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By Craig Palmer

Washington—They Give Kids A Smile year round and the day—and this night the stars came out.

Over the past six years, GKAS has expanded to encompass year-round programs while at the same time keeping its special day of observance in February (In 2010, it's Feb. 5).

The profession honored the GKAS stars May 12 at the second ADA Foundation Give Kids A Smile Awards Gala in a room with spectacular views of the Capitol and capital in the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress. "And I think we've found a setting that does Give Kids A Smile proud," said Dr. John S. Findley, ADA president.

"But we also gather to acknowledge how much remains to be done, and the past failures of our society to address the great need that has always existed out there. There is no better reminder of this than the tragic death two years ago of Deamonte Driver, an otherwise healthy 12-year-old who was taken from this life by a brain abscess caused by a massive infection in his mouth."

Introducing gala guest Alyce Driver, Deamonte's mother, the president of the American Dental Association stated "my personal commitment, the commitment of all here, and of the 157,000 members of the American Dental Association to do everything we can to ensure that the tragedy that befell your family will never happen again."

Advocates: Dr. Findley recognized the dental advocacy efforts of three lawmakers with GKAS awards May 12. Shown with Dr. Findley from left: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.); Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.); Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.). (Photos by Greg Gibson)

Dr. Findley also introduced Dr. Kathy O'Loughlin, who will join the Association June 1 as the new executive director. "She will lead the ADA to new heights," he said. "Thank you to the (ADA) Board and thank you for the privilege," Dr. O'Loughlin replied. "I will do my best."

Many were the stars on hand for a reception and dinner celebrating the dentists and other volunteers, members of Congress, tripartite dental officials and staff, GKAS program directors, community and public health colleagues, educators, corporate friends, sponsors and celebrities who support access clinics and oral health programs reaching millions of children.

"One of the things we've accomplished over the past two years is implementation of the Give Kids A Smile grant program," said Steve Kess, announcing the second round of grant awardees: Oral Health America, Team Smile, the National Dental Association, the Hispanic Dental Association and America's Dentists Care Foundation, also known as Missions of Mercy.

"All of these impressive programs have the stature and energy to make a remarkable difference in the lives of at-risk children by enhancing their oral health during a variety of events and clinics this year," said Mr. Kess, chair of the GKAS National Advisory Board and vice president of Global Professional Relations, Henry Schein, Inc.

"We've also started building a network of Give Kids A Smile Program Champions with which we work closely to increase the resources we can apply to unmet oral health needs," he said, citing TeamSmile; Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures; Henry Schein Care's Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles; America's Dentists Care Foundation; the National Museum of Dentistry, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Head Start Dental Homes Initiative.

Maintaining the momentum and finding dental homes for children seen on GKAS day  will be the theme of the third annual GKAS promising practices symposium June 26 at ADA headquarters in Chicago, Mr. Kess said. The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation supports and sponsors these symposia.

Started as an event for a day, generally the first Friday in February and now in its seventh year, GKAS is becoming a year round activity, Mr. Kess told some 200 sponsors and guests at the gala dinner. A glittering pre-dinner reception in this house of knowledge and creativity attracted more than a few members of Congress—more than 30 were expected—among more than 300 guests.

Three members of Congress received GKAS awards for their legislative efforts towards improving the nation's oral health:

• Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), original cosponsors of one of the most important dental access bills enacted in recent years; state dental programs have received some $17 million through the Dental Health Improvement Act;
• Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) is lead sponsor of the Essential Oral Health Care Act of 2009, a cornerstone of the ADA's oral health care legislative agenda; he chairs the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition's Health Care Task Force.

Accepting their awards, the lawmakers praised the dental advocacy that inspired their legislation. 

Dinner began with recognition of Richard Green, ADA managing director for public affairs, "for planting that (Give Kids A Smile) seed and for your foresight" and Dr. Mark Crabtree, ADA Council on Access and Prevention, for working with ADPAC and the Council on Government Affairs in planning the 2009 gala.

Dr. Linda Himmelberger, a past president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association who practices in suburban Philadelphia, offered a personal perspective as co-chair of the Dental Society of Chester County and Delaware County's GKAS community outreach.

And Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals baseball star, came to bat on monitors in the Great Hall of the library's Jefferson Building with the public service announcement he recorded for Give Kids A Smile, available online at http://givekidsasmile.ada.org.

In welcoming remarks, Dr. Findley thanked gala sponsors.

• Premier sponsors: CareCredit, Colgate, William Wrigley Jr. Co.
• Benefactor: Henry Schein Dental.
• Patron: American Academy of Periodontology, CareCredit, DEXIS, Gendex, iCAT, KaVo, Pelton &Crane.
• Sponsor: American Dental Education Association, Children's Dental Health Project, Henry Schein Cares.

In 2009, there have been 1,707 GKAS activities across the country staffed by more than 46,000 volunteers, including 12,558 dentists, who cared for 463,000 kids in need.