of Millions

In November 2023, the Beast Philanthropy team joined Operation Smile in Puebla, Mexico to roll up their volunteering sleeves and share the story of our transformative work to their 175 million subscribers across their channels. Over the course of a week, they met many families who had traveled great distances for a chance to get their children the care they need. 

“We’re here volunteering and taking this opportunity to teach others about what Operation Smile is and the impact it has on these children,” explained Oswaldo Rangel, project manager from Beast Philanthropy.  

One family they got to know was Jeronimo, a single father, and his 17-month-old son, Emmanuel, who was born with a bilateral cleft condition. One in 700 children are born with cleft conditions globally. Untreated they can lead to developmental challenges, breathing and speech difficulties and social stigmas. In certain regions like the low-resource communities in Mexico, many face barriers that limit their access to qualified care. Operation Smile operates in 37 countries around the globe, including Mexico where it has performed more than 6,400 cleft surgeries since opening there in 2006. Jeronimo and Emmanuel were one of 100 families screened and able to receive surgery while Beast Philanthropy was there. The patients who aren’t able to proceed with surgery that day are given access to a comprehensive care services that will help them achieve better health and prepare for a successful procedure in the future. Operation Smile estimates that there is a backlog of approximately 6,000 patients who require care in Mexico alone. (See how you can help with a donation today.) 

As Beast Philanthropy’s executive director, Darren Margolias, explains, you can’t let the magnitude of the need prevent you from taking action. “We have to do everything we can to solve the problem for as many people as we can and still aspire to reach everyone in the world eventually,” he says. “You can either be depressed about it or ignore it or you can do something about it.” 

After their visit, Beast Philanthropy released the video 100 Kids Smile for the First Time, and the results have been outstanding. In just one day, the video received over 2.5 million views. To date, it has been viewed nearly 34 million times and recently received a Silver Anthem Award for its immense impact. As Mauricio Rojas, executive director of Operation Smile Mexico puts it, “This partnership has been a transformative force for Operation Smile Mexico. It has opened countless doors to new allies and donors in the country, amplified our visibility and allowed more patients to learn about our work and services.”  He adds, “But perhaps the most heartwarming impact of all is how it has fostered a sense of community among patients with cleft lip and palate, letting them know they are not alone in their journey.” 

Take a behind-the-scenes look at our partnership with Beast Philanthropy.