PPA Charities President Mary Fisk Taylor has announced the results of the first annual Celebration of Smiles fundraiser in support of the organization’s charitable partner, Operation Smile. Held during April and May, a total of 129 members raised over $46,500 to benefit Operation Smile.

“These funds will go a long way toward meeting our 2012 goal of raising $100,000 for this wonderful organization,” Fisk-Taylor said. As of August 1, PPA Charities’ 2012 fund-raising total stands at $72,180. Because Operation Smile’s medical professionals and support staff volunteer their services, it costs only $240 to provide a simple cleft lip surgery to a child in desperate need. Therefore the funds raised by PPA members so far in 2012 means that over 300 smiles will be saved.

The Celebration of Smiles Day promotion provided consumers with the opportunity to receive a mini-session and a 5×7 professional portrait in exchange for a donation to Operation Smile of only $24; therefore, for every 10 sessions photographed by a participating studio, another smile could be saved by the volunteer professionals of Operation Smile. The official date for the first Celebration of Smiles event was April 21, but studios that had commitments on that date were allowed to conduct the fundraiser on alternate dates in April or May.

Next year’s Celebration of Smiles Day is scheduled for April 6, 2013. PPA members who participated in 2012 will automatically receive information about the 2013 fundraiser. Others who would like to participate in 2013 should email PPACH Executive Director Bert Behnke.