Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity with programs and foundations in more than 60 countries, whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 76 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 2 million patient evaluations and has conducted over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities. To lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency in developing countries, Operation Smile donates medical equipment and trains local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their own local communities. Visit www.operationsmile.org for more information.

A letter from Operation Smile follows.

August 15, 2011

On behalf of Operation Smile, we want to thank all of you for selecting Operation Smile as the beneficiary for Volume 2 in the SQL Server Deep Dives series. We are indeed privileged and humbled knowing you have joined us in helping children around the world who just want a chance to smile and play like every other child.

Approximately one in 500–700 children, or 200,000 globally, are born each year with a cleft lip or cleft palate deformity. These children face numerous challenges to their everyday survival and are often ostracized due to difficulty in speaking and eating.

Because of our dedicated medical volunteers and generous financial supporters, we are able to continue our mission to heal children’s smiles and transform lives across the globe.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this book and for making the decision to make a difference in the lives of children who may never know your name, but will never forget your kindness.