The American Dental Association (ADA) has increased its donation to the ADA Foundation (ADAF) Disaster Response Fund to aid Hurricane Katrina victims by $250,000, raising its contribution to $300,000. This brings the disaster fund's current total to $1,173,354.
The ADA and ADAF established the disaster fund with $50,000 each that was followed by a $50,000 donation from the ADA's wholly owned subsidiary, ADA Business Enterprises, Inc.
To Provide Dental Care from Mobile Dental Offices in Affected Areas
The ADA and the ADA Foundation, along with its partners, also are focusing on providing dental care to the affected areas. Three mobile dental offices will go to Louisiana and three dental units will be in Mississippi, including the state-of-art mobile exhibit, Tomorrow's Dental Office Today (TDOT).
Developed by Henry Schein, Inc., an international distributor of health care products and services, the exhibit was scheduled to appear early next month at the ADA's Annual Session in Philadelphia. However, the ADA and Henry Schein, Inc., decided that two fully operational operatories in the mobile exhibit would do better providing hurricane relief and diverted it to Mississippi.
Assistance offered through Help-the-Dentist program
Dentists who lost their homes in the disaster may also find shelter and assistance from fellow dentists through the ADA Foundation's Help-the-Dentist program. So far, 241 dentists have called ADAF offering to assist displaced dentists with temporary housing and/or employment.
Securing In-Kind Donations
The ADA Foundation continues to secure in-kind donations from dental companies and manufactures to support dental clinics and mobile dental units serving those impacted by the hurricane.
ADAF Disaster Response Fund
You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by supporting the ADA and the ADA Foundation's response to the disaster. Your financial support will help expand charitable assistance that is made available for ADA Foundation grants for dentists and their families in need of food, clothing and shelter; ADA Foundation grants to organizations providing dental services to affected areas; the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund; Louisiana State University School of Dentistry recovery needs; or, unrestricted hurricane assistance, wherever help that is needed most.
To make a donation, download the form from www.ada.org/goto/hurricane and return via fax to 312-440-3526, or by mail to the ADA Foundation, Disaster Response Fund, 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Or call in your donation to the ADA Member Service Center on (800) 621-8099 using a credit card by phone.
