Henry Golding Brings Smile and Helps Raise Over $300,000 for Operation Smile in HTown

While the city was bustling with Diwali lights and Astros fever, more than 300 of Houston’s top philanthropists gathered at the Royal Sonesta Houston last month to fete Henry Golding; Stacey and Al Lindseth; and Anna and John Reger for their charitable leadership within Houston and around the globe through their long-time support of Operation Smile.

Event Chairs Viet Hoang and Sneha Merchant were thrilled to welcome Operation Smile’s Co-founders, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, to share memorable moments in the charity’s 40-year history, including its beginnings in the Philippines in 1982. During cocktails, guests perused auction items from the Valentino Boutique, Neiman Marcus, BeDesign, Hennessy, Valobra Master Jewelers and were dazzled with décor from Secret Floral Garden.

Houston’s own Dr. Sippi Khurana graced the stage as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies and shared an emotional video of model and entrepreneur Pritika Swarup’s recent trip to Peru.

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.

Spotted at the gala: Ajay and Dr. Sippi Khurana, Aly and Habiba Dhanani, Nina and Karun Magon, Eli Gabbanelli, Adrian Dunes, Franco Valobra, Kristen Cannon, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Melissa and Paul Dubrowski, Chris and Salima Merchant, Mandy Kao, Dominique Sachse, Debra Duncan, Nick Merchant, and Henri Merceron toasted to the 97 medical missions and more than 12,000 patients who received surgery and dental care in 15 countries last year alone.