For More Information: 
Janelle Burchfield, Media Contact
For Operation Smile   
Phone: 757-439-0139
Email: [email protected]

“The Power of a Smile”: Operation Smile’s Co-Founder Kathy Magee listed in Inside Business’s Top 25 Power List  

Virginia Beach, Va. – May 17, 2024 – Operation Smile is proud to announce its co-founder Kathleen “Kathy” Magee has been included in Inside Business’s Top 25 Power List of Hampton Roads 2024. The list, published annually, is composed of influential individuals who have positively impacted and shaped Hampton Roads through their innovation and business savvy capabilities. 

This year, Kathy Magee was listed under “The Power of A Smile” for her work co-founding Operation Smile, a global organization Kathy and her husband Dr. William “Bill” P. Magee Jr. began locally in Norfolk in 1982. Kathy now serves as the CEO and President. Kathy and Bill established the nonprofit’s global headquarters in Virginia Beach in 2013. Since its creation, Operation Smile has become a global organization providing hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children with cleft conditions; additionally, tens of thousands more have received comprehensive care services. 

The article also highlights Kathy’s long standing commitment to creating environments that educate, empower, and elevate women to achieve gender equity to create health equity. Kathy’s dedication is exemplified by her active involvement in Operation Smile student programs, providing opportunities for students to volunteer, engage and support the nonprofit. With over 400 Student Clubs and more than 13,000 members around the world, Operation Smile provides unique experiences to the younger generation through a variety of programs including free summer camps, workshops, and the Interactive Learning Center (ILC) located in its Virginia Beach headquarters.  Open to all, The ILC creates an immersive experience showcasing challenges that patients and their families overcome on their paths toward brighter futures. 

For more information on the Interactive Learning Center, please visit https://www.operationsmile.org/interactive-learning-center.

The article is available through The Virginian-Pilot’s Inside Business or online.

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About Operation Smile 

Operation Smile is a leading global nonprofit bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and healthcare, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care. We provide medical expertise, training, research and care through our dedicated staff and medical and student volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors and corporate partners.