posted on 6/1/2009
Non-profit organization adds events in 2009 thanks to plenty of support from dental manufacturers, volunteers, pro sports
by Stan Goff, Executive Editor
When times get tough, it’s often much more difficult to find enough support to help causes that count heavily on donations and volunteer efforts.
But that is not the case with TeamSmile, a non-profit organization that plans to expand this year and help as many needy children get dental care as it can. TeamSmile, a dental outreach and flagship program of Henry Schein Cares, kicked off the 2009 calendar year with an event tied to college football’s East-West Shrine Game in Houston back in January.
Now it’s ready to kick off a full slate of professional baseball, football and golf events this summer and fall, starting up with a July 17 event with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, and followed up with a Milwaukee Brewers event the following week at Miller Stadium. For specific times and registration information visit the TeamSmile Website.
Henry Schein’s Jason Krause, who co-founded TeamSmile along with Dr. Bill Busch of the North Kansas City Dental Group, said it’s a testament to the good cause and a great dental community that TeamSmile is expanding even in tough economic times.
“In an economic downturn it’s amazing to see people still sticking with their philosophy of doing good and giving back,” Krause said. “Our program is a true testament to that. We had six events last year and were hoping to have 10 this year.”
The group’s first big event was built around a Kansas City Chiefs football game in 2006 and thanks to enthusiastic support from dental volunteers, manufacturers, insurance companies and the Chiefs organization, 130 low-income and homeless children were screened and 40 were treated on the spot.
Donated materials, services and equipment from the likes of Colgate, Henry Schein Dental and MetLife make it all possible, along with dental volunteers that include dentists, assistants, hygienists and dental students.
Krause said TeamSmile is now “all paperless and driven through Dentrix ” practice management software. Dr. Busch adds that Henry Schein’s OATS (Office Automation and Technology Solutions) has agreed to donate laptops and other computer equipment to TeamSmile as the program expands.
