The American Dental Association (ADA) and its charitable arm, the ADA Foundation (ADAF), have announced initiatives for the dental community to help provide immediate and long-term support for tsunami victims.
Immediate support for tsunami victims can be provided by contributing to a relief fund organized by the ADA and the ADA Foundation.
The ADA and the ADAF have each donated $50,000 to be used as a challenge match fund, giving ADA member dentists, team members and others a chance not only to help, but to have their contributions make twice the impact. The ADAF will match -- dollar for dollar -- up to $100,000 donated for immediate relief needs.
The total raised for immediate assistance will go to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
LONG-TERM ASSISTANCE
The ADA/ADAF relief efforts also will focus on long-term assistance through a Tsunami Dental Reconstruction Fund scheduled for launching after the more immediate emergency fundraising effort. The fund encourages contributions from dentists, dental organizations and other interested parties. The goal is to help affected countries rebuild or reconstruct dental clinics, hospitals, dental schools or infrastructure projects involved in the delivery of oral health care.
The ADA and ADAF plan to coordinate the long-term rebuilding efforts with the FDI World Dental Federation and the national dental organizations of the countries affected by the disaster.
HOW TO MAKE A DONATION
The ADA and the ADA Foundation encourage the dental community to donate to the Tsunami Assistance Fund and also participate in the longer-term reconstruction fundraising effort to be launched in the very near future.
To make a donation, download and complete the Tsunami Assistance Fund form at http://www.ada.org/ada/prod/adaf/form_tsunami.pdf and return it to the ADA Foundation, 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, 60611. Make checks payable to the ADA Foundation, or use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express card.
For more information, please contact ADAF Director of Development, Dwight S. Edwards at (312) 440-4717 or at [email protected].
