A Legacy of Dentistry (continued)
Disaster Fund
When natural disasters strike, as in the hurricane season of 2004, the Foundation is prepared to help dentists whose offices are destroyed. Grants and loans are available from the FDHF's Disaster Fund to help dentists find temporary facilities while they rebuild their offices.
Through strategic plan development and continued executive-committee oversight, the Foundation will continue to provide funding for programs benefiting the dental profession. Supporting these programs will continue to raise the dental profession's image in the eyes of the public.
Foundation benefits dentists, non-profit programs and the public
The Foundation's goals include:
- ensuring Florida has enough allied dental-care personnel to employ in private-practicing dentists, public health, federal and state institutions and non-profit dental clinics.
- providing funds to private, non-profit organizations for dental materials, supplies and equipment so they may offer free dental care to needy people.
- providing elementary, middle and high schools with dental-health education programs for their health-sciences programs.
- providing funds to conduct yearly, statewide preventive-dentistry activities in grades K through 5 in conjunction with National Children's Dental Health Month.
- providing the public with dental-care information.
- recognizing dentists who support humanitarian projects for needy people in Florida, the United States or third-world countries.
- providing emergency assistance to Florida-licensed dentists whose offices are destroyed by a natural disaster (e.g., flood, hurricane or tornado).
Foundation protects Florida dentistry's future
The Foundation's objectives are to:
- increase the number of dental hygiene, dental assisting and dental-laboratory technology graduates. The Foundation provides matching funds to help schools recruit qualified applicants for programs.
- increase the number of dental hygiene, dental assisting and dental-laboratory technology students who receive scholarships.
- increase the number of elementary schools that incorporate the dental-health education program into their health-sciences program.
- develop and offer a dental-health education program to Florida's private and public middle schools.
- increase grants to non-profit organizations that provide dental care to needy people.
- increase the number of private and public elementary schools participating in statewide Children's Dental Health Month activities.
- increase the contribution to the yearly Humanitarian Award winner's designated charity.
Foundation supports endorsed programs and services
The FDHF supports many projects and programs the dental profession endorses, including:
- Project: SELECT -- Grants for schools to recruit students into allied dental health careers.
- Scholarships -- Financial help for needy dental hygiene, dental assisting and dental-laboratory technology students.
- Project: Dentists Care -- Funds for non-profit organizations to purchase dental materials, supplies and equipment to provide free dental care to needy people.
- School dental-health education -- Developing and distributing dental-health education programs to private and public schools; providing support for activities of Health Occupation Students of America
- Humanitarian Award -- Annually recognizing a Florida licensed dentist who provides dental care to needy people in Florida, the United States or a third-world country.
- Children's Dental Health Month -- Yearly support for a statewide preventive-dentistry program for private and public elementary schools in conjunction with National Children's Dental Health Month.
- Disaster relief -- Financial assistance to dentists whose offices are destroyed by a natural disaster (e.g., flood, hurricane, tornado).
FDA provides FDHF staff and facilities
As an in-kind service, the Florida Dental Association provides Florida Dental Health Foundation staff. The FDA executive director is the Foundation's chief operating officer. FDA directors also are responsible for the Foundation's daily operation, including managing projects and programs; fund-raising; accounting; tax and financial services; legal affairs; data processing; communications, marketing and public relations.
FDA staff provide the Foundation with technical assistance and support. FDA staff also manage all Foundation programs, including annual, corporate and planned-giving; grants administration; special events; and projects and programs.
The FDA provides the facilities and most equipment for the FDHF as an in-kind contribution. The FDHF Headquarters is located in Tallahassee.
Foundation relies on dentistry's support
Donor support for FDHF activities is critical. There are several ways to contribute to the Foundation.
The FDHF conducts its annual giving campaign through a voluntary contribution on the FDA's annual dues statement. Sustaining member contribution is $125.
The Foundation has established several donor-recognition categories for its annual campaign. All donors are recognized annually in the FDHF's newsletter, The Communicator. Lapel pins and plaques are presented to contributors at various giving levels. To provide donors with more tax advantages and a steady income, the Foundation offers several planned-giving vehicles. Bequests, trusts and deferred-gift annuities are planned gifts that benefit donors and allow them to leave a legacy for dentistry through the FDHF.
The Foundation encourages potential contributors to consult their financial advisor to determine the best way to give. The Foundation accepts cash, securities, personal property and real estate.
How you can help
Your contributions to FDHF can help build a legacy of dentistry in Florida. Contact the Florida Dental Health Foundation
1111 E. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Telephone: (800) 877-9922, Ext. 119
Fax: (850) 681-0116
E-mail: tnorman@floridadental.org |
