Expanding Give Kids A Smile horizons
National Advisory Board reviews plans for treatment day, gala, symposium and more

Posted: Feb. 1, 2008
Author: Stacie Crozier

Just two weeks before the 6th Give Kids A Smile Day, the expanded program's national advisory board accepted significant donations, reviewed its successes of 2007, brainstormed and planned for the future.

	Planning: Dr. Jeff Dalin of St. Louis, chair of the GKAS Program Enhancement Committee and a Give Kids A Smile founder, discusses program materials in a breakout session.

Kicking off its second year with a meeting at ADA Headquarters Jan. 17, GKAS National Advisory Board Chair Steve Kess told the board and committee members it was time for the group to "put meat on the bones."

"GKAS has become an incredibly visible, well-respected and significantly supported program," said Mr. Kess, vice president of Global Professional Relations for Henry Schein Inc. "As we move forward, we will continue to make strides that will take us to where we've never been before."

Board and committee members, who represent a cross section of practicing dentists, ADA and ADA Foundation board members and dental industry representatives, spent the day reviewing 2007 events and developments and planning for 2008 and beyond.

CareCredit and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. each presented checks for $100,000 to the GKAS Fund, which supports existing and new GKAS programs and provides grants that address access to care issues.

The board also reviewed the success of August 2007 Promising Practices Symposium as well as plans for the 2008 symposium; media relations and public awareness strategies, collaboration opportunities with other access to care programs; program enhancement; and fundraising.

2008 GKAS events will include:

	Visibility: Kevin Thomas, left, chair, program committee, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, takes the microphone and Gary W. Price, chief executive officer, Dental Trade Alliance, listens during the GKAS National Advisory Board meeting.

• Give Kids A Smile Day, Feb. 1—At press time, nearly 12,000 dentists and 33,000 other volunteers have logged on to ADA.org for this year's GKAS Day to provide care to some 450,000 children throughout the U.S. GKAS Day serves to make policymakers and the public more aware of the need for access to care 365 days a year. GKAS corporate sponsors include Colgate, Henry Schein Dental and DEXIS.
• The first annual ADA Foundation Give Kids A Smile Awards Gala, May 13 in Washington—Held in conjunction with the ADA's Washington Leadership Conference, the event will help raise funds for grants to improve access to oral health care for the underserved and honor public officials who have supported improved access to care. Tickets for the event are $250, all of which goes to support the ADA Foundation's Give Kids A Smile Fund. Table sponsorships also are available. Please contact Janelle Marshall (1-312-440-2590) for more information.
• The second Promising Practices Symposium, June 13 at ADA Headquarters in Chicago—The symposium, with an all-new agenda, will bring together GKAS participants with dynamic ideas for starting or expanding their annual events. Continuing education credit will be offered. A complete schedule, hotel information and registration will soon be available on ADA.org.