Rock out for smiles:

Fairfield University’s new chapter of Operation Smile held its First Annual ‘Rock Out for Smiles’ Band Night in the Levee on Friday, Oct. 2.

Operation Smile is a charitable organization that performs surgeries on children
in third world countries that are suffering from facial deformities like cleft lips and palates.

Volunteers travel on medical missions to countries
like the Philippines, Honduras, Brazil, Kenya, China, Morocco and many more with funds raised by events like ‘Rock Out for Smiles.’

Not only does Operation Smile provide these surgeries
that change lives of the shunned children who are unable to eat, speak, or drink normally, but the group also provide sustainable health care systems for the countries they visit.

This way, there is a lasting impact in the country long after the individual surgeries are performed.

On Friday, 60 people gathered in the Levee to enjoy the music of local Fairfield band, the Logan Groovers. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about this cause throughout the University. Donations were suggested and a five dollar cover fee was included for food that was served.

Overall, the event raised $300. At $240 a surgery, the club hopes to raise enough money for at least three surgeries this year. One hundred percent of the profits will go to these life-changing surgeries. Club Vice President Kaitlin Leyden
adds, ‘We want to make our club known to more people and have them realize how easy it is to change a child’s life through this organization.

We are just looking to raise awareness and funds at the same time.’
As a new club on campus, Operation Smile is struggling to get members and raise awareness for their cause. With 25 members
to date the Operation Smile club’s board of governors is always looking for members. The boards of governor members for the group are Aliya Roginiel, Jeannette
Rizzitiello, Kaitlin Leyden and Laura Lee DeSalvio.

The club’s advisor is Fairfield’s assistant professor of chemistry Jessica Davis.
Other events that this new club has been working out details for are a walk-a-thon, bake sales in the Barone Campus Center and a best smile competition campuswide.

The best way that a Fairfield student can get involved would be to first learn about the cause and attend the weekly meetings. Meetings for Operation Smile are held in Bannow 167 on Thursday nights from seven to nine. The board of governors would like to thank the manager of the Levee, Office of Student Activities as well as the Student Board of Governors for helping to plan the First Annual ‘Rock Out for Smiles’ event.