IN CROWD: Smile Train Benefit

[Karrueche Tran and Quincy Brown]

Another night, another Los Angeles event. Only last nights was not about the glitz, glamour and how cool we all can look in our monochromatic attire. On May 4, 2016, Quincy Brown and Karrueche Tran hosted the Smile Train Benefit at the Sofitel restaurant Riviera 31 in Beverly Hills, CA. This was a night to create a conversation and raise awareness about those who suffer from being born with a cleft lip. The money raised for this foundation is by no means for the vanity of the children, but to help improve their life overall. Making eating and speaking difficult, it is a struggle dealt with on a day to day basis.

[Karrueche Tran]

We sat to talk to Karrueche about the event and the organization. Speaking about her charity work that started at a young age, it was inevitable she was going to become a part of an important cause with the platform she currently has based on her rising career and social media fame. When asked her most fulfilling moment, with out hesitance her response was heartfelt and raw.

"Our trip to Haiti was very eye opening, it was life changing. We were there, we were in it. We got to see their living conditions, and we visited the hospital; we even saw a surgery. Being able to connect with the families and see how happy they were and to see how everything was going was just awesome. It made me very grateful of what I have around me and to be a part of them [Smile Train]," said Karrueche.

[Quincy Brown]

Following Karrueche, we spoke with Quincy Brown who also felt a close connection with the children on his trip to Haiti. I wanted to know the smallest deed that felt gave an unexpected response.

"[I didn't even realize], how much a pack of yo-yo's, that cost a dollar, at a dollar store, like a pack of 20. We came with a couple bags of them and those yo-yo's were gone in seconds, and they were so grateful and so happy." Comparing the moment to over privileged kids in places like Beverly Hills who may have been jaded by the classic toy, Quincy was elated to have been able to give back to those so deserving, and so appreciative. He expressed his admiration for the kids and his plans to do more on a future return trip to Haiti.

Noted guests included Michael Sam, Logan Browning, Marques Houston, Sammi Hanratty, Peter Madrigal, Dexter Darden, Brandi Maxiell, Monique Coleman and former Smile Train cleft patient, Zachary Thomas, who received free cleft surgery from Smile Train’s local partners in Ethiopia.