On the night of Wednesday, March 28th, the Operation Smile Club at Fordham University—the established club in New York which won the award for “Most Outstanding University Club” in Beijing last summer—continued its tradition of hosting successful on-campus fundraisers by having its fourth Songs for Smiles benefit; an event that features live performances, a dinner buffet, raffle prize giveaways, and t-shirt decorating. At about seven o’clock, guests from all over the city started pouring into the modernistic all-glass atrium venue space as food was starting to be served and music pumped through the speakers. Guests quickly flocked to the raffle table, where prizes such as The Hunger Game series, Starbucks gift baskets, and various gift cards. At about a half hour past seven, the anticipated performances began, and guests cheered as some of the city’s most talented college students and recent graduates took the stage. All of the performers were amazing! We had several musicians perform that had never played at one of our events before, and they blew everyone away. One performer was my friend and NYU student Raveena Aurora and her band, and the unique artist is even signed to a label in New York called A Mini Tribe Records where they recorded an album. Another NYU Tisch student that performed was Kaleigh Young, who I actually went to high school with! Kaleigh did a powerful and original rendition of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, and she’ll be performing at the famous Delancey on May 5th! My club and I were certainly incredibly fortunate to have landed such talented and accredited performers. 
Making sure that we secured great talent was just one of the many tasks the club and I had to tackle in order to guarantee Songs for Smiles round four was a success, as these benefits always require a great deal of preparation. Months before the event, during our weekly meetings, I deliberated with the club as we decided the date and location, produced our advertising strategy, constructed a list of possible performers and decorations, and decided dates that we would meet with the head of student programs and activities for planning. Within the next few weeks, the trusty club treasurer Linda Popowytsch and myself went to room 408, our designated office for student activities, and ordered all of the decorations and event supplies while Julia Tomasek, my awesome co-president, managed the set list of performers and presentations. It also wasn’t long before Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus was covered with flyers for the event as well as its plazas filled with club representatives handing out free snacks while simultaneously promoting the event. Before we knew it, the day of the event had arrived, and the most difficult part was to begin—setting up and making sure everything is place and ready for the event to begin. This is where the stress definitely kicks in more than ever! Thankfully, not just Fordham club members were present to help commence the process, but also Operation Smile alumni from all over! In the last Songs for Smiles update, I had mentioned that past ELC students Samantha DeVito, who was my ISCE leader in Beijing, and Rose Massett, who, being at NYU, came to all of our meetings, were present for the event. This time, Samantha’s twin sister Deanna and SVA student Debbie Reyes, both who I had met at the ISCE conference in Beijing, were also there to help! So, once again, Fordham’s Songs for Smiles was not just an on-campus event raising money for Operation Smile, but also a reunion for strong Operation Smile volunteers to come together.
All in all, the event was a great time. Everyone enjoyed their food and the fantastic performances, but more importantly, everyone contributed, in one way or another, to raising funds and donations for Operation Smile. In total, we raised more than enough money for a child to receive surgery! Also, a lot of guests decorated plain white t-shirts which shall be shipped to headquarters so that students going on missions can hand them out to children during their respective trips.
-Daniel Dalena, March 29th, 2012
