National Dental Hygiene Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The new theme, “It’s simple. Healthy habits for a healthy smile,” continues to stress easy ways that our patients can incorporate a simple oral health regimen into an active and busy life in order to maintain optimal oral health. Through the NDHM program ADHA continues to stress increasing the public’s awareness about the importance of preventive services in maintaining good oral hygiene and to encourage others to develop and continue with a daily oral health routine.For more information, visit: www.adha.org/ndhm/index.html. Now AVAILABLE!
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Community Service Grants
The ADHA Institute for Oral Health has once again partnered with the Wrigley Company Foundation to offer the members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) the opportunity to apply for community service grants to coincide with National Dental Hygiene Month. Funding through this grant program will provide member hygienists’ the necessary monies to either start or continue an existing community service program within their respective communities.The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company will be giving up to $60,000 in Community Service Grants, in the amount of $2,500 and $5,000 per grantee, to applicants who are involved in a specific community health project. Applicants will need to demonstrate that the project is in harmony with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Institute for Oral Health mission and vision. The community service project should demonstrate its capacity to improve the public’s oral health and provide oral health education to underserved populations throughout the United States.The application deadline for the 2011 grant cycle is November 1, 2011. The application must be postmarked or received by the Institute by that date for consideration.Download the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Community Service Grant Application at www.adha.org/downloads/2011-12-Wrigley_Grant_Application.pdf.About the Wrigley Company Foundation
The Wrigley Company has a rich history of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Established in 1987 to formalize the giving of grants and donations, the Wrigley Company Foundation has distributed more than $50 million to non-profit organizations around the world. Wrigley is and will continue to be active in local communities and partner with those organizations that can help make a difference. Wrigley provides support not only with financial resources, but with the care and compassion of their 16,000 associates who have a passion for service and are provided opportunities throughout the year to exhibit their generous spirit.This information is available on our National Dental Hygiene Month website at www.adha.org/ndhm/index.html. Because the deadline for submissions in November 1st, we’d appreciate any space you could spare to help promote these grants. We’d hate for hygienists to miss out on this opportunity. One important note is that at least one person affiliated with the community service project must be a member of ADHA.Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have asked three dental hygienists to share their personal stories regarding their battle with this disease. I want to thank each of the incredibly brave women who have taken the time to shed some light on what it is like to cope with breast cancer. JoAnn, Stephanie and Maureen, all the best to you in the future.One contributer, JoAnn Gurenlian, has authored a brochure on Maintaining Oral Health During Cancer Treatment. The brochure is sponsored by Young Dental, and hard copies can be requested through their customer service department. Copies can be downloaded at www.youngdental.com/pdf/OralHealthDuringCancerBrochure.pdf.

Enjoy October! “Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.” — William Cullen Bryant.

Sincerely,

Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS

To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Editorial Director Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.