In a momentous celebration held at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Smile House Foundation marked its 25th anniversary – a milestone in its tireless mission to support children with craniofacial conditions and their families. Speaking before an audience of civil and military authorities, President Stefano Zapponini opened the event with heartfelt gratitude and remembrance.
“On behalf of all my colleagues – past and present – who have served the Foundation with dedication, including those we have sadly lost in recent times, Professor Marina Sammartino and Attorney Romano Dalla Chiesa, I extend my deepest thanks to Deputy Speaker of the Chamber, Hon. Giorgio Mulè,” said President Zapponini. “His commitment to our mission has allowed us to celebrate this important occasion in such a prestigious institutional setting.”
Among the notable attendees were:
• Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Maria Elvira Calderone
• Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto (joining via video), representing the Italian Armed Forces
• Professor Francesco Saverio Mennini, on behalf of the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci
• Attorney Andrea Catizzone, representing the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini
President Zapponini also extended warm thanks to all political, civil, and military authorities in attendance, along with a respectful salute to his predecessors at the helm of the Foundation, Santo Versace and Carlo Salvatori.
The ceremony served not only as a celebration of the Foundation’s achievements but also as a reaffirmation of its enduring commitment to compassion, science, and social inclusion.
A Legacy of Healing: Smile House Foundation’s 25-Year Journey
Founded in Italy in the year 2000, Smile House Foundation ETS began as a vision shared by a dedicated network of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals committed to treating children and adults born with craniofacial anomalies – both in Italy and across the globe. Originally established as a nonprofit association, the organization has since evolved into a legally recognized foundation. Today, it is officially registered in the National Third Sector Registry (RUNTS), granting it ETS (Third Sector Entity) status.
At the heart of the Smile House project lie two cornerstones: the vision of its Founding Member and current Vice President, Dr. Domenico Scopelliti, and a long-standing agreement with the Italian Ministry of Health. First signed in 2008 and renewed in 2022, this protocol outlines the Foundation’s national framework for delivering multidisciplinary care through collaboration with the public healthcare system.
This innovative model has led to the creation of Smile House Centers – specialized hubs integrated within Italy’s national hospitals. These centers provide comprehensive care, starting from prenatal diagnosis and extending through every stage of a child’s psycho-physical development. “Today’s celebration brings together our entire Smile House network,” said President Zapponini. “It’s a moment of unity, reflection, and renewed purpose.”
The Smile House Centers include outpatient clinics in Ancona, Cagliari, Catania, and Taranto, as well as surgical centers in Rome, Monza, Pisa, and Vicenza. Each facility is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of experts – including surgeons, orthodontists, speech therapists, psychologists, ENT specialists, and geneticists – who work in tandem to design personalized, long-term treatment plans for each patient.
These centers are more than just medical facilities; they are a testament to the success of Italy’s public-private healthcare partnerships. Through a hub-and-spoke model, Smile House has addressed the longstanding issue of regional healthcare inequality, helping to reduce “healthcare migration” and ensuring that families can access quality care closer to home.
The journey of each patient involves a continuum of care – from prenatal counseling and nutritional support, to orthopedic and audiological evaluations, to speech therapy and reconstructive surgery. This comprehensive, holistic approach underscores the Foundation’s core belief: that every child deserves not just a smile, but a future full of dignity, opportunity, and support.
Global Impact and Measurable Results: The Smile House Mission Beyond Borders
Early detection of cranio-maxillofacial anomalies is critical for mapping out an effective care plan and preparing both patients and their families for the medical, surgical, psychological, and economic implications of these complex conditions. At Smile House Foundation ETS, this comprehensive approach begins long before the first surgery – it starts with awareness, precision, and empathy.
On the international front, the Foundation has become a beacon of hope for patients whose conditions are too complex to be treated in their countries of origin. Working in coordination with local authorities, embassies, and NGOs, Smile House provides specialized care where it is most urgently needed.
In 2024, the Foundation renewed its formal partnership with the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Pakistan. This agreement supports a locally run program modeled on the Smile House system, treating up to 100 patients per year. That same year, surgical and training missions extended the Foundation’s reach to Hungary, Armenia, Kenya, the Philippines, and India – including a landmark initiative aboard the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour, as part of the 31st Naval Group’s humanitarian mission.
Education and professional development also remain at the heart of Smile House’s mission. The Foundation’s medical and healthcare volunteers are regularly invited to share their expertise at national and international symposiums – as speakers, moderators, and trainers. In the past year alone, representatives have participated in events held in Colombia, the United States, Tokyo, and across Italy, including Udine, Taranto, Milan, and Rome.
President Zapponini closed the ceremony with a message to the Foundation’s donors – those who have supported Smile House not through blind faith, but through trust earned by transparency, concrete outcomes, and measurable success.
“We have never asked for generic support,” he emphasized. “We’ve asked to be judged by our results by what we do, not just what we promise. And today, the best proof of our impact is sitting right here with us: the very people we serve.”
With that, the celebration drew to a close, not just as a look back on 25 years of dedication, but as a recommitment to a future filled with compassion, innovation, and above all smiles
