TORONTO, April 24 /CNW/ - Transforming Faces Worldwide is celebrating ten
years of giving new hope to children born with cleft lip and palate disorders.
To mark a decade of life changing treatments and to raise awareness and funds
to help children in countries around the world the organization will hold a
fundraiser and celebration evening.WHAT:   A Decade of Hope - A Decade of Smiles
             A fundraiser and special evening marked by stories of hope and
             courage in support of Transforming Faces Worldwide

    WHERE:   Burroughes Gallery, 639 Queen Street West (at Bathurst)

    WHEN:    Wednesday, April 29th, 6:00 p.m.

    WHY:     To support life changing treatments for children in developing
             nations who are born with cleft lip and palate

    WHO:     Key note speaker Professor Roopa Nagarajan, Chairperson of the
             Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at Sri
             Ramachandra University in Chennai, India
             Esteban Lasso, Executive Director, Transforming Faces Worldwide
             Doctors, staff and supporters of Transforming Faces Worldwide

    WHY:     Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are congenital abnormalities that
             affect the upper lip and the hard and soft palate of the mouth.
             CLP is a disorder prevalent among millions of children and
             adults. Every 11 minutes a child is born with this condition
             around the world. It affects a child's appearance, speech,
             teeth, eating, hearing and their ability to develop socially."The doctors, staff and volunteers behind Transforming Faces Worldwide
believe very strongly in the work that we do around the world because we see
the real impact on the lives of the children we are able to help," said
Esteban Lasso, Transforming Faces Worldwide's Executive Director. "Because of
our structure, one hundred per cent of every dollar we raise goes directly to
the care, multidisciplinary treatment and support of the people we help."
    "As Canada's most international bank, Scotiabank is proud to support the
great work of Transforming Faces Worldwide," said Jim Louttit, Scotiabank Vice
President, Latin America. "I've seen first-hand the difference that this
organization is making in the lives of children and their families, and thank
them for their dedication and commitment."Backgrounder:

    Craniofacial Disorder Key Facts:
    -  One of every 700 children is born with CLP in North America. In India,
       China and Peru this condition is found in 1 of every 500 children.

    -  In the developed world, the vast majority of children is treated
       successfully and lead normal lives. Children and adults in developing
       countries by contrast can be isolated, often abused and traumatized,
       and in some cases abandoned to die.

    -  Access to multidisciplinary treatment is non existent or very limited
       in quality and quantity. Treatment is rarely considered a priority by
       the hard pressed health systems in many countries.

    -  $348 funds treatment for a single child.
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    -  Cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial disorders, can be
       successfully treated by a combination of surgery, dental work, speech
       therapy, social work and other forms of necessary care.


    About Transforming Faces Worldwide:
    -  TFW was founded in 1999 and has projects in Peru, Argentina, Ghana,
       Ethiopia, India, China, Thailand and Bulgaria.

    -  Over the past five years, TFW has provided 88,000 interventions in
       reconstructive surgery and multidisciplinary rehabilitation to over
       5,400 patients worldwide.

    -  TFW supports surgery as well as multidisciplinary rehabilitation
       services such as speech and hearing therapy, dental care,
       orthodontics, nutritional and feeding support and psychological
       counseling.

    -  TFW supports health care teams in developing countries. We support
       local teams who can provide quality care, by providing training,
       equipment, supplies and other resources needed to carry out free or
       subsidized treatment.

    -  TFW promotes South-South cooperation. We support the exchange of best
       practices, knowledge, and skills between specialists in developing
       countries who face common challenges.