Parents and children who recently attended The Pottery Barn Kids' Halloween Festival were treated to arts and crafts, pumpkin decorating and a petting zoo. But while the Los Angeles, California, event celebrated the fall season, it also served as a fund raiser for Operation Smile, a nonprofit group that supports reconstructive surgery to correct cleft lips and cleft palates for children around the globe.

The organization was founded in 1982 and is comprised of medical professionals who volunteer their time and travel throughout the world to perform life-changing surgeries for those who may not otherwise be able to afford the procedure. According to the group's website, more than 200,000 children are born with the defect each year - making it one of the most common birth defects worldwide.

For parents who have the means, the condition is easily correctable. However, those whose families cannot afford the necessary reconstructive surgery may suffer from a reduced quality of life as a result of the facial deformity.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the side-effects of the condition can include difficulties speaking and eating, as well as social, emotional and behavioral problems.