PACIFIC DENTAL SERVICES FOUNDATION

The PDS Foundation aims to create life-changing opportunities for the underserved communities by improving overall health by imporiving oral health locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition, we provide tools and resources to help build a lasting and sustainable impact on the communities we serve as well as on the volunteers who freely give their time.

By creating opportunities to serve, the PDS Foundation will positively enhance the lives of those in need and in turn those who serve. The Foundation has four key pillars through which we provide access and advocacy to disadvantages and underserved communities: special needs advocacy and training, mobile dental clinics, international clinics, and scholarships for individuals seeking economic independence through dental assistant education.

The PDS Foundation is active in the special needs community. We continue to look outwards to more fully-represent and serve those with special needs. Our efforts have been through funding and training that would help dentists feel comfortable and become more experienced with special needs patients. After more than fifteen events aimed to train professionals, the PDS Foundation was able to establish a not-for-profit special needs clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Here, dentists and office staff are better able to accommodate the patients through a fully-sensory integrated clinic that will in turn ensure that the visit is a success. This clinic will serve as a pilot for more self-sustainable clinic to come throughout the country.

The PDS Foundation also understands that not everyone lives close to a dental office or a local community health clinic, so we bring dental care to them. Whether through service or bringing dental care, the PDS Foundation is committed to creating opportunities for the underserved communities. The PDS Foundation reaches out to individuals at both the local and international level. Locally, the foundation facilitates access to dental care through mobile dental clinics. The Mobile Dental Clinic travels across the country providing donated dental care and spreading oral health awareness to people in challenged areas. Through our partnership with local organizations and by participating in major community healthcare events, the Mobile Dental Clinic has served over 5,700 patients and has donated over $3,987,000 in dentistry.

Internationally, the PDS Foundation provides individuals with opportunities to serve communities in need around the world through dental clinics. To date, we have been able to bring dental care and training to underserved communities in Ethiopia, Fiji, and Guatemala. We also help these communities by giving them the necessary equipment so they can better serve themselves in the future. So far, we have treated over 15,580 patients and donated more than $10,100,000 in dentistry.

Lastly, the PDS Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Assisting Scholarship in honor of her abiding dedication to improving the lives of those in need. The scholarship provides financial assistance to individuals with a passion for service and is based on applicant excellence as well as financial need. The scholarship aims to mold the next generation of servant-hearted, dental assistant leaders.

Our local events and organizations contribute to the Foundation's success. Our major donor, Pacific Dental Services, helps the Foundation have networks throughout the country and abroad. As a result, the Foundation has various options for both major and individual donors.

The PDS Foundation continues to create opportunities through dental care for the underserved populations. After more than fifteen events training over 1500 professionals, staff, and caretakers, the PDS Foundation is proud to announce the opening of our Special Needs non-profit clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Opening, in April of 2019, our specially trained staff and sensory-integrated clinic will allow for every patient to be treated and ensure the best care in a comforting environment. The clinic is the first of what hopes to be many more clinics across the country to advance this cause.

Multiple trips to the Tigray region of Ethiopia have helped us cultivate an ongoing relationship with the University of Mekelle Dental School. Support with supplies and equipment needs as well as clinical training has allowed the students at the University the opportunity to better serve their community in need. The Pacific Dental Services Foundation will continue its support of the Dental School in Mekelle with the intention that the program can and will grow into multiple points of contact throughout the region to support the people of Tigray, Ethiopia. In Fiji, the Pacific Dental Services Foundation Team is one of few professional dental teams to visit each year. In addition to serving hundreds of patients from all over Fiji in the clinic, the team provides care at the local elementary and middle school, as well as going out into rural villages that do not have access to transportation to visit the clinic. The Pacific Dental Services Foundation is proud the continue this partnership with the Mission at Natuvu Creek bringing quality oral health care to the people of Fiji. Our Guatemala program has contributed to the development of the first Pacific Dental Services Foundation Dental Clinic in Sumpango, Guatemala. A collaborative partnership with Hope Haven International will help create the comprehensive health care clinic for disabled residents, their families, and the surrounding community. The clinic provides dental, medical and nutritional education promoting overall health and well-being for the families it serves. On balance, our international service has helped donate over $10,100,000 in dentistry which has helped us serve over 15,500 patients.

To date, we have granted over 56 dental assistant scholarships and served over 5,700 patients in mobile dental clinics. We look to continue to advance access to dental care for the underserved communities. As our programs grow, we hope to increase the number of clinics and opportunities to serve locally, nationally, and internationally.