Once again PPA Charities’ Celebration Gala and Auction, held this year on January 19, proved to be a great kickoff for PPA’s Imaging USA convention in Atlanta. PPA members from around the country packed the convention hotel ballroom ready to have a good time, bid on great auction bargains, and celebrate PPA Charities’ 2012 fundraising efforts on behalf of its charitable partner Operation Smile. On hand for the check presentation ceremony with members of the PPA Board of Directors and PPA Charities Trustees was Dr. Bill Magee, who, together with his wife, Kathy, founded Operation Smile. Dr. Magee, shown holding the check at left, was accompanied by his sister-in-law, Beth Marshall, director of Operation Smile’s Southeast Region and Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America, shown holding the check at right.

The $70,000 check means that PPA members have now contributed over $570,000 to Operation Smile, which translates into saving some 2.385 smiles of children around the world.