Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Expands Network of Smiles with Second Annual GKAS Promising Practices Symposium

ARLINGTON, VA: JULY 8, 2008 The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation (DTAF), recognized for its leadership in funding initiatives improving access to oral health care and education, announces the second in a series of successful events promoting the reach of the American Dental Association Foundation's Give Kids A Smile ^© campaign. The 2008 GKAS Promising Practices Symposium, a DTAF sponsored event, was hosted at the ADA Headquarters in Chicago June 12-14, 2008.

Moderated by DTAF Board members Kevin Thomas (3M ESPE) and Tom Gallop (SS White), the 2008 symposium provided an interactive opportunity for organizers from communities large and small to build a network of experiences and resources to increase the reach of their GKAS programs. Gallop shares: "By bringing together representatives from the ADA and DTA Foundations with GKAS community organizers and participating dental professionals, we are creating a great collaborative model with far-reaching opportunities for advancing oral health awareness and access to care."

Other DTAF Board Members participating in the program were Mike Lynam, DTA Chairman (Porter Instrument); Carolyn Van Eck (GC America) and Vickie Waitsman (DentalEZ). Steven Kess (Henry Schein), Chair of the ADA Foundation’s GKAS National Advisory Board, noted: "The ADA Give Kids A Smile Program is very fortunate to have the ongoing support of many members of the dental industry, and is especially proud of our relationship with the DTA Foundation as co-sponsor of our annual Promising Practices Symposium."

Dr. Kathy Roth, ADA Past President and one of many ADA Trustees in attendance, remarked: "The challenge to make this year's event bigger, better and more dynamic was taken very seriously. The program was filled with dynamic presentations and enthusiastic interaction between attendees and presenters throughout the symposium."

DTA Foundation support for GKAS continues in 2009 with an additional $25,000 contribution to the ADA Foundation that will be presented during the DTA’s 2008 Annual Meeting in Carlsbad, CA, July 22-25, 2008.

Click here to see the full program agenda.

New Member of the Board of Directors Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar, President and CEO of Midmark Corporation, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation. A physician and a business leader, Dr. Eiting Klamar is the fourth generation of the Eiting family to hold a leadership role within Midmark. Founded in 1915, Midmark is a long-standing and active member of the Dental Trade Alliance, and through its Good Neighbor campaign serves those in the community of Versailles, Ohio and beyond. The Foundation Board of Directors extends a hearty welcome to Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar!

The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation launched an ambitious fundraising program to double the endowment fund from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 by 2009.

See a 6-page PDF brochure entitled "Taking it to the Next Level " to learn all about the foundation and achieving its goal.

Are you or your company interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation? Here's a 1-page PDF Pledge Form.

The DTA Foundation's own website is coming soon at www.dtafoundation.org.

DTA Foundation Officers serving through 2008, from left to right, are Kevin Thomas, Carolyn Van Eck, Jim Breslawski, Chuck Cohen, and Perry Lowe.