On Air Interview With Jordan Thorp, Miss Gainesville’s Outstanding Teen 2014

Meldon Law Public Affairs Director Tavares Kettles sat down for a Law Talk LIVE on air interview with Jordan Thorp, Miss Gainesville’s Outstanding Teen 2014. Jordan shared her personal platform titled The Smile Team-Changing Children’s Lives One Smile at a Time.

The Smile Team is a collaboration of local, state, national and international organizations with one goal—to help children born with cleft lips in all parts of the world. Locally, Jordan is partnered with the University of Florida at Shands Craniofacial Center and Gator Smiles, a student based organization at UF, where she assist these organizations with local fund-raisers and campaigns.

Jordan has had the experience of working as a junior camp counselor at the UF Craniofacial Speech Therapy camp which provides speech therapy to children with congenital craniofacial abnormalities, including cleft lip and palate.

Having a child with a cleft or other craniofacial defect can be quite costly because of all the subsequent care required, however through the fund-raising efforts of The Smile Team, the organization has been able to offer financial assistance to families so their children can continue to receive the care they need.

The Smile Team does not just reach kids locally or statewide, they have also partnered with the Cleft Palate Foundation and raised funds to purchase and donate 125 Cleftline comfort bears to be given to children around the country who are undergoing surgery to repair their cleft lips and palates.

The organization also reaches third world countries through their partnership with The Smile Train. Through this wonderful organization they have been able to provide free cleft surgery to 125 children around the world who are now smiling thanks to the generosity of those who have given to The Smile Team!

So far, Jordan has raised and donated nearly $44,000 through letter writing campaigns, garage sales, speaking engagements at her school, church, and cheer leading competitions.

“The Smile Team is more than a platform, it is my passion and it is hope for children born with clefts everywhere.” Says Jordan.