Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
—Abraham Lincoln

During Dr. Bill Magee’s appearance at Imaging USA in New Orleans, he referred briefly to Operation Smile's role in helping to repatriate the remains of U.S. POWs from Vietnam. Last fall this remarkable story was recounted in a 30-minute film, narrated by Craig T. Nelson, of “Coach” fame. It portrays the drama of the unlikely behind-the-scenes story that led up to Operation Smile’s 1989 mission to Vietnam and how it softened the hearts of former enemies and ultimately led to the normalization of between the U.S. and Vietnam. Here’s a summary of the film:

A Cure to War” uniquely weaves the stories of seven individuals, whose independent efforts would help to rebuild relations between Vietnam and the United States, recover the remains of soldiers lost in the Vietnam War, and bring smiles to tens of thousands of Vietnamese children and their families by providing access to free surgical healthcare.

In 1989, President Ronald Reagan and General John Vessey sent the largest group of Americans into Vietnam since the fall of Saigon in 1975. They weren’t soldiers, but surgeons. An Operation Smile team of 38 medical professionals – including seven Vietnam War combat veterans – were part of a MIA/POW initiative to return the remains of soldiers lost during the Vietnam War. During the medical mission, they worked with Vietnamese surgeons to provide free reconstructive surgery for more than 100 Vietnamese children who suffered from clefts.

Bridging stories from both present-day Vietnam and historical accounts leading up to Operation Smile’s historic 1989 medical mission, “A Cure to War” reveals the emotional and political roller coaster of how a children's charity and its medical volunteers opened the doors to normalization when so many other efforts had failed.

Since that first 1989 mission, when surgical teams were limited to operating only when electricity was available for 2 hours per day, Operation Smile has touched the lives of 30,000 children in Vietnam. If you watch the film, you'll see young Duy, the child whom PPA member Graham Wilson photographed on his mission to Vietnam in 2009. Graham's images are posted on the PPA Charities website at this link.



This inspiring film reminds us, as narrator Craig T. Nelson states: “Today, the simple smile of every child and family helped is a reminder of how the hard work of a small group of people can overcome decades of war and isolation and how a smile can bridge cultures and make friends of former enemies.” It also provides one more reason why PPA Photographers can be proud of their support of Operation Smile.

You can view the film at www.acuretowar.com.

At the January 15 “Power of Charity” platform program at Imaging USA in New Orleans, Dr. Bill Magee, cofounder of Operation Smile, played one of his favorite Operation Smile videos, which includes a Coldplay track “Fix You,” approved by the artists for use in Operation Smile’s global fundraising campaign. It’s a perfect background for featuring the mission and miracles performed by Operation Smile volunteers.

The good times definitely rolled in New Orleans at the January 14 PPA Charities Celebration Gala at PPA's ImagingUSA national convention, which included fun, food, raffles and a host of auction items. It took a team of high-energy volunteers to make the Celebration such a success. They set up the room; handled check-in and check-out; provided photo-booth photography; sold beaded heart necklaces, raffle tickets and t-shirts. Plus they served as silent-auction table captains and Spotlight Item assistants. In short, the Celebration Gala happened because of wonderful volunteers headed by Trustees Britney Fulgraff and Randy Taylor, assisted by retiring Trustee Cindy Romaguera, who will be sorely missed!





The evening’s very special guest was Dr. Bill Magee (left), who, together with his wife, Kathy, founded Operation Smile. Dr. Magee was accompanied by his sister-in-law, Beth Marshall, (second from right), who is well-known to attendees of PPACH Celebrations, and who serves as director of Operation Smile's Southeast Region and Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America. Beth’s sister, Kathy, was attending an Operation Smile fundraiser in Dallas. Also shown are PPA members who have played significant roles in PPA’s support of Operation Smile. They include (top row from left): Bert Behnke, founder and Executive Director of PPA Charities; Doug Peninger, who along with Rick Gibbons (far right) brought Operation Smile to the attention of PPA Charities; Laurie Weaver (second from left), the most recent PPA member to document an Operation Smile mission; and at center, Angie and Matt Weedon, who were honored with the PPA Charities Legacy Award for their outstanding philanthropic efforts on behalf of Operation Smile. The Weedon’s personal and studio donations since 2005 total an astounding $44,000!



The evening's high point was an address by Dr. Magee, who expressed appreciation to PPACH and PPA photographers for their continued support of Operation Smile, and the presentation by PPACH trustees and PPA President Don Dickson of a check for $100,000 to Dr. Magee and Beth Marshall. In thanking PPA members for this donation, Beth pointed out that this $100,000 donation brings PPA’s total donations to Operation Smile to $500,000! The importance of this milestone, she added, is that this amount translates to 2,000 children who have been helped through the generosity of PPA photographers.


Special thanks go to WHCC and SuccessWare for their sponsorship of the Celebration Gala; to booth photographer Jamie Hayes and event photographer Peter Horn; and to Wild Sorbet Frame Company for supplying the frames used by PPA at the Gala and IUSA trade show. Most of all . . . thanks to the hundreds of PPA members who turned out for the fun, fellowship and festivities in support of PPA Charities and Operation Smile!

Do You Know That You Can Pre-Bid on “Spotlight” Auction Packages?

For 2012 the PPA Charities Celebration Gala and Auction will be bigger and better than ever! And this year, you have the opportunity to review and place pre-auction bids on eight of the larger auction “Spotlight Packages.” These packages range from personal one-on-one education from industry leaders and education providers to breathtaking art pieces and a 7-day dream vacation at a private villa in Cabo San José, Mexico. To view these exciting Spotlight Auction Packages, go here

About a Truly PRICELESS Auction Item . . .

When PPA member Laurie Weaver (shown above) journeyed to Ethiopia last May to record an Operation Smile mission, she carried with her a set of waxes that allowed her to capture fingerprints of some of the children being treated by Operation Smile. From these waxes Greg Jensen, husband of former PPA Board member Carol Andrews Jensen, cast two original sterling silver charms that he fashioned into two sterling key rings. One of these key rings will be presented by the PPACH Trustees to Dr. William Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile; the other will be part of the silent auction thanks to a donation by Greg Jensen Originals. According to Carol, the charms represent the healing made possible through the generosity of PPA members. “These simple symbols,” she says, “artfully personify a touch of gratitude from the children and their families whose lives have been healed.”



The spirit in this small fingerprint is a beautiful reminder of the spirit that illuminates all of the auction items being donated to help create more real-life surgical miracles like the one shown below in the before and after images captured by Laurie Weaver during the Ethiopia mission. You can see more of Laurie’s images and read her mission trip narrative at this link. Be on hand when bidding starts at 9:00 sharp on January 14!

Other Silent Auction Items: Workshops, Equipment, Software, Mentoring, and More!

• Adobe - Lightroom ($299)
• Artsy Couture - $150 Gift Certificate
• Audubon Nature Institute - 8 passes to visit Audubon Zoo or Audubon Aquarium of the Americas or Audubon Insectarium ($160)
• Backgrounds by Maheu - Scenic Painted Background ($650)
• Belvedere Studio - 3-Part Quick Posing System ($249)
• Chimera - OCTA 2 Strobist Kit
• Colleen and Company - 2-SYNC registrations to the same bidder: one for 2012 and one for 2013 ($800) 70x90 background ($175)
• Jim Cunningham - 2-Painter CDs
• Dahle trimmer Pro Rolling Trimmer ($269) / Personal Trimmer ($79)
• Design Revolutions - Photo Box Template Package / Photoshop Templates and Overlays / Newborn Album ($250)
• Drive Savers - Bundle containing Hard Drive Clock, $500 Gift Certificate for Data Recovery Services, Flashlight, Pens, Stressball, Lunch Cooler ($700)
• GW Moulding - 3 $100 Gift Certificates
• Kotori Photo Jewlrey - Gift Certificate for Lori Nordstrom Leather Cuff and Vintage Brass Necklace ($65)
• Layer Cake Elements - 2 Set of Layer Elements ($400)
• Marathon - Marketing & Design Workshop ($249)
• Marathon - Make Money Now! Workshop ($249)
• Millers Professional Imaging - 19x23 Fine Art Package Acrylic / 19x23 Metal / Mural up to 36x48 ($640)
• Nation’s Photo Lab - Photo Lux Keychain Starter Pack ($349)
• Neil Enterprises - Photlux Keychain Starter Pack with 50 Silver Keychains, 50 Bottle Opener Keychains, 50 Leather Key Fobs, 1- Hand Held Punch
• New Orleans Museum of Art - 1 year membership ($60)
• New Orleans Zephyrs - 10 Reserved Seat Tickets to Zephyrs Baseball Game ($100)
• Peyton Manning's Pey Back Foundation - Autographed 8x10 of Payton Manning
• Photo DUDS - Tool Kit Bundle ($625)
• Photopantz - One pair of women’s size 4-18 summer (lightweight) Photopantz, including complimentary hemming and featuring 5 discrete pockets for cell phone, business cards, CF cards and more ($149.99)
• Radio Popper - $500.00 gift certificate for Popers
• Shoot Proof - 1 Year of Online Photo Proofing ($600)
• Special Kids Photography of America - Special Kids Photography Accreditation Training ($199)
• Tamrac - Rolling Photo/Computer Case / Zip Shot Mini-Ultra Light Tripod / Zuma 7 iPad/Camera Backpack / Evolution 9 Backpack
• Tri-Coast - Book and DVD ($230)
• Richmond Professional Lab - 16x20 Gallery Wrap ($100)
• Topaz Labs - 3 full Topaz packages ($299 each)
• Virtual Background - 5-books, 2-reflectors
• Wacom Intuos 4 (Small Tablet)w/travel case ($250)
• WHCC - Album / Gallery Wrap
• Wild Sorbet - $150 gift certificate

     More items being added daily!

Don’t Forget: To Review and Pre-Bid on Eight Spectacular Auction Spotlight Packages, go here

Now You Can Pre-bid on
PPA Charities’ January 14 Celebration Gala Auction Spotlight Packages!
Bidding Opens January 5!

Starting on January 5 you can actually place a pre-bid on this website for the fabulous "Spotlight Packages" being offered at the PPACH Celebration Gala and Auction in New Orleans on January 14. This will give you the opportunity to evaluate these outstanding opportunities. Spotlight packages range from personal one-on-one education from industry leaders to a 7-day dream vacation at a private villa in Cabo San José, Mexico. To view these exciting Spotlight Auction Packages, click here.

Don't Miss the PPA Charities Celebration Gala & Auction on January 14 At IUSA New Orleans! Doors Open at 8:00 P.M.