Hello Friends, Family and Johnson & Johnson Colleagues:

A few years ago, I raised over $5,000 on behalf of Operation Smile; and through J&J, I was able to take a service trip to Montería, Colombia in South America. I met Jamie (pictured with me above) and was invited to her family home, was in the operating room during her procedure and saw her and many other children come in with a cleft lip or cleft palate condition and in 45 minutes leave with a repaired mouth where they could eat normally all because someone generously donated $240 (the cost of a cleft lip surgery) to change a family's future.

In September of 2025, I will be summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa to again raise money for Operation Smile. About 20 of my J&J colleagues from the US, Canada and Europe will hike approximately 50 miles over 8 days to an elevation of 19,341 feet to the top of Africa! My new "super stretch goal" is $12,500 as I've been able to increase it twice due to everyone's kind donations already!

What makes this endeavor extra special to me, beyond the physical challenge, is that Tanzania is a new-entry country for Operation Smile. The funds we raise in the next 6 months will send Operation Smile surgeons to Tanzania to deliver safe, effective, and timely surgery for the first time ever.

A donation of $240 covers the cost of a 45 minute surgery and Operation Smile surgeons can give children a new smile and a renewed sense of hope.

Please consider any support you can pledge to my Trek for Smiles campaign. Simply click the "Donate Now" button on this link to make a tax-deductible donation by credit card. 100% of the funds will go to Operation Smile, none of it covers my trip or personal expenses. Please put J&J MedTech/J&J Vision as the Sector/Franchise and Field Sales Organization as the Dept/Group (if asked) and remember J&J employee donations are a 2:1 match!

With Love - Brandon