GKAS Program Champions

In January 2008, the GKAS National Advisory Board invited four programs to champion the cause and join us in building one central voice advocating for oral health care for underserved children. The programs selected share our same vision and goals. 

America’s Dentists Care Foundation
The America’s Dentists Care Foundation (ADCF) supports pro bono care provided via what has been historically known as Missions of Mercy (MOM) projects in several states. The ADCF’s mission is to provide equipment, expertise, support, scheduling and promotion of events requested by any state’s non-profit dental affiliation having the approval of the state’s dental association. All individuals will be treated with respect and dignity and will receive treatment for their most immediate need without cost, without regard to race, color, creed or station in life. This will be conducted on a first come first serve basis with as many patients being treated as possible. Since 2003, 13 MOM events have treated 23,000 patients and have donated over $10 million in free dental care. Additional information regarding ADCF can be found at: www.adcfmom.org .

Bright Smiles Bright Futures
Colgate's flagship program, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, is a multi-tiered initiative to promote the importance of oral health through education and prevention. In the U.S. alone, the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program reaches millions of underserved children.

Mobile dental vans staffed by volunteer dentists, visit local communities throughout the U.S. in urban and rural areas. These volunteer dentists conduct free dental screenings, distribute multicultural educational materials, and educate children and their families about the importance of maintaining good oral health. By the year 2010, Colgate is expecting to reach 100 million children.

For additional information, please visit Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Web page: www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/CommunityPrograms/Bsbf.cvsp .

Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles
Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles, a flagship program of Henry Schein Cares, was formally launched as an access-to-care initiative in Columbia, South Carolina in August 2006.

Henry Schein Cares worked in collaboration with the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association and other private and public partners to bring health screenings, education, counseling, referrals, and fun to a medically underserved community in the Columbia area. Children were screened for health conditions and risk factors such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and oral health problems. Children were also asked to make a lifestyle commitment for the 6 months following the event.

Given the success in the first year, the program expanded to four additional pilot sites across the country in 2007. In total, over 2,500 children were screened and immediate assistance provided to children and their families in need of ongoing medical care. In 2008, the program expanded to 11 sites across the country. Based on this progress, further expansion in 2009 and beyond is anticipated.

For additional information regarding Henry Schein Cares, please visit: www.henryschein.com/us-en/Corporate/CorporateResponsibility.aspx .

TeamSmile
TeamSmile is a dental outreach program that partners with dentists and sports organizations (NFL, NCAA and PGA) to provide free dental care to underserved children. The program has tripled in size since its inception in 2006. 

TeamSmile has served approximately 750 children and provided over $150,000.00 in free dental care over its first four events. The program is moving forward with 5 events confirmed in 2008, one of the highlights being Justin Timberlake’s celebrity golf tournament in Las Vegas. For additional information regarding TeamSmile and a list of upcoming events, please visit: www.teamsmile.org .

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