The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a $4 million dollar capital campaign called "Fostering a Brighter Tomorrow" to bolster continuing education opportunities for general dentists and to develop a nationwide oral health literacy curriculum for school-age children.
During AGD's recent Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., AGD members learned that more than $1 million has been raised toward the Foundation's campaign. The majority of the funds came from three sources: GC America announced a commitment of $550,000; Dentist's Advantage donated $250,000 and members of the Campaign Steering Committee, AGD Board and AGD Foundation Board donated personal contributions of nearly $250,000.
"This campaign affords members an opportunity to help address some of the most significant challenges facing our patients and our industry," says newly installed AGD President Thomas A. Howley, DDS, MAGD. "I hope everyone committed to better oral health will participate in this historic initiative."
The campaign, which aims to raise $4 million over the next three-to-five years, will strengthen a General Education Fund to support expanded educational opportunities for dentists, support industry collaboration and study by establishing a Program Development Fund, and support the development, promotion, testing and implementation of a comprehensive K-12 Oral Health Literacy (OHL) Program. The OHL initiative meets one of the Surgeon General's oral health objectives as agreed between the AGD and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in dentistry's Memorandum of Understanding toward Healthy People 2010 projects.
"This campaign demonstrates the AGD Foundation's firm commitment to improving oral health by focusing on prevention through education. Donor support will help the AGD Foundation set today's youth on the path to better oral health," says AGD Foundation president Elizabeth Clemente, DDS, FAGD.
AGD Executive Director Gerald "Jay" Donohue, Jr., CAE, CMP says, "The campaign is an ambitious and bold initiative to strengthen the AGD Foundation's resources and address priority needs identified by our members. In addition, this campaign will serve to dramatically increase AGD's profile with the dental profession and the public."
About the AGD Foundation
The AGD Foundation was established in 1972 to improve the oral health of the public and support the efforts of general dentists and the AGD. The AGD Foundation actively funds education and research initiatives that provide public oral health education and continuing education for member dentists. The Foundation has supported a wide variety of projects, from dental ethics to oral health of cancer patients.
The AGD Foundation awards funds to organizations whose programs or projects fulfill its goals and mission, as well as those of the AGD. The Foundation accepts donations year-round and also raises funds through special events such as an annual golf outing and silent auction held annually at the AGD Annual Meeting. Donations made by general dentists, corporate sponsors and individual contributors have helped make many of these grants possible.
How to Make a Pledge to "Fostering a Brighter Tomorrow"
Gifts to the campaign may be pledged over a three- or five-year period. For more information regarding the campaign, or to download and print a campaign pledge form, visit www.agd.org/foundation/campaign04.html or call 312.440.4356. Pledge forms may be mailed, faxed to 312.440.0559 or e-mailed to [email protected].
