Milevista Partners with Operation Smile to Raise $6.7 Million for Cleft Surgery Access

Culver City-based experiential marketing agency Milevista has announced a strategic partnership with global medical nonprofit Operation Smile to raise $6.7 million by December 31, 2027. The collaboration will focus on supporting surgical care, comprehensive cleft treatment, and family-focused programs for children born with cleft lip and palate conditions worldwide.

Milevista will deploy its team-based, high-impact in-person activations and live pop-ups across markets throughout the United States to increase awareness and raise funds. These efforts will include a series of live events and experiential activations designed to educate communities about Operation Smile's mission while generating sustained donor support. As an agency built around real human connections, Milevista leadership stated that powerful experiences can do more than build brands—they can change lives.

Operation Smile brings decades of experience delivering cleft lip and palate surgeries and long-term comprehensive care to the partnership. The international nonprofit's model pairs safe surgery with multidisciplinary care and community education, while Milevista contributes measurable, in-person reach and real-time campaign optimization capabilities. Together, the organizations aim to accelerate donor response and increase the number of children who receive corrective surgery and follow-up services over the next two years.

The partnership represents a significant commitment to addressing the global need for accessible surgical care. Operation Smile has been working for more than four decades to increase access to safe surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children worldwide, partnering with hospitals, medical volunteers, and communities to deliver surgery, treatment, and long-term support to patients. A short film documenting the early stages of this initiative and patient impact is available at https://www.youtube.com.

This collaboration matters because it combines Operation Smile's established medical expertise with Milevista's innovative approach to community engagement and fundraising. The $6.7 million fundraising goal, if achieved, will substantially expand the number of children who can access life-changing surgeries and comprehensive care. The partnership demonstrates how corporate-nonprofit collaborations can leverage specialized expertise to address complex global health challenges, potentially serving as a model for future cross-sector initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access in underserved communities worldwide.