I swore I wouldn't wear one of those bracelets, especially after they started to proliferate. But after seeing the show-and-tell at last night's Smile Train benefit at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I had to at least pop it on for the picture.

I'm veeeery skeptical about who I give my money to these days. And as a rule, in addition to low operational overhead, I steer clear of the biggies and look for charities who help people help themselves: Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood, etc.

The Smile Train is one of those organizations. They provide free cleft palate surgery to underprivileged kids around the world, they train local doctors to do it for the greatest cost-effectiveness and community self-sustainedness (like that's a word) possible AND they pay all admin costs out of their own pockets.

I won't re-blog what I've already posted on b.la, go there to read the scoop (Jane Kaczmarek! Colleen's self-loathing! Random Alex Trebek slam!) in toto.

Or hell, just go here and give your money.

Now.

Seriously.

xxx
c