Kimora Lee Simmons knows the value of confidence. The Smile Train ambassador shared why she donates her time and resources to the cleft-focused organization with ESSENCE at their 25th-anniversary gala at Cipriani.
Smile Train supports local medical professionals with educational and material resources so that they can provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. They take a holistic approach to care, providing aftercare to patients and supporting them through multiple surgeries in some cases. The event helped raise funds for all of their operations, including 3D-printed cleft stimulation kits. These help surgeons complete clef procedures, potentially limiting the risk of certain complications. Black patients have significantly higher complications, according to theJournal of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery.
Smile Train announced that they had completed their two millionth free surgery at the event. The news was met with thunderous applause from paddle-raising donors prepared to lighten their pockets for the cause.
She was presented the Smile Train Goodwill Ambassador award by her daughters , Ming Lee and Aoki Lee. Lee Simmons described seeing a patient blossom and imitating the model’s runway walk after her surgery during her speech. The patient was planning her future after seeing herself in a new light.
“I have Stephanie all on…
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