Smile Train Wins Best in Class Non-Profit Website at Interactive Media Awards

NEW YORK, July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC) has recognized Smile Train, a non-profit organization that treats cleft lips and palates throughout the world, as "Best in Class Non-Profit Website" at this year's Interactive Media Awards.

"We are honored that the Interactive Media Council recognized Smile Train for the efforts we make in educating the public about our mission: treating cleft lips and palates throughout the world," said Susannah Schaefer, CEO of Smile Train. "We are also very appreciative of our partner and website designer, Digital Pulp, for their guidance in creating a platform that is easy to use and inspiring people to join our cause."

The Interactive Media Awards recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement. All of the judges are distinguished professionals and members of the Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the standards of excellence on the Internet. The judges are leaders in web design, advertising, public relations, publishing, news and other industries.

The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed by the Interactive Media Awards. It represents the very best in planning, execution and overall professionalism. In order to win this award, a site must successfully pass a comprehensive judging process, achieving high marks in each of the judging criteria (design, content, feature functionality, usability, standards compliance & cross browser compatibility) - an achievement only a fraction of sites in the Interactive Media Awards competition earn each year.

"We are thrilled to work with this important organization in telling their story online. The impact of Smile Train's efforts is to change lives. It's hard not to get emotionally involved when you see what they are able to accomplish," said Ron Fierman, President of Digital Pulp.

Since its creation in 1999, Smile Train has put an emphasis on the implementation of technology to fulfill their mission. In addition to its cutting edge website, Smile Train recently introduced The Smile Train Virtual Surgery Simulator in partnership with BioDigital, providing surgeons around the world with next generation surgical training that is accessed free of charge through the internet.

"Winning this award validates our continued use of technology across all aspects of our organization. We have been providing technology to our doctors and hospitals throughout the world since our inception, and with our latest breakthrough, The Smile Train Virtual Simulator, we have seen the enormous impact technology can have in treating cleft lip and palate throughout the world," added Schaefer.

About Smile Train:
Smile Train's mission is to provide a child born with a cleft the same opportunities in life as a child born without a cleft. We provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to hundreds of thousands of poor children in developing countries and train doctors and medical professionals in over 80 countries.

Unlike many charities that do many different things, Smile Train's mission is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate. Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where millions of children are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly and aren't allowed to attend school or hold a job. They face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are poor - too poor to pay for a simple surgery that has been around for decades. We want our mission to be yours: http://www.smiletrain.org/.

About Digital Pulp:
Digital Pulp is a New York based full service online marketing firm providing website development and other marketing services for clients such as Smile Train, NYU Stern, and Bausch and Lomb. Founded in 1996, Digital Pulp, with a relentless focus on a better user experience, has delivered award winning online communications for clients across virtually every industry and category.

About Interactive Media Council, Inc.
IMC, formerly known as Benjamin Services Group, Inc. (BSG), was originally created in 1998 as a loose collaboration of like-minded web professionals providing application development, creative services, e-business consulting and other marketing-related services to new and established businesses in the New York City area.

In 2002, BSG was formally dissolved and the Interactive Media Council was established. In 2006, IMC launched the Interactive Media Awards as a method of providing accomplished and talented web professionals with the endorsements and tools necessary to be recognized in the marketplace as leading providers of top-tier services.

Contact:
Amber Webb
Smile Train
[email protected]
212.689.9199

SOURCE Smile Train