Leaders Taking The Lead

Dr. Carol Summerhays, chair of the Creating Smiles … Changing Lives $39 million comprehensive campaign, addressed the Board of Advisors and thanked them for their financial commitment and dedicated support they give to the CDA Foundation and for being examples to all CDA members at the recent Board of Advisor meeting.

More than 60 Advisors attended the June 26 meeting of the CDA Foundation’s Creating Smiles…Changing Lives campaign cabinet. The quarterly meetings are convened to encourage and equip the Advisors in helping cultivate resources for CDA Foundation initiatives.

Kicking off the meeting was a brief presentation from Drs. Candice Yee and Andrew Chen thanking the attendees for supporting the CDA Foundation programs like the Pediatric Oral Health Access Program (POHAP) training which they both attended in 2007. Drs. Yee and Chen now both report a more than 40% increase in children treated at their respective safety net clinics as a direct result of taking the POHAP training. “Please remember that it is because of you and programs like POHAP,” Dr. Yee told the group, “that enables us to offer these services. We are beneficiaries of your generosity.  You’ve donated your time, money and resources, and for this we are grateful. You make a difference. You inspire others with your exemplary work. You help improve people’s lives.”

Dr. Summerhays noted that it is stories like this that need to be told over and over again so that CDA membership is aware of the impact their Foundation is having on others. “I was personally so inspired when others were sharing their heartfelt stories about why they are giving back and are so passionate about the Foundation,” said CDA Foundation Chair Lindsey Robinson. “Also helpful were the many ideas that were shared by Advisors. It stimulated the creative thought process for even more ideas. The excitement and energy all day long surrounding the campaign was contagious.”