Dallas
County Dental Society Foundation
The Foundation was
formed in May 1998 as Texas non-profit corporation and is
a 501(c)3 non-profit under Internal Revenue Service regulations,
at true public charity capable of accepting fully tax-deductible
contributions.
Mission Statement
“To enhance
the quality of life in our community by promoting improved
access to oral health care, education and research.”
Dallas County Dental
Society has a long history of providing financial support
to other non-profit providers of indigent dental care in the
community. Institutions such as Dental Health Programs, Inc.
and Kiwanis Wesley Dental Center regularly receive funds from
the Society in support of their educational programs and clinic
needs, respectively.
In a metropolitan
area as vast as Dallas County, it is essential that dentistry
be represented with its own foundation. Through the Dallas
County Dental Society Foundation, we have the opportunity
to provide for the future of quality oral health care for
years to come. Donors will be recognized for their generosity
and may contribute in many different ways:
- Make a contribution to honor a friend, family member or
patient;
- Encourage patients to contribute so that those less fortunate
than they may benefit;
- Remember a peer, family member or friend with a memorial
contribution in their name;
- Utilize estate planning to give a gift of money or name
the foundation as a life insurance beneficiary.
Making Dallas Smile Mobile Dental Van
Making Dallas Smile Mobile Dental Van was made possible by a gift from Mrs. Annette Simmons. The Making Dallas Smile Mobile Dental Van serves as the newest Dallas County Dental Society community outreach program and makes the Dental society one of the few local dental society’s to run an outreach program of this type. It is equipped with two complete dental operatories and includes digital X-ray capabilities. Volunteer dentists from DCDS will donate their time to staff the Mobile Dental Van. The dentists will provide dental treatment to children in Dallas, who cannot afford dental care. The first stop was in conjunction with the Texas Mission of Mercy, Feb. 16-17, 2007 at Mountain View Community College in Dallas.
Dr. Linda Niessen, President of the Dallas County Dental Society, commented, “The Making Dallas Smile Mobile Dental Van would not be possible without the generosity and vision of Mrs. Annette Simmons. Mrs. Simmons has recognized the importance of good oral health for all children. Through her generous gift of the Mobile Dental Van, the dentists of the Dallas County Dental Society will help her achieve her vision by donating their time to provide healthy smiles for our children in greatest need. We thank Mrs. Simmons for giving us the opportunity to give back.”
The van was unveiled at a noon ribbon cutting ceremony before 10,000 dental professionals from North Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas, who will convened at the Dallas Convention Center, as the Dallas County Dental Society (DCDS) opens its 80th annual Southwest Dental Conference.
Dallas Texas Mission of Mercy
Every Texas Mission of Mercy seems to have its one compelling and memorable patient. The event held February 16-17 at Mountainview Community College had Mrs. Jackson. The patients’ entrance opened around 6am, and at 6:30, a lady was walking the hallway completely distraught. She was crying, sobbing actually, and she explained that she had tried to access our services in the 2005 TMOM held at The Science Place. We were able to treat her grandchildren in 2005, but not her.
She pulled out an envelope which was worn and well-handled, and it had all the words a patient would have leading up to a TMOM, phrases such as ‘Texas Dentists for Healthy Smiles’, ‘The Science Place’, and ‘Texas Mission of Mercy’. She was unable to smile out of embarrassment, spit every time she spoke, and was unable to find employment due to her socially unacceptable smile. Her grandson had never seen her smile. She displayed the problem - #8 was decayed/broken at the free gingival margin. She did not have an appointment, and was told that all of our patient slots were filled. She knew that another two years would pass before she could receive treament. Sobbing.
We were able to get Mrs. Jackson into the system, and a few hours passed. As she was leaving, I asked if everything turned out to her expectations. She started sobbing again, but this time out of joy. She proudly displayed her new smile, a beautiful flipper fabricated by Griffin Dental Lab. She was treated for free, along with 928 other patients, in the largest 30 chair, 2 day TMOM on record. She hugged me, said “God bless you”, and melded back into the South Dallas neighborhood. Her gratitude exemplified the reason why over 400 volunteers gave anywhere from a few hours to a few days to bring a little health and comfort to strangers.
Made possible by grants from The Pogue Foundation, The Baylor Oral Health Foundation, The Simmons Foundation, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation, and Dallas Rotary, Dr. Moody Alexander (Chairman) and his band of volunteers produced an event which far exceeded the goal of 700 patients. The total financial impact was slightly more than $283,000.
The entire TMOM committee expresses its sincerest thanks to the other individuals and entities which made this tremendous event a success, namely Rep. Roberto Alonzo (Honorary Chairman), Mountainview Community College, Sullivan-Schein Dental, Subway, Carnival Stores, Pepsico/Frito-Lay, Structures and Interiors, Patterson Dental, Benco Dental, and Starbucks. We greatly appreciate Baylor College of Dentistry TAMHSC for its recare generosity and the many dental students which served tirelessly during treatment and in the breakdown efforts. We also thank the UT Houston Dental Branch for use of their van and its accompanying 2 dozen dental students – we appreciate you spending your weekend in Dallas.
Your Dallas County Dental Society served inspirationally as host society, led by Executive Director Jane Evans and her entire staff of Paula McDearmon, Maxine Robinson, Alyson Ricardi, and Julie Bolton. Finally, an often overlooked ‘thank you’ goes to the TDA Smiles Foundation and its Chairman, Dr. Richard Smith of Amarillo. Without him and the entire TDASF staff (Christine Kutnick, Andrew Robertson, Judith Gonzalez and Sarah Pickens), we would not have a Texas Mission of Mercy program. Their dedication is exemplary, and the citizens of South Dallas will long be grateful for their devotion.
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