Thousand Smiles Foundation (TSF) is a non-profit organization created by the Rotary Club of National City, California. Over the years, Thousand Smiles has grown so much, that the National City Rotary Club asked other San Diego County Rotary Clubs to join them and assist in their growth, and now several have joined forces with TSF. Through the decades of care provided, Thousand Smiles has served over a thousand children with life-changing surgeries and care.
Thousand Smiles focuses on surgical and dental care of children in Mexico from financially challenged families who suffer from lack of dental care and from maxillo-facial deformities such as cleft palate and cleft lip. Families do not pay for these services, all care is free for these beautiful children.
Four weekends a year, a dedicated group of volunteers travel to Ensenada, Mexico in order to provide free dental and maxillofacial surgeries to indigenous individuals in that region. The cost to volunteer is approximately $75-$100 which includes one night hotel stay. Transportation may occasionally be by chartered bus, hosted by Thousand Smiles Foundation. This bus will carry you to the border and you will walk across through Customs and pick up a bus on the other side, and return in the same fashion. Otherwise, you may drive your own vehicle from San Diego in to Mexico and down to Ensenada and back. Obtaining Mexican auto insurance is the law in Mexico, and Thousand Smiles Foundation and/or SDNAHN do not provide auto insurance for any volunteers. Thousand Smiles Foundation and/or/ SDNAHN are not held liable for any damages or theft to, or from, your vehicle. Park your vehicle in the designated hotel parking lot, clinic area and hospital area.
Medical and non-medical volunteers are welcome. Non-Spanish speakers are welcome. The number of licensed nurse and nursing student volunteers are limited due to the restrictions of the hospital that hosts these surgeries and the space available in the clinic. If you are interested, please register for each clinic as soon as possible, however note there may be a waiting list.
Learn More About this Volunteer Opportunity
There is an application to volunteer for these clinics. You must have a passport, passport card, or SENTRI card. Please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page or click the link below and complete the online process through the Thousand Smiles Foundation webpage.
If you have any additional questions about these trips to volunteer, please contact SDNAHN member and Nursing Coordinator Alternate Teresa Sanchez Misenhelter and sign up for the next clinic on the Thousand Smiles Foundation website – thousandsmiles.org/volunteering