The program won recognition from the American Dental Association, which is
promoting it as a national model. The big gain came in July, when the society
won a three-year, $402,000 grant from the Daughters of Charity Healthcare
Foundation of St. Louis.
…Jennifer Loyd of the Daughters of Charity Healthcare Foundation said it decided
to support Give Kids a Smile because it wanted to emphasize dental care for
needy children.
Loyd said the foundation is providing $195,000 to the dental program this year,
$130,000 next year and $77,000 in 2008. In recent months, the program also has
received $10,000 from the Saigh Foundation of St. Louis and $5,000 from Bank of
America.
Loyd said members of the foundation board visited the clinic in October and
were pleased with their decision.
“There is none of the usual kids’ fear of dental offices,” she said. “The
volunteers have such energy. Everyone is there because they care about the
kids.”
