Operation Smile

For nearly four decades, Operation Smile has provided critically needed surgical and comprehensive care for children with cleft and other conditions in low- and middle-income countries. Stryker has supported these efforts through cash, in-kind donations and mission volunteers since 1999. Our annual Smile Match campaign benefits Operation Smile by raising money to fund life changing surgeries. The 2021-22 campaign included a match that doubled employee donations and provided support for patient care programs. Together with our employees, we helped Operation Smile reach over 15,000 children and adults worldwide who needed care.

More than 1,000 employees serve as Operation Smile ambassadors who engage with the program by educating their local communities and raising funds. Over the years, Stryker employees have also served on Operation Smile missions, supporting the medical team, patients and families. Stryker also funds innovative medical education programming for healthcare workers across the world, including in Rwanda, where wait lists for skin and plastic surgery can extend to several years. In 2021, part of our support helped Operation Smile launch a new medical education program that will train 60 anesthesia clinical officers in safe anesthesia administration practices. By creating more surgical capacity and helping to improve patient outcomes, Stryker’s funding of the program is strengthening Rwanda’s healthcare systems at the national level.

Introducing Impact

In 2021, we launched Impact, a global giving and volunteering platform that allows Stryker to support causes that our employees are passionate about. Stryker matches employee donations through this platform. Impact also provides employees with personalized volunteer options, including virtual, skills-based and in-person opportunities. In addition, when disaster strikes anywhere across the globe, employees can support relief efforts and get funds to the places that need it most. Eligible employees in the U.S. can request a volunteer leave of absence for one day per year to receive pay while volunteering with a qualifying organization during their normal work schedule.