In the Spring of 1978, Operation Rainbow founder Dr. William B. Riley, Jr. found himself outside a rural hospital in the Philippines. More than 300 children awaited his arrival: each child with a dream, each parent praying for a miracle. "As a visiting plastic surgeon on my first trip to a developing nation, I was completely unprepared for the desperate need confronting me," he said.

After operating on fifteen children over the next two days, Dr. Riley departed with the image of all those faces, all those unanswered prayers emblazoned on his memory. He knew that he would be unable to forget what he had seen and experienced. He knew he had to return.

On the long flight home to Houston, Texas, Dr. Riley resolved to ask some of his colleagues to join him the next year. They responded with enthusiasm and Operation Rainbow was born.

In 1989, Operation Rainbow realigned its mission to focus mainly on orthopedic surgical intervention—a unique specialty addressing a growing unmet need in developing countries. Click Affiliates (below) for more information about how Operation Rainbow is working with other non-profit organizations to provide reconstructive and plastic surgeries to needy children.

Now 1,000 volunteers strong, Operation Rainbow continues its mission throughout the world by:

• Leading 6-9 humanitarian medical missions each year, which provide much-needed orthopedic intervention for children and young adults suffering from congenital abnormalities or untreated chronic injury
• Training doctors, nurses, and other staff at host hospitals, enhancing their capacity for early diagnosis, treatment, and orthopedic surgical intervention of congenital abnormalities among the vulnerable populations they serve

The impact of Operation Rainbow’s work is undeniable - over the past three decades, we’ve provided more than 10,000 children with an estimated $60M in medical care for just under $4M!

 

A Word from Dr. William B. Riley, Jr.

"Why Operation Rainbow? Why Now?"

Early one morning in the Spring of 1978, I stared in stunned disbelief at the deformed faces of over 300 children and their parents waiting outside a rural hospital in the Philippines. Each child dreamed of having a normal face. Each parent prayed for a miracle. I was overwhelmed. As a visiting plastic surgeon on my first trip to a developing nation, I was completely unprepared for the desperate need confronting me.

After operating on fifteen children over the next two days, I departed with the image of all those faces, all those shattered dreams, all those unanswered prayers emblazoned on my memory. I knew that I would be unable to forget what I had seen and experienced. I knew I had to return. On the long flight home I resolved to ask some of my colleagues to join me the next year. They responded with enthusiasm and Operation Rainbow was born.

This past year has proven to be a true watershed time for Operation Rainbow. Today, more than ever, we stand poised at the threshold of opportunity and growth.

Since 1978 Operation Rainbow has succeeded, oftentimes it seems, through the sheer will power of a few dedicated physicians, nurses, non-medical volunteers and a hand-full of benefactors. Today, 25 years later, I am proud to share with you that Operation Rainbow has provided cost free reconstructive surgery to over 7,000+ children world-wide, including the U.S.

Dr. William B. Riley, Jr.

Today, the organization has a committed base of volunteers that stands at well over 1,000 and is growing each and every day. Our base of supporters is broadening and deepening with each passing year. Your participation in a gift plan that is right for you will help ensure that the first call for hope which started back in 1978 by a few young doctors, will not be the last. Rather, through your support, the call for hope lives on through your legacy. Thank you again for all you have done and, continue to do on behalf of Operation Rainbow, Inc.

Over the past two decades Operation Rainbow surgical teams have transformed the lives of many indigent children in underprivileged countries by providing them free reconstructive surgery. Countless more have been healed through educational programs for healthcare professionals in rural areas. The Sponsor Child Program offers cost-effective care in the United States for selected children with complex problems that cannot be managed in a rural hospital overseas during a mission. The Domestic Program is available to needy children in the United States who have been denied care for various reasons. Such program growth and expansion reflects the commitment of the hundreds of volunteers who have contributed their time, talent, and resources to Operation Rainbow since its inception.

William B. Riley, Jr., M.D., F.A.C. S.
Founder, Operation Rainbow

If you would like to aid our efforts to children around the world by providing them with free reconstructive surgery, please go to our on-line Donation form. Welcome to our website and welcome to our world of providing miracles for kids.

Although primarily focused on providing orthopedic surgeries in impoverished countries, Operation Rainbow pursues partnerships that broaden our ability to serve needy children around the world.

We are proud to be affiliated with two outstanding non-profit organizations: the William S. Johnson Memorial Fund at Carle Foundation in connection with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign and Rainedrops World Wide, Inc.

Combining the resources of their separate institutions, this volunteer group includes dedicated surgeons and medical professionals committed to providing surgical and medical care to children and others by performing reconstructive surgeries, including repair of cleft lip and palate deformities and treatment of other maxillofacial anomalies and burns.

Led by Dr. Michael Goldwasser, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and Dr. Talmage Raine, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, the team consists of anesthesiologists, anesthetists, speech pathologists, medical students, nurses, trained laypersons, and coordinators. Since its founding in 1992, this reconstructive surgical team has conducted 1-2 medical campaigns annually, working primarily in Central and South America, Mexico, the Philippines, and now expanding into Asia and Africa. Operation Rainbow is pleased to have been affiliated with this group throughout its 16-year history.

Operation Rainbow and its affiliates are separately and independently funded. For more information about our reconstructive surgical affiliate, please contact Pat Bruder at pwbruder@comcast.net.