Smile Train, the largest organization dedicated to addressing cleft conditions worldwide, has achieved its second consecutive GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title, this time for the “Most Landmarks Illuminated in 24 Hours.” The record was set in celebration of World Smile Day® on October 4, 2024, when Smile Train lit up 64 iconic landmarks globally, surpassing the previous record of 56, which was held by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The illumination event was part of Smile Train’s “Lighting Up the World with Smiles” campaign, marking the organization’s 25th anniversary. This global display aimed to express solidarity and support for children with clefts, a significant facial difference that can lead to challenges in eating, breathing, speaking, and hearing. Clefts are the most common facial difference, affecting approximately 1 in 700 newborns, with a baby born with a cleft every three minutes worldwide.
“Our global illumination exemplifies the power of community and the impact we can make when we come together for a common cause,” stated Susannah Schaefer, president and CEO of Smile Train. “We are thrilled to have set this new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title, which not only celebrates our commitment to the cleft community but also raises awareness about clefts and the incredible work we are doing to support cleft-affected children worldwide. Each illuminated site served as a beacon of hope, reminding the world of the importance of kindness and supporting the most vulnerable among us.”
Among the landmarks illuminated were the Empire State Building in New York City, the BT Tower in London, the Rizal Monument in the Philippines, and Niagara Falls in the United States.
Last year, Smile Train set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest online photo album of smiling mouths on World Smile Day®, further promoting awareness around clefts and highlighting the transformative power of a smile.
Smile Train expressed gratitude to the landmark partners that participated in this significant event.
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