One in 700 children are born with cleft conditions, according to Operation Smile (OS). In many less developed countries, these individuals have little to no access to proper treatment.
OS is a global health nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide surgery for and free care for patients with cleft lip and cleft palate. SHU’s chapter of OSwas founded to aid that mission.
Having been a student volunteer for the global organization for over four years, SHU chapter president and founder Jalen Pierre, a junior accounting and management major, saw a gap that needed to be filled.
“I realized that there were leaders already on campus that would be great to bring the warmth and compassion that Operation Smile has to Seton Hall’s campus,” Pierre said.
Founding member and former OS vice president, Stephanie Jimenez, said she “couldn’t say no” when Pierre approached her about starting the chapter.
“I've been really involved in Operation Smile outside of school since I was in middle school,” Jimenez said. “It took a lot of work, a lot of effort. A lot of strings were pulled, and we have just been so happy that we get to spread the word about our mission.”
Through SHU's OS chapter, Pierre has been able to strengthen his work for the organization while connecting back to the SHU community.
“Our chapter connects its efforts with Operation Smile through our fundraising, which is done on campus and then donated directly to the organization itself,” Pierre said. “As well as collaborating with patients, professionals and other volunteers in the greater Operation Smile network to let them know of the work that we're doing on campus.”
The mission of OS is particularly important to Vasti Valenzuela, a sophomore speech pathology major who serves as a motivated marketing member on the e-board, because of her passion within her major.
“A lot of people don't see, like, these kids need help, and they don't have the finance for it,” Valenzuela said. “Us being here and being able to try to provide for them and try to make a difference in their life is important.”
Additionally, Shane Holden, a freshman diplomacy and international relations major who currently serves as OS’s event chair, has a personal connection to the club’s mission. His cousin had a cleft lip and cleft palate.
“He was around 10 at the time of his surgery, and having someone close to me be affected by such a condition strengthens how I feel about the topic, and also the awareness that it gets spread,” Holden said. “I feel like [the issue is] overlooked, especially in the United States, where we have access to this healthcare, and many other countries around the world do not have access to it.”
Jimenez said “giving [patients] hope” is what drives home the mission to her.
“[The mission is] giving a family hope that their kid is gonna have some sort of normal life, especially families that have little to no financial means in countries where they’re dreaming of this surgery,” Jimenez said. "For us to be able to help in any way, like making care packages, events throughout the semester and raising money…funding a surgery is our main goal.”
Club member Adeline Hulsey, a freshman chemistry major, not only appreciates the mission of OS, but she connects to it on a deeper level.
“I really like the mission because, personally, I grew up with medical issues, and so hearing about them sending money to those who can't afford to fix their issues is just really impactful to me,” Hulsey said.
Events like OS’s “Spread the Love” general body meeting hosted on Feb. 11, drives home these notions. Welcoming smiles, ice-breakers, and games along with informational displays of the importance of OS’s mission at the event mixed good times with global impacts.
As an attendee of the event, Hulsey initially came because her best friend is an e-board member, but she ended up “having a great time,” because of the “friendly and active” atmosphere.
“It's a lot less strict than most club meetings you think would be,” Hulsey said. “It has a great mission, so you're having fun and you're doing a good part.”
Similar to Husley’s observations, Holden also recognized the welcoming atmosphere at the event.
“The music was awesome, and the energy in the room was ecstatic,” Holden said. “A lot of people were talking and getting involved in all the fun little games we had going on.”
After attending the event, Jimenez said she also “had so much fun.”
“I felt like everyone was really close to each other, and everyone had that sense of, like, community and family, which is what Operation Smile is about,” Jimenez said.
Not only does the organization aid those with cleft lip and cleft palate, it also can benefit those involved through experience.
“I want our organization to develop student leaders that are compassionate and driven to serve others in their community and abroad,” Pierre said. “I think that being part of Operation Smile’s global family has given me so many blessings and opportunities, and I want others to share that same experience.”
OS’s community is “uplifting, supportive, and always puts their neighbors above themselves,” according to Pierre.
“At a university like Seton Hall that drives us to be the leaders of tomorrow, Operation Smile equips student leaders, and anybody for that matter, with a great community around them, an important mission to work towards and several opportunities to grow both professionally and personally,” Pierre said.
With a little over a year since the organization was officially established, Pierre said the chapter has already seen “tremendous” growth.
“I am very grateful to our existing connections and friends who have been continually supportive of the organization,” Pierre said. “Our goal now is to expand to build new partnerships so we can have a lasting membership base for years to come.”
As the growth continues, OS has partnered with SHU’s Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), beginning a joint initiative: ALPFA Smiles. The idea of the initiative arose when Pierre and a member of his public relations committee who is also an ALPFA member, Wendy Cardona Herrera, realized the similarities of the mission of the two organizations.
“Both of our organizations focus on service and leadership,” Pierre said. “We created a joint volunteer opportunity to expose our students to the issues in our community and be part of the process in being able to help improve communities around us.”
ALPFA Smiles officially kicks off next week with their general body meeting on Feb. 18.
“Students can learn more about the initiative and how to get involved [at the general body meeting],” Pierre said.
Additionally, OS will be hosting volunteer days. The first of these days will be Feb. 21, which is already filled up. The volunteer group will head to Oasis NJ, a women and children's home, as part of their ALPFA Smiles initiative. Holden said this is a “great” opportunity to “further service and community.”
"It's outside of the Operation Smile atmosphere, but it's still an amazing place to commit service to and to ‘spread the love,’” Holden said.
For students who missed the first volunteer day sign-up, the second volunteer day will be on March 14.
Despite these endeavors and positive trends, Pierre recognized the difficulties of beginning a chapter of OS at SHU.
“As a leader, I'm always on the front lines of when things are going positively, and when things are going poorly,” Pierre said. “As a new club, it can get discouraging when we have only a few people in attendance at an event, or when our fundraiser doesn't achieve the right amount.”
Similarly, Holden also recognizes the challenge of establishing an organization on a campus that already has a plethora of clubs.
“It’s challenging…especially [because] it's a small campus, there's so many clubs and so many people involved with them, but people are always looking for an opportunity to get involved,” Holden said.
Holden hopes Operation Smile still stands out for its inclusivity across all majors and non-partisan qualities. “
“We don't have many non-governmental clubs on campus that are so dedicated to service and helping people around the world,” Holden said.
Although it can be challenging, Pierre takes these moments as a learning opportunity.
“In those moments, we circle back as a team, and we think about where we can improve to do better for next time,” Pierre said.
Looking back on last year, Pierre highlighted hosting the Northeast U-Lead Leadership Conference as his proudest moment so far.
“We hosted over 60 students from as far as Boston College on Seton Hall's campus to learn more about Operation Smile’s mission in the U.S.,” Pierre said.
Students who want to get involved have many opportunities to do so—whether that’s through donating, coming to events, or simply following and supporting the organization’s Instagram. Valenzuela encourages students to “just come talk to [them].”
Jimenez said she wants students to “be ready to make a difference” when they join Operation Smile.
“Even the smallest action, not even monetary donation, just the smallest action, is gonna make a difference in a family's life and in the child's future,” Jimenez said. “That's just so important, you can't even put a price tag on it.”
Pierre is appreciative of the support his organization has already received on campus and recognizes that he could not have done it alone.
“I’m very grateful to the Operation Smile executive board members and general body members who have continued to support this club,” Pierre said. “I know that day by day, we are making a positive change on campus.”
Lakyn Austin is the Head Features Editor for The Setonian. She can be reached at lakyn.austin@student.shu.edu.
