The AACD Charitable Foundation has received a $5,000 grant from Patterson Foundation to assist patients in the Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program, which helps restore the smiles and lives of domestic violence survivors.
The grant will specifically help patients with travel expenses to and from their dental appointments, as GBAS volunteer dentists and dental teams work to repair their injuries to the smile-zone, resulting from intimate partner abuse.
“Many GBAS patients live a considerable distance from the closest GBAS volunteer dentist in their area,” said Lisa Fitch, AACD Charitable Foundation director. “By helping them with travel costs, patients are able to make all of their scheduled appointments, ensuring they are treated in the most efficient manner possible.”
GBAS has restored more than 1,000 smiles to date. According to the Foundation, repairing the broken smiles of domestic violence survivors can help survivors build self-esteem, regain confidence, and improve their relationships and career opportunities.
The grant’s timing is especially meaningful as GBAS volunteers prepare for the new year.
“We’re very thankful to the Patterson Foundation for this grant,” Fitch said. “These funds will help us as we continue our efforts to help survivors. We hope to restore even more smiles and lives in 2013!”
For more information about the GBAS program, please visit www.givebackasmile.com.
About Give Back a Smile
The Give Back a Smile program launched May 27, 1999. Since then, AACD member dentists, dental laboratories, and other dental professionals have volunteered their time and expertise pro bono, to restore the damaged smiles of more than 1,200 survivors of intimate partner violence for a total dollar value of more than $12 million.
Give Back a Smile was developed to address a need in the communities of AACD members. Volunteer dentists and laboratory technicians agree to restore broken and damaged teeth in the smile-zone of survivors of intimate partner violence. AACD dentists help erase memories of abuse by restoring smiles at no cost to survivors thereby restoring their lives
