Glamour and Philanthropy Sizzles at the Operation Smile Red Carpet Gala

More than 300 influential Houston’s philanthropists gathered for the 6th Annual Houston Smile Gala mid September at the Royal Sonesta.

While raising a whopping $275,000 for Operation Smile the crowd was enthralled to cheer for honorees: Kent Schaffer and Shara Kuy; Keith and Shawntell McWilliams; and Dr. Daryl and Amy Dichoso for their charitable leadership within Houston and around the globe through their long-time support of Operation Smile.

Event Chair Sneha Merchant, adorned in a Tom Ford outfit alongside Co Chairs Viet Hoang and Duyen Huynh Nguyen were thrilled to welcome Operation Smile’s Co-founders, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, to share memorable moments in the charity’s nearly 40-year history, including its beginnings in the Philippines in 1982. During cocktails, guests perused auction items from the Houston Astros, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co., the latter of whom has been a corporate supporter of Operation Smile’s for more than ten years.

ABC13 Houston’s Gina Gaston graced the stage as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies and shared an emotional video of Nick and Sneha Merchant’s volunteer work in Guatemala just three months ago. Guests including Reggie and Leigh Smith, Ajay and Dr. Sippi Khurana, Jeff and Rachel Bagwell, Angel Woolsey, Aly and Habiba Dhanani, Al and Stacey Lindseth, Rudy and Debbie Festari, Pritika Swarup, Khanh Phan and Dr. Giao Duong, Dr. Monica Patel, Chris and Salima Merchant, Danny and Iraida Brown, Arshad & Mona Ramji, Dr. Phuong and Paloma Nguyen toasted to the 111 medical missions and more than 15,000 patients who received surgery and dental care in 31 countries last year alone.

LCAHouston spoke to Sneha Merchant exclusively and she shared that every child has the right to smile.. and we all together can make that change! “Going to Guatemala and seeing first hand the impact Operation Smile has on a child’s life has us committed for life! Operation Smile gala 2021 was a grand success because of the ongoing support of all our donors and volunteers,” explained Sneha.

During the Gala’s Smile Auction, Dr. Dane Hoang and Smile Committee Member Hoang Pham passed out Three Little Bears donated by the Lori family as guests committed to a growing tally of life-changing surgeries for children around the world. It was a night for us all to smile about!

Since 1982, Operation Smile has been committed to providing patients with health that lasts through life-saving cleft surgeries and comprehensive care, helping them to better breathe, eat, speak and live lives of greater quality and confidence. Its training and education programs elevate safe surgical standards and strengthen a global network to reach more people earlier in their lives. Learn more at www.operationsmile.org or by following @operationsmile on social media.

Photos by Quy Tran