Austin Smiles Honoring two incredible volunteers in Austin
Dr. Richard Parker & Barbara Powell!
Austin Smiles 38th Annual Wish Upon a Smile Gala
Austin Smiles is hosting its 38th Annual Wish Upon a Smile Gala at the Starlight Terrace at the Oasis on Lake Travis on November 9th at 5 pm to raise critical funds for their life-changing mission of providing surgical and post-surgical to children born with cleft lip and palate, both locally and internationally. Guests will enjoy the best sunset in town, dinner & open bar, a live auction and a special performance by one of Austin’s most celebrated musical artists, Bob Schneider. This year's Gala Co-chairs are Patty Johns and Michelle Jones. The event will be emceed by Allison Miller from CBS Austin and Victoria Pineda will return as the Auctioneer.
This year’s Gala holds special significance as Austin Smiles honors two outstanding medical volunteers with the 6th Annual Cullington, Fox, Beckham International Service Award, Dr. Rick Parker and Barbara Powell. Together these two individuals have helped transform the lives of hundreds of children born with cleft lip and palate since the organization's inception. Dr. Rick Parker, is a talented surgeon who not only volunteered his time locally and abroad but also made a lasting impact on the community. He has served on the organizations’ board, and he helped start Austin Smiles’ Shoot for a Smile Annual Clay Charity Shoot 28 years ago, an event that raises over $100k annually, drawing in 175 guests each year for a day of fun and philanthropy. Additionally, Dr. Parker was instrumental in starting the Central Texas Craniofacial Program in the 1980’s, which is now formally part of Dell Children’s Medical Center. Barbara Powell, a certified surgical technologist, has been a vital part of Austin Smiles for decades. She has served on the Board of Directors and is a longtime professor at Austin Community College. She has inspired countless students in Surgical Technology, many of which have become recurring volunteers on Austin Smiles trips to Latin America. Barbara has been an incredible teacher and mentor, recruiting volunteers from various medical backgrounds and helping to pack dozens of medical crates each year. Her wisdom and leadership have helped the organization grow exponentially and Barbara is still volunteering on Austin Smiles trips, going on 1-2 trips a year.
One in 700 children is born with a cleft lip and/or palate, which impacts their ability to communicate intelligibly, receive proper nourishment, and their overall quality of life. Austin Smiles, in collaboration with local and in-country entities, aims to develop a continuum of care to identify and treat these children as early as possible. In Central Texas, Austin Smiles provides wraparound support and social and emotional services to over 800 children annually who are undergoing surgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Each year the team takes 3 medical mission trips to Latin America where they perform over 50 life changing surgeries per trip.
The Gala is not just a celebration of the past 38 years but also a call to action for the future. By attending and supporting this event, you help ensure that more children born with cleft lip and palate receive the life-changing care they deserve. For more details on sponsorships, donations, or to learn more about Austin Smiles, visit www.austinsmiles.org. Your support helps create a brighter, more inclusive future for children in need.
