‘Smile Drive’ for dental products benefits C.O. kids
Designed to raise awareness and collect oral care products for at-risk children and teens, the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive will be held this February, National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and rinse will benefit Bend-based Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic, an America’s ToothFairy Affiliate non-profit children’s oral health program, and Kemple Clinic’s partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon.
Becoming an America’s ToothFairy affiliate requires a rigorous screening process and Kemple Clinic is Central Oregon’s only designated affiliate. In fact, it is one of only three affiliates in the entire Northwest; OHSU and University of Washington’s Dental School being the other two. The Smile Drive also kicks off Kemple Clinic’s year round collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon to ensure local kids learn positive oral health habits and have the resources they need to maintain those habits. Promoting healthy lifestyles is a key program at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon, which serves more than 1,500 youth in Deschutes County each year. By joining forces, Kemple Clinic will be able to deliver oral health education and dental screenings to nurture healthy habits in local kids year round.
With participation from 3,900 Walmart locations, the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive will promote oral health for families across the nation. Local community members can visit the Bend or Redmond Walmart ® stores to drop off donated oral care products for local at-risk youth in the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive Box and pick up their free Kid’s Activity Packs including America’s ToothFairy Kids Club membership cards, ToothFairy 101 ® educational activities for children and coupons from Walmart, Crest and Oral-B. Patrons donating to the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive can share their experience by snapping a selfie and using the hashtag #SmileDrive2014 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. All oral care products collected in the Bend and Redmond WalMart stores during the Smile Drive will be used by Kemple Clinic during the Boys & Girls Clubs’ oral health education and screening events.
“We are so grateful that Walmart, an America’s ToothFairy Proud Underwriter, is helping to ensure children across the nation benefit from our National Children’s Dental Health Month campaign,” said Fern Ingber, NCOHF President & CEO. “Their participation in the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive, combined with support from Kid’s Crest ® and Oral-B ® Stages ® products at Walmart and engagement from Kemple Clinic, will help promote healthy smiles for all children while helping to give at-risk youth the tools they need to prevent the pain and embarrassment associated with tooth decay.”
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, known as America’s ToothFairy, was formed in 2006 as an aggressive response to eliminate pediatric dental disease by providing community programs with comprehensive resources to deliver vital educational, preventive, and treatment services to children most in need. Supporting the delivery of oral health education and care beginning at the prenatal level, America’s ToothFairy engages caring dental professionals and the general public in programs designed to promote children’s oral health. Through the generosity of dedicated Underwriters including Walmart and support from Kid’s Crest ® and Oral-B ® Stages ® products at Walmart, America’s ToothFairy has reached millions of children through its non-profit clinical network, Kids Club and volunteer professional and student community service programs. For more information on Kemple Clinic and America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive in Central Oregon, contact Suzanne Browning at suzanne@kempleclinic.com
or (541) 617-1653.
About Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic
Kemple Clinic was founded in 1998 by retired dentist and long-time Bend resident, Dr. H.M. Kemple. Dr. Kemple’s mission was to eliminate pediatric oral disease. To this day, Kemple Clinic strives to support that mission by providing free, high quality, on-site and offsite dental screenings and preventative education needed to promote the oral health and overall well-being of children in our community. Kemple also offers on-site hygiene appointments (cleanings, x-rays, risk assessments) at the clinic facility for underserved children in Central Oregon. If, upon assessment, acute dental treatments are necessary, Kemple Clinic works with more than 70 volunteer dentists in Central Oregon to deliver these urgent and critical dental treatment services to qualified children in Central Oregon.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon
Founded in 1994, it is Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon’s mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. We offer programming focusing on three core areas: Academic Success, Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. BGCCO believes that each child must be given the means necessary to become healthy and productive citizens, regardless of the community resources. BGCCO operates four Clubs in Central Oregon with locations in Downtown Bend, East Bend, Redmond, and Terrebonne. Further information can be found online at www.bgcco.org
About National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy ®
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) is 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. With a growing Affiliate network of exemplary non-profit community programs, the America’s ToothFairy Kids Club, professional and student service programs, America’s ToothFairy is building a powerful, united effort to eliminate tooth decay and protect the smiles of our most vulnerable children. Also extending services in Canada as Canada’s ToothFairy, NCOHF is reaching children throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.
