Eastman Dental’s Pediatric Dentistry Patients Have Fun Playing On The New Equipment Purchased By Funds Donated to Sponsor-A-Smile.

Your Support Has Sponsored Countless Smiles!

In the three and a half years since the Sponsor-a-Smile program has existed, countless families have been helped.

“Each dollar donated can go a long way toward making a real difference in the lives of our patients,” said Lenora Colaruotolo, Eastman Dental Center social worker who helped develop and launch the program with help from Eastman’s Program Development Office. This hardship fund initiative was the first ever attempt to raise funds for use at the discretion of social work staff to address unmet financial needs of EDC’s patient population.

Over the last 12 months, nearly $2, 500 has been raised, used for many different purposes.

“We purchased new, sturdy, age-appropriate play equipment, and ordered five subscriptions to children’s magazines for the busy pediatric waiting room,” Colaruotolo said. “Now our pediatric patient population has additional toys to play with that encourages development of fine motor skills while creating an environment that promotes literacy and positive social interaction.”

In addition, 22 highly anxious children were able to undergo treatment only because Sponsor-A-Smile covered the cost of the prescribed medication not covered by Medicaid Insurance.

Enough funds were also available to help defray transportation costs to bring 20 pediatric patient families to the Eastman Dental Center and purchase 500 toothbrushes and toothpaste to distribute to our patients and their families.

“This hardship fund is near depleted, and your help is requested, needed, and greatly appreciated,” said Colaruotolo. The next goal is to create a children’s library of sorts for our pediatric patients. With a sufficient amount of money raised, Colaruotolo will purchase additional magazine and newspaper subscriptions, educational videos and books, along with shelving, and even small tables and chairs for the children to sit at while they read.

I hope you’ll consider supporting Sponsor-A-Smile,” Colaruotolo added. “Children learn through repetition, including education about good oral health habits. Having a library of videos and books available that emphasize and encourage these important messages to parents and children is a continuation of our mission at Eastman Dental Center.”

To donate, gifts may be sent to: Dentistry Development Office at the University of Rochester, 300 East River Road, P.O. Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627, or to make a gift directly, to Dentistry’s secure on-line site: Make A Gift to Sponsor A Smile and direct your gift to Sponsor-A-Smile. Payroll deduction is also available.