Welcome to the new year!  We hope 2009 is happy and prosperous for you all!

Preparations for our 2009 Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program are already underway.  Our committee has some veterans along with some rookies bringing some new blood.   Last year we treated 200 children and delivered almost $190,000 in oral health care.  We’re hoping to do even better this year.  The date is set for Saturday, February 21, 2009!
We can always use volunteer dentists, so we’d love to have you join us.

There’s no way we could accomplish any of that without the terrific support of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine.  They graciously open their doors for us, and many of their faculty and staff volunteer, to say nothing of the hundreds of dental students who help out.  Last year we were joined by not only volunteer hygienists, but students from the hygiene school, and they’ll be back too.  Finally, our friends at Henry Schein go the extra mile, mirroring their national sponsorship of GKAS with tremendous local support as well.  Last year a dozen or more of their staff even volunteered to help make the day a success.

You may remember that the dvd chronicling our Give Kids A Smile event was duplicated and sent to every state and national senator and representative, as well as the governor’s office.  I’m glad that we not only had a great story to tell, but found a way to tell it to the people who need to hear it!

2008 saw growth not only in GKAS, but our other programs as well.  Our second year for the mentor program saw that program more than double in participation!  The SNDS has worked with the Community Coalition for Oral Health, Head Start, and other community based programs, as well. 

You made this possible, by your membership and your participation.  I hope this is only a good foundation for even better things to come in 2009!