CHCAGO, Illinois—The Academy of General Dentistry Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of general dentists as they strive to improve the oral health of the public, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in October 2012.
Founded in 1972, the AGD Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the AGD—supports programs that offer dental care and oral health literacy to underserved populations, as well as educational programs that train general dentists to better serve the elderly, people with physical and mental disabilities, and children.
“The AGD Foundation was established to improve the oral health of the public and support the efforts of general dentists and the AGD,” said AGD Foundation President Paula S. Jones, DDS, FAGD. “We believe that oral health is directly related to overall health and that good oral health habits can improve a person’s quality of life.”
In the summer of 2012, the AGD and AGD Foundation sponsord their third annual outreach project, “Nation of Smiles, One Smile at a Time,” during the AGD 2012 Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Philadelphia. The project provided nearly $150,000 worth of free dental care to 325 underserved Philadelphia residents.
The AGD Foundation also helps support local community outreach programs though the AGD Foundation Grant Program. In 2012, this program provided a total of $40,000 in grants to nine charitable organizations for their work with local access to care programs.
For the past several years, the AGD Foundation also has teamed with Special Olympics Special Smiles to identify general dentists who are willing to provide primary oral health care for Special Olympics athletes, their families, and caregivers.
“The AGD Foundation looks to continue its mission of funding quality access to care programs that provide much-needed oral health care services to people in need,” Dr. Jones said.
The AGD Foundation’s efforts are supported by individual and corporate donations. To donate, visit www.agd.org/agdf/contribution/contributionform.asp.
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