Florida Dental Health Foundation

A Legacy of Dentistry

The Florida Dental Health Foundation

The Florida Dental Health Foundation's mission is to generate and direct resources for charitable and educational oral-health programs for the people of Florida. This non-profit, charitable corporation assists individuals, groups and programs inside and outside the dental profession to enhance the quality, accessibility and public perception of Florida dentistry.

The Florida Dental Health Foundation is on a fast track to inform the dental community about its cause. In the last year, more dentists recognized the need for a Foundation to support programs the dental profession endorses.

FDHF developed this case statement to educate Florida's dental and allied dental leadership about the Foundation's role in supporting the dental profession.

Foundation name changed to reflect changing needs

The FDA House of Delegates established the Florida Dental "Education" Foundation in 1980. It was incorporated in the State of Florida as a non-profit organization. The Foundation received its Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational foundation. In the mid-1980s, the name was changed to Florida Dental "Health" Foundation to address a broader variety of funding needs.

Prestigious Board of Directors governs FDHF

An 18-member Board of Directors currently governs the FDHF. The Board may consist of up to 25 members. The Board is the Foundation's policy-making body. The FDHF's administrative agency is a seven-member executive committee, including the president, first and second vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, at-large director and immediate past president.

Board members consist of Class I and Class II directors. The Florida Dental Association Board of Trustees elects eight (8) Class I directors. Up to 17 Class II directors can be elected by existing board members. Class II directors include one representative each from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and Nova-Southeastern College of Dental Medicine. Other Class II directors can include private practicing, public health and retired dentists and representatives of allied dental health organizations, corporations and the general public.

The Board of Directors includes some of the dental community's most influential leaders. The Foundation's Board of Directors is comprised of American Dental Association House of Delegates members; current and past officers of national and state dental-specialty organizations; FDA past presidents, officers, trustees and council members; current and past FDA component and affiliate officers; corporate executives; and deans at dental education institutions.

The Foundation Board meets semiannually in January and June. The executive committee meets quarterly.

Foundation Board addresses dental-community needs

Each year, the FDHF Board of Directors reviews its major projects and programs. As issues facing the dental profession change, the Board reviews support for programs that address these concerns. Benefiting the public and the dental profession is paramount in the Foundation's decision to provide financial support for a project or program.

Before the Florida Dental Health Foundation was formed, the FDA funded programs through dues or non-dues related income. If funds weren't available from these sources, programs weren't funded. The FDHF, through individual and corporate donors' generous gifts, provides another avenue to fund programs the dental profession supports.

Allied dental education

Allied dental education is one of the important programs the Foundation funds. Shortages of trained dental assistants and dental hygienists could affect providing services to the public. The foundation allocates funds to support Project:SELECT activities and programs.

The strength of the dental-team concept lies in having enough allied-dental personnel in the marketplace. To meet this priority, the Foundation uses unrestricted funds from donors to provide recruitment grants to schools that have allied dental-health care programs.

Because of budget limits, many schools don't have enough money to properly market these programs. The Foundation is a major funding source in the efforts to increase enrollment in most accredited programs.

Financial aid

Some students who are interested in careers in allied dental-education fields must seek financial aid. The FDHF provides scholarships to allied dental students.

Dental-health education

The FDHF also is concerned about educating children about proper dental care. It supports developing and distributing dental health education programs for elementary and middle schools. It also funds many Children's Dental Health Month activities.

Dental services for the needy

Another concern is the growing number of people who can't afford proper dental care. The FDHF works with Project: Dentists Care to provide funding for non-profit organizations to provide dental services to needy people.

Through grants, the Foundation has helped many organizations buy dental materials, supplies and equipment to provide needed dental services.

Humanitarian awards

Each year, the Foundation recognizes dentists who donate their time to provide humanitarian dental programs to the needy people of Florida, the United States or developing countries. Many dentists devote weeks of service each year so needy people can receive dental care. Selected humanitarian volunteers receive an award and a $1,000 contribution to the charity of their choice.

The Florida Dental Health Foundation is preparing to present its annual “Humanitarian Awards”. Following tradition, the Humanitarian awards will be presented during the first session of the Florida Dental Association’s House of Delegates meeting at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando.

If your association or organization wishes to nominate an individual for this award, please complete the nomination form and return to the FDHF office by April 1. Backup materials, such as newspaper or magazine articles or photograph may be included.