The Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (S4L) has raised $75,000 at its second annual fundraising event at the 11th Annual Damon Forum -- a clinical education and practice-building conference for orthodontists sponsored by Ormco.
The funds will help S4L continue its mission of encouraging orthodontists to provide free, quality orthodontic care to individuals with financial challenges and special orthodontic needs, according to Ormco.
One of S4L's most successful fundraisers to date, the Damon Forum's Casino Night featured casino and poker games that garnered more than $11,500 of the funds raised. Adding to this was a silent auction, in which a surfboard signed by Bethany Hamilton -- who relied on the Damon System to improve her smile -- was auctioned for $5,500. Soul Surfer books and DVDs, which showcase the inspiring story of Hamilton and her surfing comeback, also helped raise more than $1,000.
In 2012, Smile for a Lifetime orthodontists will award more than 1,000 orthodontic scholarships to deserving children, totaling more than $6 million in free treatment, according to Ben Burris, DDS, the individual responsible for creating the S4L business model and starting the first S4L chapter in Jonesboro, AR, in 2008.
Currently, 98 chapters serve 36 states in the U.S. Each chapter treats six or more young people annually. Orthodontists who are members of S4L's local chapters are provided ongoing support from the foundation. In addition to receiving assistance in setting up a local 501(c)(3), S4L is charged with helping chapters build a local board of directors who are responsible for screening applicants and serving as community ambassadors.
AsS4L's primary sponsor, Ormco provides free brackets -- from any of its appliance systems -- to orthodontists who award S4L scholarships.
