BLACKWOOD – Senator Fred H. Madden and Assemblyman David R. Mayer will tour the “Give Kids a Smile!” program (GKAS) on Wednesday, February 2 at Camden County College’s Blackwood campus from 8:30 AM to 4 PM.
“In these tough economic times, dental health can fall by the wayside when it comes to making decisions like either visiting the dentist or putting food on the table,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “I commend the New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), and the many talented health professionals who donate their time to help provide preventative and emergency dental care for the State’s underprivileged kids.”
“Unfortunately, not all hard-working families in New Jersey can afford dental insurance or regular visits to a dentist,” said Assemblyman Mayer, D-Gloucester Township. “The ‘Give Kids a Smile!” program provides children not only with a dental checkup, but also with the educational tools necessary to ensure proper dental health long into adulthood. The dentists and other volunteers whose work supports the program should be applauded for recognizing that there is nothing more precious than the smile of a child.”
The GKAS program is in its third year of operation of working to raise awareness of the importance of oral health care in New Jersey’s children. The program, a cooperative effort of NJDA and UMDNJ, is comprised of over 350 dentists and other dental health professionals who volunteer their time at various locations throughout the state to help provide a wide range of dental services for children ages 12 and under.
“It is good to see our state legislators taking a keen interest in the oral health of children, and seeing first hand, the commitment of organized dentistry,” said Dr. Frank Graham, president of the NJDA. “More and more children sign up for this program each year. It’s amazing to see just how many children go years and years without a check-up because they cannot afford it, or they simply can’t access care close to home. One day is no substitute for regular dental visits, but through this program we hope to show children, and more importantly, their parents, how important oral health is to overall health,” he said.
WHO: Senator Madden and Assemblyman Mayer
WHAT: Give Kids a Smile Day program
WHEN: Wednesday February 2 from 8:30 AM to 4 PM
WHERE: Camden County College’s Blackwood campus ; 207 Taft Hall, College Drive