granting smile wishes
This year we partnered with Crest and Oral-B to grant "Smile Wishes" to individuals and organizations that are inspired to help their communities stay healthy.
We identified six of 12 Smile Wish recipients who each received a grant to fulfill their wishes and impact their communities.
In addition, two of our program members received grants and donated products from Crest and Oral-B to hold screening events and Smile Pep Rallies in disadvantaged communities.
Check out their stories below!
smile pep rallies
Nonprofit organizations like Let’s Smile, Inc. in rural Minnesota face an ever-growing need for services and need help to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
We partnered with Crest and Oral-B to provide funding and resources to support preventive services for 1,000 children and to hold Smile Pep Rallies in schools and daycares.
“Students are often so excited to receive toothbrushes that their cheers can be heard in classrooms down the hall,” Let's Smile's Executive Director, Holly Jorgensen told us.
Another boy confided with Holly that he was excited to get a toothbrush because he didn't have one at home.
“He was so embarrassed to tell me that he did it in the hallway when none of his classmates were around to hear him,” she said.
Read more about this story here...
Smile Wishes
12 Days of Crest Smiles kicked off with a visit from Santa to FirstHealth Dental Care in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Santa brought Crest toothpaste, fun oral health educational materials, and a toy for each child patient that day. The clinic also received a grant to expand access to care for the populations they serve.
Click here to read about the other Smile Wish recipients.
closing america's smile gap
Nonprofit organizations working to improve the oral health of children in marginalized communities in urban areas of California were empowered to reach more kids with preventive services that help save smiles.
Dental students teamed up with Kid's Community Dental Clinic staff to screen elementary students for urgent dental needs (pictured, left.)
other grants
Other funding was provided for dental care through our In the Gap program. Additional educational grants were distributed through HERO program initiatives.
We're looking forward to more opportunities to support creative prevention and education projects in 2023. To join us, contact Jill at info@ncohf.org.