Smile Train Brian Mullaney President Offers
Wisdom, Advice at Harvard Club Event
New York, NY October 28, 2009 -- The prestigious Harvard Club was the setting for a recent presentation and discussion with Smile Train’s President Brian Mullaney on Thursday, October 22. Following on the heels of a profile of Mullaney in Harvard Magazine in September, the event focused on the founding of the organization, the work that the Smile Train does, and future plans to eradicate cleft lip and palate from poor, developing countries completely.
The room was filled to capacity as Mullaney went into detail about the organization. He discussed the best practices from the business world and how he applied them to the Smile Train, making it the most successful cleft charity in the world. He also talked about how, by altering the employment structure of the organization and incentivizing the appropriate parties, the cost per cleft surgery was brought down by 75%.
“Our cutting-edge strategies and willingness to take bold steps is what sets us apart from typical charities,” Mullaney said. “Technologies like Smile Train Express, which helps us see 300 records of patients we have helped around the world every day. We know that we must continue to be visionaries to eradicate the problem completely, and we’re up to the task.”
Brian Choi, Harvard College class of 2005, sits on the Membership Services Committee and was inspired by an article he read about Smile Train and Smile Pinki surrounding the Oscars. This article prompted him to reach out to Brian to ask him to speak at the Harvard Club. He thought members would be interested in supporting such a worthy cause.
Notable attendees included Smile Train donor Conor Hartnett, who recently braved the English Channel with only a swim cap and a goal: to cross the dreaded body of water to raise funds for the Smile Train. Harvard Club members and Smile Train supporters rounded out the group.
Mullaney also spoke about the run-away success of Smile Pinki, which won the Oscar last year for best documentary short. At the conclusion of the evening, all in attendance received a free copy of the film.