Happy Birthday Jay Manuel! In Lieu of Gifts, Jay is Asking Friends and Fans to Donate to Operation Smile to Change Children's Lives Worldwide

Operation Smile is proud to announce Jay Manuel as an official Smile Ambassador. For Jay Manuel’s birthday this Saturday, August 14, he is asking his friends and fans to give the gift of a smile for children around the world born with facial deformities. Jay has created a Birthday Campaign on Operation Smile’s Facebook Cause page at www. operationsmile. org/jaymanuel where he is encouraging fans to donate to the international children’s medical charity.

Norfolk, VA (Vocus) August 11, 2010

For Jay Manuel’s birthday this Saturday, August 14, he is celebrating in style. Jay is asking his friends and fans to give the gift of a smile for children around the world born with facial deformities. Jay has created a Birthday Campaign on Operation Smile’s Facebook Cause page at www. operationsmile. org/jaymanuel (http://www. operationsmile. org/jaymanuel) where he is encouraging fans to donate to the international children’s medical charity. After spending more than a decade in the world of high fashion, Jay knows there is nothing more beautiful than a smile.

Operation Smile is proud to announce that Jay Manuel has been named an official Smile Ambassador and will support the organization’s global efforts to provide free surgeries for children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. Earlier this year, Jay partnered with Auction Cause to host an eBay auction for select items from his wardrobe, and donated a portion of the proceeds to Operation Smile. This partnership sparked an immediate connection and shortly thereafter Jay attended Operation Smile’s annual New York Gala where he discovered more about the organization, which solidified his desire to help the organization change the lives of children around the world.

"I'm thrilled to partner with Operation Smile and help raise funds and awareness for children suffering from facial deformities," said Jay Manuel. “I truly believe that every child deserves that picture-perfect smile. But it goes beyond a smile – a surgery that can take as little as 45 minutes has the power to literally create new hope and a new life for a child.”

Every 3 minutes, a child somewhere in the world is born with a cleft lip and cleft palate; they often are unable to speak, eat, socialize, or attend school. Many times, these children are shunned. Through the help of dedicated medical volunteers and generous donations, Operation Smile provides free reconstructive surgeries for these children.

Jay has an eye for creating stunning conceptual direction in the world of high fashion and beauty. He can currently be seen as Creative Director/Judge on The CW Network reality series "America's Next Top Model" and as the Host of The Style Network's makeover series, "Style Her Famous." He is Fashion Correspondent for E! Networks, and can be seen on the Red Carpet as part of the network's team covering The Emmy Awards, The Golden Globe Awards, The SAG Awards, The Grammy Awards and The Academy Awards. He also co-hosts "Fashion Police" E! Red Carpet Specials. A fashion and beauty expert who began his career as a makeup artist, Manuel's unique vision as Creative Director/Producer has been seen on the covers of the world's most celebrated fashion magazines and on the runways of the industry's top designers. For more information about Jay, visit www. jaymanuel. com or follow Jay on twitter at twitter. com/MrJayManuel.

Instead of presents this year, help Jay Manuel raise funds and awareness for children in need who want nothing more than the ability to smile. For updates on Operation Smile, visit www. operationsmile. org, follow @operationsmile on Twitter, and on Facebook at www. facebook. com/operationsmile (http://www. facebook. com/operationsmile).

About Operation Smile (www. operationsmile. org)

Founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 150,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 50 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.

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