Over 350 Quad City kids have a reason to show off their pearly whites with a beautiful smile. On February 1, 2008, they received the dental services they needed through the United Way of the Quad Cities Area's, sixth annual Give Kids a Smile! (GKAS) Day. In all, 83 Rock Island and Scott county dentists donated their time to provide dental cleanings and screenings.
This year alone over 52 million schools hours will be missed due to dental pain or dental disease effecting young children. Young children, living right here in the Quad Cities, need help too. In fact, of the 350 children receiving services 46% needed follow up care. 7% needed extensive follow up care for 8 or more fillings or extractions. Without United Way's GKAS Day these children would live with the pain and the possibility of a life threatening dental issue.
"United Way of the Quad Cities Area is an organization committed to directly impacting the community," said Scott Crane, president, United Way. "The United Way Give Kids a Smile! Day gives us the opportunity to convene key community volunteers, schools and agencies in an effort focused on ensuring children are ready for school by removing a barrier that is reducing attendance."
United Way started the local GKAS Day in 2003 by convening area business leaders, dentists and volunteers to help children of low-income families living in our community access the dental care they need. As the sixth annual GKAS comes to a close over 2,300 kids referred by area agencies and schools will have received close to $800,000 worth of in-kind dental services including 30 Clinton, Iowa children served by 4 Clinton area dentists.
Early prevention, detection and treatment encourages a lifelong habit of dental hygiene while building self-confidence, increasing social acceptance and a providing a better chance for a brighter future.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and educational information were provided by Colgate. Transportation fees sponsored by Foundation for the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dentists requesting supplies for the event received them through a donation by Sullivan Schein. Other sponsors included Lujack Lexus of Quad Cities, Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation, Quad City ParrotHead Club, and the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation. Fees for Clinton, IA were funded by Delta Dental of Iowa.
