Wells Fargo is celebrating Diwali with a $50,000 donation to Operation Smile to help provide life-changing surgeries for children and young adults in India who are born with cleft lip and cleft palate. To help kick-off the Indian New Year, the company will participate in a series of Diwali community celebrations throughout the country, including events in California, New Jersey and Texas. – @MarianaPhippsWF

“Operation Smile is honored to be partnering again this year with Wells Fargo to celebrate the Diwali season,” said Lisa Jardanhazy, vice president Global Media Strategy & Public Relations for Operation Smile.  “Wells Fargo’s good will and generosity helps Operation Smile provide increased access to surgical services for children around the world. We are grateful to have Wells Fargo’s support and partnership in our belief that all children deserve safe, well-timed and effective surgery to repair their cleft conditions.”

From Oct. 16 to Nov. 30, Wells Fargo encourages customers to send their own smiles and holiday goodwill to those in India by making a donation to Operation Smile.  Customers can make a donation and learn more about the company’s collaboration with Operation Smile by visiting www.wellsfargo.com/diwalismiles.

“We’re very proud to support Operation Smile, which makes an incredible difference in the lives of children and their families who couldn’t otherwise afford the surgeries which cost approximately $240,” said Rajnish Bharadwaj, executive vice president and head of Cross Border Strategy and Governance at Wells Fargo. “At Wells Fargo, we’re committed to support the diverse communities where we live and work and I encourage everyone to join us this year as we celebrate Diwali and support such a worthy cause.”

To celebrate Diwali with customers and the community, Wells Fargo also is supporting a concert, exclusive Bollywood movie screenings and a series of melas, or festivals, throughout the country. These include a concert in San Jose on Nov. 13, and Diwali festivals in Pleasanton, Calif. on Oct. 24, Dallas, Texas on Oct. 31 and Edison, New Jersey on Nov. 7.  Bollywood Movie Night Out events will be held in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

This year, Wells Fargo once again is offering customers new Asian Indian art-inspired debit card designs.

Wells Fargo knows that many families send money to loved ones in India to celebrate Diwali, and using its ExpressSend service, customers can send money to family and friends across India.