Mark Taira, DDS serves in many leadership capacities at CDA including as CDA Foundation Board member and Co-Chair of the Friends Committee for the Board of Advisors. Dr. Taira points to his involvement on the Grants Selection committee as one of the many reasons for why he is a committed Friend of the CDA Foundation
Be A Friend… Mark Taira, DDS
Dr. Mark Taira credits his involvement on the Grants Selection Committee as the turning point in his decision to not only becoming a Friend of the CDA Foundation himself, but in telling his friends and colleagues as well.
“Serving on the Grants Selection Committee has really opened my eyes to the vast need that is out there,” said Dr. Taira, “and it’s growing. This year we saw a 50 percent increase in applications for both the CDA Foundation Grant Program and the Student Loan Repayment Grant Program. It is heart breaking that we (have a limited amount of) award(s) because of lack of funds.” Which is precisely, according to Dr. Taira, the reason he became a Friend of the CDA Foundation and is passionate about telling others.
In addition to serving on the Grants Selection Committee, Dr. Taira is a CDA Foundation board member and the co-chair of the Friends Committee of the CDA Board of Advisors, the Creating Smiles … Changing Lives campaign cabinet. “Dr. Summerhays asked me to co-chair the Friends Committee with Victor Hawkins and I was honored,” Dr. Taira noted, “It has been such a great learning experience. The other members have said what a positive experience it has been and have learned so much about the CDA Foundation, myself included.”
The Friends Committee is made of a group from the Board of Advisors who are leading the charge in the Be A Friend campaign to enlist more colleagues into the annual gift club. The goal this year is 350. “We’re getting closer to the goal. When people find out the difference we are making, becoming a Friend is a ‘ no brainer,’ said Dr. Taira. “Our return on investment is remarkable. Take the Student Loan Repayment Grant Program – we award $105,000 for student loan repayment and in return they give an average of nearly $1 million over their three year commitment time. And, the amazing thing is, most of the recipients are either still serving in their nonprofit clinic or volunteering at another. Success like that, the question really becomes ‘why wouldn’t you become a Friend?”
