Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbin's Dunk for A Smile

     Seeing a child with birth defect breaks my heart. If I only have the huge amount of money to help them I will. I want to help those children with birth defects improve their looks so that when they grow up, they will have self-confidence and will not be afraid to face other people.

     A total of 60 children will now be able to get life-changing cleft palate surgery as Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins licensees across the region successfully held “Dunkin’ Smile Tank,” a fundraiser that generated US15000, including a $5,000 USD donation from Dunkin’ Brands Inc., the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. Read more of this advocacy and campaign below.

Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbin's Dunk for A Smile
(L-R) Sara Larcombe, Dunkin’ Brands director for marketing; Michael Dargani, president Baskin-Robbins Philippines; Nameeta Dargani, VP marketing Baskin-Robbins Philippines; S.Y. Cheah, president Baskin-Robbins Malaysia; Bill Mitchell, Dunkin’ Brands president

     The fundraiser took place at the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins regional conference in Manila. Licensees from across the region made a donation to Operation Smile for the opportunity to throw a ball at a target to dunk a member of the Dunkin’ Brands Leadership Team.

“As part of our regional meeting in Manila, we felt it was important to find a way to give back to the communities we serve throughout the region,” said Bill Mitchell, president, Dunkin’ Brands International. “We decided to partner with Operation Smile as it’s an organization that helps bring smiles to children across the region and is a cause that our licensees have supported over the years.”

Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbin's Dunk for A Smile
DBI president Bill Mitchell about to get dunked

     Over the past 2 years, Baskin-Robbins licensees have donated over $10,000 USD to Operation Smile, which is equivalent to 41 surgeries for children and young adults in need. 

     “We’re honored to continue our support of Operation Smile,” said Nameeta Dargani, vice president of marketing, Baskin-Robbins Philippines. “This fundraiser demonstrates the generosity of the regional Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins licensees, and the commitment to give back all the way up to the leadership level at Dunkin’ Brands.”

Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbin's Dunk for A Smile
Dunkin’ Brands leadership team (L-R) Paul Reynish, vice president Asia and New Zealand; George McAllan, vice president international; Jeremy Biser, senior director international operating systems; Bill Mitchell, president; Pete Jensen, vice president international supply chain; Mark Youngworth, senior director international marketing

     Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. 

Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbin's Dunk for A Smile
Paul Reynish, DBI vice president Asia and New Zealand

     “The support we receive from partners like Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins helps make the important work we do possible,” said Timothy Lu, director of strategic partnerships, Operation Smile Philippines. “This donation will help us fund additional life-changing surgeries that will give children the ability to smile and share their joy with the world.”

For more information about Operation Smile or to make a donation, please visit www.OperationSmile.org.ph