NCOHF expands partnership to celebrate dental health month

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina--In celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy and Boys & Girls Clubs of America and its 4,000 clubs have announced an expansion of a partnership that began in 2010.

The goal of the partnership expansion is to encourage good dental hygiene and foster stronger leaders among teens by providing critical oral health education and mentoring activities in some 4,000 clubs nationwide.

Through implementation of the America’s ToothFairy Youth Mentoring Program, clubs will begin incorporating oral health education into leadership activities.

Using America’s ToothFairy Community Education Kits, youth mentors will develop leadership skills while sharing information on good oral hygiene practices, prevention strategies and proper nutrition with Club members. Each America’s ToothFairy Community Education Kit includes age-appropriate oral health lessons for younger club members.

The partnership began through Tomorrow’s SMILES, an America’s ToothFairy program that provides donated oral health services for at-risk teens. Youth development professionals at local Boys & Girls Clubs recommend members who suffer pain and ridicule from damaged smiles.

In return, America’s ToothFairy identifies caring dentists who are willing to donate their services and expertise to give these deserving teens an attractive, healthy smile. In exchange, teen recipients Pay It Forward by sharing helpful oral health lessons with younger Boys & Girls Club members.

“Our positive experience working with the America’s ToothFairy life-changing Tomorrow’s SMILES program sparked our interest in further expanding our wonderful partnership,” said Jim Clark, Boys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO.

“With the educational materials and free dental services provided by America’s ToothFairy, we will continue to promote educational and leadership learning opportunities for the young people we serve to ensure they live healthier, more productive lives.”

Added Fern Ingber, NCOHF president and CEO: “We are honored to be a strong partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Working together, we will help prevent the devastation caused by childhood tooth decay as we protect the smiles of thousands of young people across America.”

For more information, visit GreatFutures.org.

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