Social Impact Spotlight: Giving Kids More Reasons to Smile

For more than a decade, the John Jordan Foundation has supported impact programs that provide underserved people and communities with the tools they need to succeed educationally, professionally and socially. While the Foundation’s investment projects include a wide range of worthy causes—from animal welfare and adoption to higher education to mental health—organizations that help children are a special focus. After all, who is more deserving of support and care than society’s youngest and most vulnerable?

That’s why the John Jordan Foundation is proud to partner with Smile Train. With the help of medical professionals around the world, the organization provides life-changing care for children born with cleft lips and palates. In the last two decades and counting, Smile Train has supported 1.5 million free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care in more than 90 countries. These procedures not only alleviate difficulties with everyday functions such as eating, breathing and speaking, they give kids the chance to shed societal stigmas and fully embrace life.

Smile Train was founded in 1999 by Charles B. Wang, a business leader who used his experience in technology and entrepreneurship to revolutionize the way that clefts are treated around the globe. Today, Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft charity.

What sets Smile Train apart from similar organizations is that rather than bringing in medical professionals from other regions, it works with local health systems and empowers local doctors. Leveraging technology like the Virtual Surgery Simulator, it provides world-class training programs that empower cleft professionals around the world to treat patients with free, high-quality care that they would not otherwise receive. In addition to surgeries, Smile Train’s local partners provide speech therapy, psychological support, nutritional services, orthodontics and more to make sure that children with clefts have everything they need to live and thrive.

As part of our ongoing work with Smile Train, the John Jordan Foundation hosted a benefit evening at the winery chateau last summer and will do so again on Saturday, July 13, 2024 for Starlight Supper.

The evening will begin with a reception in the recently remodeled Jordan Lobby where guests will enjoy welcome glasses of Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble and passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seasonal multi-course menu prepared by Jordan’s executive chef Jesse Mallgren and team, served on the newly renovated Jordan Terrace. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, ranging from overnight stays in one of the Jordan Chateau Suites to signed San Francisco 49ers memorabilia.

Troy Reinhart, Senior Vice President, Community and Ambassador Development at Smile Train, summed up the organization’s mission and ongoing partnership with the John Jordan Foundation.

“Our vision is to help ensure that every cleft-affected child receives safe, timely and quality medical care,” he said. “With the support of Jordan Winery, Jordin Sparks and many others we are moving closer to making that vision a reality.”

The John Jordan Foundation is committed to supporting impactful organizations like Smile Train, whose noble missions change the lives of many. We look forward to hosting similar events that foster change, for years to come.

Find out more about Smile Train at smiletrain.org. Together we are giving children around the world more reasons to smile.