Havaianas launches ‘Design A Smile 2’

WHEN was the last time you made someone else smile? That is the question Havaianas would like to know, as it launches the Cebu leg of the nationwide “Havaianas Design a Smile 2,” a flip-flops design contest for the benefit of the Operation Smile Philippines.

With the theme, “Paying it Forward: Kids Helping Kids,” this year’s contest is open to children aged 5 to 12 years old.

The event will be held tomorrow, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Havaianas booth, second floor, Banilad Town Center, Cebu City.

Aimed at giving them the chance to show their talents, kids will be asked to design the sole of a Havaianas pair based on the theme, “What will you do to make other people smile?”

The winning flip-flop design will be produced into an actual Havaianas pair as part of the Havaianas 2014 collection, with a percentage of the sales from which will help fund the Operation Smile Philippines.

Operation Smile Philippines is a non-profit organization that provides life-changing surgeries to children with cleft deformities.

The Havaianas Design a Smile contest was launched in 2010. The initial run generated more than 2,000 entries and was able to raise more than P100,000 from donations alone.

“Havaianas believes that summer is a state of mind and can be lived every day of the year whenever you adopt a happy and carefree attitude,” said Ann Gonzalez, managing director of Havaianas Philippines. “And nowhere else is that more evident than in children. With Havaianas Design a Smile, we hope to generate funds and awareness to support Operation Smile in our shared mission to spread smiles all over the world.”

“The response from our initial run was overwhelming,” said Ammiel de Leon, group director.

“This year, we hope to enrich our partnership with Operation Smile even more and involve more people all over the Philippines in Havaianas and Operation Smile’s advocacy to give children their smiles.”