The good news for participants is that they don’t have to go anywhere to support the KidsSmiles mission. Cheryl Janssen, KidsSmiles’ CEO and executive director, explains, “The holiday season is extremely busy for most people. From family gatherings to school plays to fundraising events, people have to pick and choose what they can fit into an already hectic schedule. The ‘UnBall’ offers the opportunity to spend time at home with your family while helping KidsSmiles offer dental health services and education to children in need by simply visiting our new website and making an online donation.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently identified oral health as one of the “leading health indicators” of the Healthy People 2020 initiative. For children suffering from tooth decay, the No. 1 chronic illness in U.S. children, this recognition is extremely important. Children who suffer from untreated tooth decay can be in pain, have trouble eating, experience low self-esteem, be malnourished, and miss many days of school. In fact, children miss more than 51 million hours of school each year because of dental-related illness, not to mention the work hours that parents miss.
KidsSmiles serves inner-city children in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, who, without these dental centers most likely would not receive dental health care. The free education, outreach, and screening programs tie dental care to overall health care, providing thousands of children and their families with the tools they need to lead healthier lives. Eighty-six percent of every dollar donated to KidsSmiles directly supports these services. To learn more about the organization and support children’s dental health visit Kids Smiles’ new website at www.kidssmiles.org.
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