Beverly Hills philanthropist Susan Casden and her son, Jason, accompanied members of the children’s charity Operation Smile on its medical mission to Cebu, in the Philippines during which 157 young patients received surgery. They joined the mission for a day of screening of 234 patients plus two days of surgery.

Casden, who first began supporting Operation Smile in 1991, attending the non-profit’s inaugural mission to China, stated: “Having not attended such a mission in almost 20 years, it is amazing to see how the organization has grown and perfected its medical model to ensure the highest quality of surgical care.

“What has remained the same, however, is the camaraderie created amongst the group’s volunteers who come together from diverse backgrounds to achieve a common goal and the amazing feeling of knowing, immediately after surgery, that you have helped change the life of a child and his or her family forever, she added.”

Families throughout the Philippines, some from villages and towns many hours away, came to seek the help of the Operation Smile team.

Casden will be honored by Operation Smile at its 9th Smile Gala on Sept. 24 at The Beverly Hilton where she will receive the Wallis Annenberg Public Service award.

Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org) has treated more than 140,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 50 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, it trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.