The fund is a non-profit organisation for children suffering from an array of facial deformities. It operates through an agreement with the state hospital infrastructure, surgeons and anaesthetists who contribute their skill pro bono and through the efforts of the team who run SMILE also at no cost to the organization.
The organisation enjoys the personal support of Nelson Mandela, Princess Caroline, FW De Klerk as well as celebrities such as Johnny Clegg, Danny K and Loyiso Bala.
Every smile donated at http://h40058.www4.hp.com/smile/ will be displayed online and will stand a chance to be part of the giant 'SMILE' canvass made up of a collection of South African smiles to be unveiled in November 2005. People who donate their smiles will also be able to print their smile certificate or share their smile online with their friends and family.
Reggie Nxumalo, country manager, Imaging and Printing Group, HP South Africa, says: "As South Africans we have much to celebrate and smile about, but we also have a great responsibility of offering the disadvantaged children in our communities the quality of life they deserve.
"By participating in this campaign, all South Africans can play an active part in clearing the increase of children suffering from facial deformity. To help make this a reality we need the public to support us and donate their smiles and help The Star Smile Fund."
To drive fundraising, South Africans can SMS the word HPSMILE to 36560. The cost of the SMS will be R5 of which a portion will go to a The Star SMILE Fund. By SMSing the word HPSMILE to 36560 they stand a chance to win a HP bundle prize consisting of a HP Photosmart R817 digital camera, a HP Photosmart 385 printer, a pack of HP Premium Plus paper, a HP NX6110 notebook and Microsoft imaging software. People can also donate directly by visiting www.thesmilefund.co.za
