From the President Itrustallofyouhavecomethroughthewintermonthsjustfineandarelookingforward,asmuchIam,toanexciting2011.ThisisthefirstofwhatwillbeaseriesofPresident’sMessagesineacheditionofourFoundationnews-letter.ThroughthiscolumnI’llofferabriefhighlightofacurrentornewFoundationactivity,ortalkaboutothertimelyissuesfacingMichigandentistryand,specifically,areasofconcerntotheFoundation.

WiththisnewsletterI’mproudtoannouncethecreationofaPlannedGivingOpportunitythroughyourFoundationforoursupportersandtheirfamilies.ThisisagreatnewwayyoucanhelpsupportFoundationactivities.Ourboardbeganthisprojectoverayearago.Youcanseethedetailsonourwebsite(www.smilemichigan.com;Foundationarea).IinviteyoutovisitourwebsiteorstopbytheFoundationboothattheMDAAnnualSessioninGrandRapids.YoumayalsocontactLoriKlein-feltattheMDAofficeformoreinformation.

TheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationrecentlyreceivedtwoverygenerousgiftcommit-mentstotaling$125,000.Thesegiftsspeaktoourdonors’confidenceintheFoundation’scommit-menttoitsphilanthropicmissiononyourbehalftothebenefitofthoselessfortunate.

Asweprogressthrough2011,welookforwardtocontinuedincreasesinFoundationactivitiesandgiving.

Foundation Awards Two New Scholarships

April 2011 Volume 6 Issue 1The Philanthropic Leader of Michigan’s Oral Health Community

Dr. Michael Jennings

EachyeartheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationawardsstudentscholarshipstodental,dentalhygieneanddentalassistingstudents,throughthegenerousdonationsofindividualsandpartnerorganizations.

TheFoundationawardsmoneythroughitsRobertD.MitusScholarshipFund.Sincethescholarshipsbeganin1999,approximately99scholarshipshavebeengiven,foratotalof$109,000ingifts.

TheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationRobertD.MitusScholarshipDentalHygienerecipientsfortheacademicyear2010-2011areStaciCarroll,oftheUniversityofDetroitMercy,andPatriciaWalch,oftheUniversityofMichigan.

Ifyouareinterestedinsettingupascholarshipprogramtoas-sistfuturedentalprofessionalsinthestateofMichigan,contacttheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundation’sLoriKleinfeltat800-589-2632,ext.406

Patricia Walch: Hoping to Make a Difference

PatriciaWalchisaseniordentalhygienestudentattheUniversityofMichigan,originallyfromChelsea.She’shadalife-longdreamofworkinginthedentalfield,eversinceshewasintheeighthgrade,whereshewroteanessayandelaboratedonhowshewantedtohelpfixpeople’s

teeth.Eversincethatmoment,Patriciatookappropriatemea-surestoprepareforherfutureinthedentalprofession.

“Ienjoypatienteducationonmatterssuchasproperoralhygienetechnique,nutritionandoralhealthasitrelatestosystemichealth,”Patriciasays,“becauseitnotonlybuildspatients’trust,butit’salsorewardingtowitnesstheinteresttheyhaveinenhancingtheirqualityoflife.Therearemany

continued on page 2

benefitstobeingadentalprofessional.Perhapsthegreat-estrewardinthislineofworkisthefeelingofmakingadifferenceinyourpatients’lives,”sheadds.

OneofhermentorsisWendyKerschbaum,directorofthedentalhygieneprogramattheUniversityofMichigan–somuchsothatPatriciaisaspiringtobecomeadentalhygieneeducator.Upongraduation,Patriciaplansonpracticinginprivatepracticeaswellasreturntoschoolforamaster’sdegreesothatshe’llbeabletopursuehergoalsofbecominganeducator.

“Inotonlywanttohelppeoplemaintainandimprovetheiroralhealth,butalsostrengthenthedentalhygieneprofessionbypromotingevidence-basedpractice.Mygoalasadentalhygieneeducatorwillbetoproduceskilled,passionateprofessionalswhoworkasleaderstopromoteoralhealth.”

Staci Carroll: Job Shadowing leads to Dental Hygiene Career

WithalittlehelpfromherfriendsStaciCarrolltooktheiradviceandjob-shadowedDrs.DaterandCadoretteinthetownofRockford,justalittlenorthofGrandRapids.“Ilovedeverythingaboutit–theenvironment,thedailyinteractionswithpatients,beinganeducator

andmotivator,thefactthatit’sverydetail-oriented,andeverything,”Stacisays.

“IgiveabigthankstoDrs.DaterandCadoretteforallow-ingmetospendtimeintheirofficeandgainexperienceinthedentalfield.Theyarebothextremelyhardworkersandreallyhaveapassionforthescopeofdentistry.”

Thehygienistsintheirofficewerealsoaninspiration,Stacirecalls,especiallyLisaVanNortwick.Herworkethic,attitudeandefficiencygaveStaciagreatdealofmotiva-tion

Encouragingstudentstovolunteerandjobshadowreallyallowsthemtogainmoreconfidence,motivationanddirectionforthefuture.ItcertainlywasaplusforStaci.“Ienjoythedailyinteractionswithpatients,”Stacisays.“Ienjoythefactthatthemajorityofmyjobishelpingpeoplelivehealthierlivesbyusingmyknowledgeandskillstoeducatethem.Itisreallyeye-openingwhenyou

realizewhatlittleeducationsomeofthepatientshavehadintheirpast.Iloveteachingthemnewthingsandhelpingtomotivatethemsothattheycanimprovethehealthoftheirmouth,aswellastheiroverallhealthandconfidence.

“WinningtheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationscholarshiphashelpedmefinancially,aswellasgivenmeconfidenceandreassurance.Idon’thavetofocussomuchonfindingmoneytopayformyboardexams,whichwillallowmemoretimetostudyinstead.Iamreassuredthathardworkandapositiveattitudereallydoespayoff.Andlastly,Iamconfidentinmymotives,workethic,andabili-tiestosucceed.”

Sheadds:“Iwouldliketoseeoralhygieneandpreventionmakeitswayintotheeducationsystematschools.Mostofthetime,whenpeopletrytoimprovetheiroralhygieneit’sbecausethey’vebeguntonoticetheeffectsofalifetimeofpoororalhygiene.Mostofthemtellmetheywishtheywouldhavebeenbetter-educatedwhentheywereyounger.Ithinkthatincorporatingoralhealthintotheeducationsystem,atamoreinvolvedlevel,wouldaccomplishthis.IwouldliketoparticipateinprogramssuchasOttawaCounty’sMilesofSmiles,sealantpro-grams,andthoseofmanyotherbeneficialorganizationstohelpthecommunity.

“Iamaverygenerousandcaringpersonandreallyappre-ciateallthatIhavebeenblessedwith.Iamexcitedveryforwhatmyfutureholds!”

Foundation Scholarships... continued

Old Newsboys – Dr. Mike Jennings, MDAF president, and Mr. Bob Carabelli, president of the Goodfellows, teamed up last fall on

the streets of Detroit to raise funds for the Goodfellows.

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Foundation Supports Pediatric Students at ‘Boo Bash’ TheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationwaspleasedtoparticipateinthefirst-annualAmericanAssociationofPediatricStudentDentists“BooBash,”heldatBriarwoodMallinOctober2010.TheFoundationprovidedmorethan300children’soralhygienekits,whichincludedanage-appropriatetoothbrush,toothpaste,stickers,andbrushinginstructions.

StudentmembersoftheAPSDfromtheUniversityofMichiganSchoolofDentistrystaffedaboothattheHalloweenevent.Atthebooth,thestudentdentistsdressedupincostumesandprovidedoralhygieneinstructionstothelittletrick-or-treatersandtheirparents.Thestudentsusedhands-onmodelstodemonstrategoodbrushing,anddiscussednutritionandoralhygienewiththeparents.

“Wehopetocontinuewithoureffortstoeducatenotonlychildren,butalsoparentsaboutpediatricoralhealthcareneeds.Ourgoalistohelpchildrenlivehealthierlives,”saidStephanieKloostra,organizeroftheAPSDUniversityofMichiganstudentchapter.

CongratulationstotheinitiativeofAPSDinworkingwithchildrenandparents!TheFoundationapplaudsyoureffortsandenjoyedsupportingyouonthisproject.

Haveyoueverwonderedwhattheadvantagesaretomakingacharitablegiftthroughyourwill?Doyouknowwhattypesofgiftscanactuallypayyouanincomeforlife?

Findtheanswerstothesequestionsandmorebyvisitingournewlydesignedandenhancedplannedgivingwebsite.Thiscomprehensivesitealsoprovides:

• areadingroomwithmultipleup-to-datearticlesonmakingthemostofyourcharitablegiving;

• acalculatorforrunningsamplegiftillustrationsfordeter-miningyourincometaxdeductionforcharitablegifts,etc.;

• avirtualencyclopediaofinformationonhowandwhattogive;

• aglossaryofplannedgivingtermsforabetterunderstand-ingofanyunfamiliarmaterial.

Youcanaccessthissitebyvisitingwww.smilemichigan.com(Foundationarea).Wehopeyouwillvisitsoon!

Halloween event – more than 300 dental hygiene kits were distributed at Briarwood Mall in October 2010, thanks to the

U-M American Association of Pediatric Student Dentists.

New Foundation Website Offers Information, Tips

Diamond Level $1,500-upJeffrey T. Baker, D.D.S.

Robert A. Coleman, D.D.S., M.S.

Mrs. Megan Uday

Platinum Level $1,000-$1,499Arnold Baker, D.D.S.

George L. Bletsas, D.D.S.

Richard V. Brodoski, D.D.S.

Susan H. Carron, D.D.S., M.S.

Jeffery W. Johnston, D.D.S., M.S./

Periodontal Specialties

Ronald J. Paler, D.D.S.

Norman V. Palm, D.D.S., M.S.

Donald B. Smith, D.D.S., M.S.

Connie M. Verhagen, D.D.S., M.S.

Gold Level $500-999Gary Y. Asano, D.D.S., M.S.

Michael D. Jennings, D.D.S.

Mark M. Johnston, D.D.S.

Martin Makowski, D.D.S., M.S.

Lawrence R. Marcotte, D.D.S., M.S.

Silver Level $200-499Brian Cilla, D.D.S., M.S.

Samuel Daniels, D.D.S., M.S.

Mrs. Susanna Defever

Frank & Gertrude Dunlap Fund

Ray F. Gist, D.D.S.

Jeffrey P. Halvorson, D.D.S., M.S.

Michigan Dental Association

Joan McGowan-Schmerl, Ph.D.

Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentist

Michigan Dental Hygienists Association

Dale A. Nester, D.D.S.

Norman J. Schuen, D.D.S., M.S.

Sandeep Sood, D.D.S.

Bronze Level $100-199Mrs. Mary Barber

Leonard Joseph Bartoszewicz, Jr., D.D.S.

Thomas Joseph Borgula, D.D.S., M.S.

Grace A. Curcuru, D.D.S.

Steven M. Dater, D.D.S.

Joanne Dawley, D.D.S.

Mr. Andrew Eason

Thomas J. Fleszar, D.D.S., M.S.

John W. Greig, D.D.S.

Arthur M. Hamparian, D.D.S.

Gary W. Johnson, D.D.S., M.S.

Kalamazoo Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgery, PC

Douglas Robert Klein, D.D.S.

Mr. Anthony Kozma, Jr.

Jill Loewen, RDA, M.S.

Dr. David and Diane Massignan

W. Scott Meldrum, D.D.S.

Jerel N. Owens, D.M.D.

Robert D. Richards, D.D.S.

Ryan J. Rinke, D.D.S.

Clayton C. Shunk, D.D.S.

James C. Stewart, D.D.S.

Mr. Brian Stump

Irene A. Tseng, D.D.S.

Kyle Vonk, D.D.S.

Memorials/TributesIn Memory of Nancy Baker

William Avery, DDSArnold Baker, DDS

Bill and Willa BeckmanGerri Cherney

Grace Curcuru, DDSSteve Dater, DDS

Kelly and Jeanne DeWysFerris, Busscher & Zwiers, PC

Daniel George, DDS, MSDr. Richard and Jan Jankowski

Tom and Kristin KochheiserLawrence Marcotte, DDS

Michigan Dental AssociationMDA Insurance & Financial Group

Dr. Ron and Mary Jo PalerDr. Bill and Nancy Rupp

William Rocker, DDSDrs. Chris and Colette Smiley

Don Smith, DDS, MSRosalee Turner

James Wieland, DDS

In Memory of Dr. Thomas Borgula Sr. Grace Curcuru, DDS

Living TributesKalamazoo Oral and

Maxillofacial Surgery, in honor of Dr. David Cooley

Josephine Weeden, DDS, MS in honor of Dr. Alizia Westfall

A Special Thank You to Our Generous Leadership Circle Donors

The Michigan Dental Association Foundation would like to thank our Circle of Leadership Donors for 2010. They have all been very generous in supporting the Foundation and its projects, which continue to impact the future of Michigan dentistry.

The Michigan Dental Association Foundation relies largely on the contributions of Michigan dental professionals for funding to carry out its mission, and these leaders in dentistry have answered the call and been very generous. We applaud all of you!

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Foundation Recognized –The Michigan Dental Asso-ciation Foundation was recently recognized by the Junior League of Lansing for its Access to Care Grant given in 2010.

Left to right: Kris Nicholoff, Michigan Dental Association Foundation board member; Lori Kleinfelt, MDA staff, Drew Eason, MDA executive director, Betsy Svanda, president of the Junior League of Lansing.

12-21-10

Dear Michigan Dental Association Foundation:

I want to write and THANK the Foundation for its generous grant to the Junior League of Lansing. This money is very well spent, as I have personally treated several Head Start parents who were in dire need of dental care. Not only did these patients in some instances need full mouth or partial mouth extractions, thru the Junior League Funding we were able to provide these parents with dentures and partials. Now these parents can smile, talk to their kids about oral care and more importantly feel good about themselves to help their kids in their daily life. Thank you again from Carefree Dental Clinic, Lansing Michigan,

Sincerely, ‘Timothy J. Zieinski DDS Carefree Dental Director

2011 The Year of Choice

Funds raised will go to support Student Scholarships, Access to Care Grants, and Oral Health Initiative Projects in the State of Michigan. Default Raffle reverts to a 40/60 Raffle with failure to sell al tickets.

Tee it up for the Foundation The Michigan Dental Association Foundation Annual Golf Outing is returning to mid-Michigan on Friday, May 13, 2011, for a day of great golf at Eagle Eye Golf Course in East Laning.

The funds raised will go to support dental scholarships, access to care grants and oral health initiatives all in the state of Michigan.

Eagle Eye is rated the 27th best public course in the nation and the 4th best in Michigan by Golf World.Chris Lutzke, in collaboration with Pete Dye, has designed a rolling “links” style course featuring magnificent shot values on every hole. Eagle Eye provides a chal-lenge from any of five sets of tees. The signature “Island Green” 17 is simply not to be missed.

The cost is $175 per golfer or $700 for a foursome, which includes 18 holes of golf, continental breakfast, lunch at the turn and raffle prizes, food, and a reception following golf. To register for the golf outing, visit www.smilemichigan.com/ foundation

For more information, please contact Brian Stump at 800-589-2632, ext 407.

Board of Directors

PresidentMichael D. Jennings, D.D.S.

VicePresidentSusan Carron, D.D.S., M.S.

Secretary,EditorGrace Curcuru, D.D.S.

TreasurerRichard Jankowski, D.D.S.

MDA MembersArnold Baker, D.D.S.

George Goodis, D.D.S., M.S.Jeffery Halvorson, D.D.S., M.S.

Ghabi Kaspo, D.D.S.Ron Paler, D.D.S.

Curt Ralstrom, D.D.S., M.S.Donald B. Smith, D.D.S., M.S.

Community-at-LargeMr. Cameron Elrod

Jill Loewen, CDA, RDA, M.S.Joan McGowan, Ph.D.

Michael Young, D.D.S.MDA Board Liason

Kathy Mielke, RDHMichigan Dental Hygienists’ Assn.

Mark J. StephensFinancial Advisor

Kris Nicholoff Michigan Osteopathic Association

Brian StumpMDA Controller

Lori KleinfeltFoundation Administrator

The Michigan Dental Association Board of Trustees established the Michigan

Dental Association Foundation in 1998 to serve as the MDA’s philanthropic arm. The Foundation is also supported by the Michigan Dental Assistants Association

and the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Highlights is published three times a year by the Michigan

Dental Association Foundation.

Michigan Dental Association Foundation

3657OkemosRoad,Suite200Okemos,Michigan48864

(800)589-2632

www.smilemichigan.com

Copyright©2011MichiganDentalAssociationFoundation

“The Tooth Fairy” Kelsey Kidder, Michigan Dental Association Foundation President Dr. Mike Jennings, and “The Mighty Mo-lar” Wassim Elawadi at the University of Michigan GKAS day.

The Michigan Dental Association Foundation has once again participated in the annual Give Kids a Smile Day at the Univesity of Michigan School of Dentistry. The Foundation donated more than 100 dental oral health kits, which included a child’s toothbrush, toothpaste, oral health tips and technique bookmarks, all packaged in a durable plastic zippered case.

Foundation SupportsGKAS

Save the Date

10th annual Michigan Dental Association

Foundation Golf Outing Friday May 13, 2011