After surpassing our aggressive goal by 60%, we are finally closing the Kilimanjaro chapter of Summit for Smiles. Everyone’s hard work and the generosity of 257 donors in 29 countries resulted in $39,906 in direct donations to The Smile Train. This impressive sum will dramatically change the lives of 160 children and their families in 71 of the world’s poorest countries. Congratulations to everyone who has been a part of this project – job well done!!

Just look at what Brian Mullaney, the Co-Founder and President of the Smile Train had to say:

“Thank you for helping us help SO MANY kids! We at The Smile Train thrive on entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and enthusiasm: Summit for Smiles is a shining example of a tireless and daring effort that not only raised tens of thousands of dollars to provide free surgery for hundreds of children, but also brought together an international coalition of people who care about kids no one else will help. When Seth reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, he carried with him the hopes and dreams of millions of very poor kids suffering with unrepaired clefts who have their own mountains to climb. “

Wow, thanks, Brian! None of this would have been possible without the support of so many passionate people. Like Michele Sinesky, Donor Relations Manager at The Smile Train, who went well beyond the call of duty to support all kinds of crazy ideas and complicated international money transfers. You rock, Michele! Thanks! By the way, that’s Michele pictured to the right with Fan, a little boy from a remote area of Tibet. Through translators, Fan’s father told Michele how an ox-drawn cart pulled him and Fan 12 hours through ice covered mountain roads to Lhasa People’s Hospital. Before the procedure, Fan was shunned by his neighbors and not allowed to attend school. But after his cleft was repaired, the timid boy who rarely left his home became a leader among his peer group. Not only had Fan reconciled with the people who had only weeks before ostracized him, but now they followed him around. Even through this photo you can see a beaming pride and confidence as Fan stands poised with his hands on his hips at a banquet in Beijing. What a difference $250 can make!!!

Summit for Smiles has continued to attract attention and interest from all around the world. In fact, we planned to end the fundraiser much earlier, but people keep donating! Besides adding donors from France, Gabon, Hungary, India, Kuwait, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Venezuela, and even one last week from Slovenia, we have had people run mini drives in several locations around the world. John Harris of ADC Krone Australia ran one such mini-drive. John pulled together nearly $250 from 29 people in ADC’s Berkeley Vale facility. Many thanks to John and the generous people of Australia for all your support!

Thanks also to Peter-Michael Schroetter for helping me spread the word in Berlin. Schroetter set up donation boxes all over the ADC facility in Berlin and helped me get the word out to all the employees. With his help, we raised almost $600 from a mostly anonymous base of donors. With the company match, this means that five kids will get the surgeries that they so desperately need. Thanks so much to Schroetter and to all the generous employees of ADC Krone Berlin!

Closing the Kilimanjaro chapter of Summit for Smiles does not mean that the project is over. In fact, we’ve only just begun! We are currently working on a few exciting ways to expand the effort and will be reporting back soon. But just to give a hint: if you are interested in a service-oriented mountain climb to Europe’s highest peak in summer of 2008, then email me (seth.cochran@gmail.com) because we are putting a team together. Stay tuned for a more details!

Thanks again to all the passionate people who donated time, energy, heart, and money to make Summit for Smiles – Kilimanjaro such a smashing success. Each and every one of you should take pride in knowing that you are making the world a better place. Way to go!