This Christmas season, cleft patients are being assisted with the medical care they need by Seda Hotels for the second year in a row.

International cleft charity Smile Train partnered with Seda Hotels to fund-raise for children born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Smile Train’s mission is to provide comprehensive cleft care from surgery to speech therapy for disadvantaged communities.

For the benefit of Smile Train, Seda Hotels will sell train ornaments and Christmas cards in its locations in major cities nationwide from Taguig to Cagayan de Oro.

A fund-raising art exhibit is ongoing at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City until Dec. 9. Artists include Sinag de Leon, who is known for her intricate paper cut-outs; Ivy Lim, who designs product packaging; DJ and entrepreneur Roberto Sanchez; and Thai artists Jirawat Pramphet and Arthit Pansuay. Proceeds will go to Smile Train.

To launch the partnership for the holiday season, a tree-lighting ceremony was held at Seda Vertis North on Nov. 16. The charity’s cleft patients performed Christmas carols during the event.

Seda Hotels group general manager Brett Hickey said, “During the first year of our partnership, the Seda community raised enough funds to help support more than 30 surgeries. We are positive that we will be able to help more children this year.” /ra

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