Last weekend, selected independent sales company owners from Cydcor’s network attended the Operation Smile black-tie gala at Cipriani in New York City. They had the opportunity to rub elbows with celebrities, interact with other high-level fundraisers, and celebrated their accomplishments together.

It was definitely a time to be celebrated; those selected have worked tirelessly with their sales companies to creatively fundraise for the organization, using creative resources to motivate their teams and help children across the globe receive new smiles. Last year, we raised enough for a medical mission to Rio De Janerio.

We’re well on our way to funding a second mission – about $118,000 has been raised so far! Check out our Operation Smile fundraising page. You can also take a peek – and join! – our Cydcor Operation Smile page.

In recent weeks, we’ve had two fundraisers for Operation Smile that have raised significant funds. This demonstrates what we know:

#1. Once we all put our minds to something, we can achieve it

#2. We won’t stop until we meet our overall fundraising goal for Operation Smile!

Here’s info about what we did:

Bowling Night

The Cydcor Bowling Night raised more than $880 for Operation Smile. Approximately 75 team members, their family and friends, and Business Building Block attendees (sales professionals from independent sales companies who were in town attending a networking event at Cydcor’s corporate office) came to the event.  We were creative with our “highlighter” theme, sporting highlighter goatees, jerseys, vests and ties, and much more.

Movie Night

The Cydcor Movie Night took place at the local Muvico Thousand Oaks for a screening of a popular children’s movie.  A total of $755 was raised; 151 tickets were sold at $5 each. Some of the tickets purchased by Cydcor team members were donated to families at EARTHS Academy, a local elementary school. During pre-ticket sales at the theater, celebrity Jamie Foxx purchased several tickets – demonstrating a widespread support of the organization.

Next week, we’re having a fundraiser at a local Italian chain eatery and we can’t wait to see how much we will raise!

Our team night at a local Mexican restaurant to raise funds last week was a win! More than $800 was raised, which will give about five children new smiles.

The restaurant donated 20 percent of all proceeds to Operation Smile. A raffle was also held, with prizes ranging from Laker tickets to restaurant gift cards going to 10 team members. Highlights: Delicious food, great music, team member bonding, and meeting families. We can’t wait for our next team night – movie night at a local theater!

I’m constantly amazed at the dedication, perseverance, and commitment of the participating independent sales companies and internal Cydcor team members, and I’m extremely proud that we have met yet another goal. Collectively, we have raised a total of $150,000 for Operation Smile; the funds will be used for a medical mission to a remote locale in Peru, Cambodia, or Rwanda. Amazing work by amazing, dedicated people.

How did we do this? By coming together and working hard to meet this important goal. In 2010, during our annual R&R event, Operation Smile Ambassador Barbara Majeski announced that all of the independent sales companies throughout the United States and Canada were invited to raise funds for Operation Smile, a children’s medical charity that provides free cleft lip and cleft palate reconstructive surgeries worldwide. Barbara had put the program together and introduced everyone to this cause, which she was extremely passionate about. Many of the sales companies immediately jumped on the opportunity, planning various fundraisers and events to get us closer to our goal. In fact, companies would often compete against each other, showing once again that once they put their minds to something, they accomplish it. At Cydcor, internal team members were working hard as well, raising funds among their family and friends and planning events throughout the year that would help them get to their internal goal.

I’m so happy to announce that we were able to meet the $150,000 goal this month! We did it, and I am extremely impressed by the motivation that each team had to make this a reality. Think about it: Because of the perseverance of our people, we are able to make a significant difference in the lives of children across the globe. They will be able to lead entirely different lives as a result of our hard work. As a people-helping-people business, this is just another example of how we can work together and make tremendous things happen.