The Celebration of Smiles held by National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy®/ Canada’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) in Chicago on February 21, 2013 was truly an evening to remember with the ToothFairy herself making an appearance. The event focused on the over 750,000 children reached through the non-profit NCOHF Affiliate network and community programs in the U.S. and Canada and the supporters that made it all possible.
Master of ceremonies and NCOHF Board Member, Dr. Gordon Christensen, encouraged all in attendance to get involved in supporting the cause. He highlighted by America’s ToothFairy/ Canada’s ToothFairy Signature Programs engaging dental professionals, students, children and families including the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program®, Tomorrow’s SMILES®, Dentist of Distinction, Esther Wilkins International Education Program & Legacy League, Students United for America’s/Canada’s ToothFairy® and the America’s/Canada’s ToothFairy Kids Club.
NCOHF President & CEO, Fern Ingber, presented the Affiliate of the Year Award to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Margaret Snellings accepted the award on behalf of the VCU Department of Pediatric Dentistry dressed in the ToothFairy costume she wears when providing oral health education to young children in the community. The award is provided to a member of the NCOHF Affiliate network spanning across the U.S. and Canada demonstrating exceptional commitment to oral health promotion in their community.
Ingber also announced the expansion of the partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and National Children’s Oral Health Foundation. The goal of this partnership expansion is to encourage good dental hygiene and foster stronger leaders among teens by providing critical oral health education and mentoring activities in some 4,000 Clubs throughout the U.S. Plans are being made for a similar partnership in Canada.
The highlight of the evening was an outstanding performance by fourteen-year-old rising star, Savannah Robinson. She shared her own personal story of being bullied and embarrassed by her broken smile. Recommended for Tomorrow’s SMILES, an America’s ToothFairy/ Canada’s ToothFairy teen program through her local Boys & Girls Club, she is now receiving the vital care she needs. She dedicated the song “Beautiful” to the NCOHF supporters and volunteers who helped make a difference in her life and for other children suffering the consequences of poor oral health. Her incredible performance moved many in attendance to tears and received a standing ovation from the audience.
“We are so fortunate to have wonderful supporters and volunteers dedicated to helping ensure at-risk children have access to the oral health services they need and deserve,” stated Fern Ingber, NCOHF President and CEO. “Our Celebration of Smiles is a chance to show what an impact they have helped make in the lives of over 750,000 children this year.”
Formed in the U.S. in 2006, as a collaborative effort of clinicians, academicians and corporate leaders, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation® (NCOHF) is dedicated to eliminating children’s preventable suffering from pediatric dental disease by providing programs and comprehensive resources to deliver community-based critical preventive, educational and treatment services. Recognizing the mouth is the gateway to the body, NCOHF, also known as America’s ToothFairy® in the U.S., supports the delivery of oral health education and care beginning at the prenatal level. Now working to extend services throughout Canada as Canada’s ToothFairy, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation is reaching children across North America. Through the generosity of dedicated supporters, NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy/Canada’s ToothFairy has reached millions of children through its national non-profit clinical network and volunteer professional and student community service programs.
About National Children’s Oral Health Foundation of Canada: Canada’s ToothFairy®
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation of Canada: Canada’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) is a nonprofit entity dedicated to raising awareness of the #1 chronic childhood illness: pediatric dental disease, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. Working to engage outstanding clinicians, exemplary non-profit community programs and community-minded corporations, Canada’s ToothFairy is building a powerful, united effort to eliminate tooth decay and protect the smiles of our most vulnerable children. For more information about working with Canada’s ToothFairy, please visit www.CanadasToothFairy.org.
