By Brittney Bruner

For senior Elizabeth Self and Craig Thomas, an organization like Operation Smile represents a chance to give back to the University of Louisville community. Self and Thomas are placing their concerns not only with U of L, but with future generations around the globe. 
Operation Smile is a foundation focused on the cosmetic needs of children born with craniofacial disorders such as cleft lip and cleft pallet.
It is a widely recognized organization throughout the United States that helps raise money for these underprivileged children.
This semester, a team of students at U of L worked together to build a new Recognized Student Organization on campus focusing on Operation Smile. This is the first college organization focused around Operation Smile in Kentucky.
Self, vice president of the university chapter of Operation Smile and biochemistry major, originally became interested in the program because of  the opportunity to “help with surgeries and assisted recoveries.”
Self was one of those who helped establish the RSO this semester after it overcame the obstacles of passing its constitution through Operation Smile. This process involved gaining permission to use the logo and name, becoming recognized through the university and getting people to commit to the cause. 
Currently, there are about 70 people involved with Operation Smile, with about 20 committed to attendance and 10 involved with projects and fundraisers.
For Thomas, secretary and treasurer of the organization, inspiration to start Operation Smile came from “wanting to do a charity based in the business school but open to all U of L students.”
“We have a purpose, besides being a resume builder,” said Thomas, which is what he contends sets Operation Smile apart from most of the RSO’s on campus.
Through fundraising, the RSO hopes to raise enough money in order to pay for 10 surgeries each semester. These surgeries are necessary in order to relieve the children of the disorder and only cost $240 to fix in less than an hour.
“Every little bit we can raise will help,” said junior marketing major Ashli Butler, who discovered the group after a flyer posted in the College of Business caught her eye; it read simply: “Operation Smile: Be Someone.”
“I saw the flyer and went to the meeting that day,” said Butler.
According to Butler, the video shown at the meeting inspired her to get involved with the organization.
“I wanted to make a difference in the community,” she said. “I liked how this correlated with U of L and community service.”
Bret Horsfield, a junior finance major, also found out about Operation Smile through an informational video.
“I liked the ‘not-for-profit’ business side of it and thought it was a good cause to get involved with,” said Horsfield.
For students like Thomas, the hope is to get more people involved so that Operation Smile can have a lasting effect after he and his cohorts have graduated.
“I don’t see myself walking away from [working with Operation Smile] completely,” said Thomas. “I hope to broaden our horizons outside of campus even after I leave and hope for more people to come with enthusiasm.”
However, in its first semester, Operation Smile has managed to exceed expectations.
Through its first “Bowl-A-Thon,” by selling programs at U of L athletic events and receiving support from Arizona Ice Tea, the RSO has already played host to several successful fundraisers.
“I think we’ve made a lot of jumps this semester,” said Thomas.
“We’ve had several events and we have been able to send out several checks to Operation Smile.”
And with even more fundraisers on the horizon, including events at California Pizza Kitchen in Oxmoor Mall, Operation Smile may be grinning at a bright future and has set its sights high for more student involvement in the future.
“We want to definitely raise awareness and pique people’s interest,” said Thomas of his hopes for the future expansion of the RSO.
“I’d like to see it take off more and more on campus.”