2023: The Year in Review
DECEMBER 7, 2022
Reflecting on the 2023 events organized by the DCDS Foundation, it's evident how fortunate we are to have such a strong network of friends and colleagues. Together with the Dallas County Dental Society and many volunteers from our community, the DCDS Foundation consistently strives to promote and enhance oral health. Each year presents new challenges in our community, and united, we stand to address and overcome them.
In 2023, the DCDS Foundation and its friends made a significant impact by serving over 1870 children and adults in need through initiatives such as Give Kids a Smile, Tooth Talk, Senior Smiles, and participation in school fairs and community health fairs.
A noteworthy addition to our efforts this year was the inaugural Dental Tree Program, a three-day event that showcased various ways to serve our most vulnerable populations. The focus of this year's program was on Senior Smiles, in collaboration with VNA Meals on Wheels. During this event, 20 dental volunteers delivered 155 meals and oral health kits, benefiting a total of 129 Meals on Wheels clients in a single morning.
Furthermore, the Dental Tree Program extended its reach by inviting dentists from private offices to assist their most vulnerable patients. Through these collaborative efforts, we were able to reach new populations in Dallas County, generating over $22,000 in donated dental services during our private office event. A heartfelt thank you goes to Dr. Michael Rainwater, Dr. William Phillips, Dr. Mary Swift, Dr. Chi Trieu, and their teams for providing essential care to these patients.
The DCDS Foundation also successfully hosted its fourth annual Dental Charity Summit in early 2023. This summit continued the tradition of fostering collaboration by bringing together leaders from community health organizations to share strategies, solutions, and challenges.
These collective efforts underscore the Foundation's unwavering dedication to enhancing oral health and serving our community.