Founded in 1969, Interplast was a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit organization that provided free reconstructive surgery for needy children and adults in developing nations. It partnered with local medical professionals to provide surgery and related care for people who suffered from cleft lip, cleft palate and other crippling injuries. The organization’s mission included the following objectives: 1) providing direct patient care—reconstructive surgery and ancillary services to those with no other resources (direct service model); 2) providing educational training and medical interchange; 3) empowering host-country medical professionals and centers to achieve self-sustainability; and 4) empowering care recipients to become care providers at new service sites.