On Saturday, June 2, 2018, volunteers from many Smile Brands affiliated offices around Florida came together for a Day of Giving at Bright Now! Dental in Orlando, Florida. Fifty individuals in need from the Orlando community received free dental care from these volunteers, totaling over $40,000 in donated dentistry. Procedures provided include cleanings, fillings, oral cancer screenings, extractions, and sealants.
“We saw 50 patients and they were all so very grateful not only for the treatment they were receiving but for the compassion they felt from all the volunteers,” said Ana Vazquez, Smile Brands Inc.’s Director of Market Operations for Central Florida, who was in attendance at the Day of Giving. “I am very proud to be part of such a wonderful team and organization!”
Many patients expressed their sincerest gratitude for the care and compassion they received from the volunteer dentists and support staff. “Thank you so much for making my smile much brighter,” said patient Stacey Hutton. Patient Paula Lamoreaux said she was “completely in awe of how selfless all the volunteers were who came today.”
Wanda Golden had not seen a dentist in over 7 years. She heard about the clinic at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and was very thankful and appreciative of this event. When Dr. Alexander Duque took a look at Wanda’s teeth, he noticed that she needed much more work than a simple cleaning, filling, or extraction. Dr. Duque decided that he wanted to bring Wanda back to his office at a later date to do more extensive work free of charge, to which Wanda was so excited and overwhelmed that she began to cry.
Other providers who volunteered their time at the Orlando Day of Giving include Dr. Gregorio Aquino, Dr. Elodie Epane-Kamdem, Dr. Angel Rivera, and Dr. Gemma Velez. Dr. Rivera will also be providing extensive pro-bono work for another patient through Smiles for Everyone Foundation’s Smile Makeover program.
Smiles for Everyone Foundation will be back in Central Florida for another Day of Giving next year. Please check out our website and follow our Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram accounts to stay up to date on current and future programs.
