Between October 13 – 15, participants around the country will help survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive life-changing smile restorations by participating in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s (AACDCF) Virtual Race for Smiles. Race for Smiles participants choose to participate in a physical activity like running, biking or yoga while wearing their official Race for Smiles t-shirt.
The event benefits the AACDCF’s Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program. GBAS restores the damaged smiles of survivors of domestic and sexual violence who’ve received dental injuries from the violence. One in four women is a victim of domestic violence, and 75% of battering occurs to the head and face, resulting in a tremendous amount of dental injuries. The program has restored more than 1,700 smiles nationwide and is looking to help even more survivors.
The annual Virtual Race for Smiles takes place during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“The Virtual Race for Smiles is a great opportunity for communities around the world to raise awareness of some of the devastating effects of domestic violence. In addition, by registering for the event, participants help those who have received dental injuries due to the violence get life-changing smile restorations through the Give Back a Smile program,” said Lisa Fitch, AACDCF Director.
For more information and to register for the Virtual Race for Smiles, visit www.aacd.com/raceforsmiles.
About Give Back a Smile
Give Back a Smile was developed to address a need in the communities of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) members. Volunteer dentists and laboratory technicians agree to restore the broken and damaged teeth in the smile-zone of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. To date, AACD members have donated more than $16 million in services to restore smiles to help more than 1,700 individuals.
