Named in honor of our founder, Mrs. Virginia “Gini” Brown, the Gini Awards recognize orthodontic providers, volunteers and individuals who have gone above and beyond to inspire hope, raise self-esteem and help change the lives of children across North America.
An awards ceremony and reception will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at The Carriage Club in Kansas City, MO.
In recognition of their outstanding service to children’s oral health, the following individuals and organizations were selected as honorees for the 8th Annual Gini Awards.
8th Annual Gini Award Honorees
Founder’s Award
In 1997, Dr. Kelly Toombs, along with Mrs. Virginia Brown and her son, Tom Brown, formed the Virginia Brown Orthodontic Partnership, which evolved into Smiles Change Lives. For 21 years, nearly 12,000 qualified youth have been treated though SCL’s program, and Dr. Toombs has been at the very heart and soul of its success. We honor him for his continued generosity and passion for bracing kids for a better future!
“I joined Tom and Virginia Brown to start Smiles Change Lives because I knew the transformation that orthodontic treatment can provide for a child. I’m adjusting not only a child’s teeth and bite, but I’m also giving them a better chance at a successful future. Our program is so aptly named, it truly can be life changing for our patients and can provide them with a better chance at a successful future. We are all blessed to be a part of this remarkable process.” – Dr. Kelly Toombs
Distinguished Service Award
A true champion for Smiles Change Lives since 1999, Dr Hechler has been a positive force in the growth and success of SCL. Dr. Hechler will always go the extra mile in support of SCL youth. His passion for increasing the self esteem and creating bright futures for participants and their families is inspiring and we honor him for his 19 years of service in bracing kids for a better future!
“With SCL, it’s not about me, it’s about the kids. The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered. The staff and I get more from the experience of delivering orthodontic treatment to our SCL patients than the children do. I am honored to be a part of a program that is changing the lives of so many children across the country. We truly hope that the change in their smile not only improves their oral health but helps give them the confidence they need to be successful in all aspects of their life.” – Dr. Steven Hechler
Orthodontic Providers – Excellence in Service to Smiles Change Lives Participants
Dr. Timothy Scanlan, DDS, MS
Dedicated Provider Since 2010
“My team and I have always approached treating our patients with a servant’s heart. Smiles Change Lives connects us with people who deserve a confident healthy smile and allows us to serve their needs that they cannot financially meet.”
Dr. Richard Schechtman, DDS, MS
Dedicated Provider Since 2010
“Treating SCL children is my way of giving back to the community in a way that will touch lives now and in the future. A lifetime of beautiful smiles is the ultimate gift! That is why I believe it is so important not to let financial barriers stand in the way of bringing beautiful smiles to as many children as possible.”
Dedicated Provider Since 2009
“I started my orthodontic practice with a singular mission; to improve the quality of orthodontic care in the Richmond area. Nothing is more gratifying to me than to see a patient whom I treated years before for bite problems and headaches, who still has a beautiful smile and a comfortable, pain-free bite.”
Outstanding Orthodontic Team
Markarian Orthodontics
“Our staff is so very humbled that SCL has chosen to bestow this honor and recognition to the Markarian Orthdontics team. We all love what we do in providing beautiful smiles, but working with Smiles Change Lives makes us love what we do even more! For children that would otherwise not be fortunate enough to receive orthodontic treatment, SCL is life changing. The fact that we as a staff get to be part of transforming their smiles is simply amazing! We cannot thank SCL enough for the ease in which you take care of things, the compassion you show our patients, and the kindness that you all never fail to show our staff! You are all truly amazing!!”
The Markarian Orthodontics Dream Team – For the past 12 years, Dr. Randall Markarian and his team have given outstanding, caring service to more than 100 SCL participants. The relationship they hold with the SCL staff is always professional and friendly. We are grateful to the Markarian staff for their many years of bracing kids for a better future!
Volunteer
Ms. Beatrice Brittan
“I feel so lucky to volunteer for such an inspiring, amazing, and truly important organization, and encourage others to do the same. You will be captivated and moved by the work SCL does. Be prepared to feel immense pride and gratitude when you see the children’s lives you’ve had a hand in changing. Volunteering for SCL gives me all the purpose I need to continue the pursuit of my dream.”
Beatrice “Bea” Britton joined the SCL volunteer team in 2017 via the UMKC Pre-Dental Society and quickly became one of our most valuable volunteers. With over 250 hours of donated service, Bea’s professionalism, work ethic and passion for giving back to her community is inspiring. In January of 2018. Bea graduated from UMKC and was accepted to the The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. We thank Bea for her donated time and outstanding dedication in bracing kids for a better future!
Business Partner
The team at Dentma develops software to help dentists and orthodontists work more efficiently. Dentma supports the work of SCL by donating a custom bridge created to seamlessly move date from one software program to another. This makes it simple to keep in contact with the applicants, participants and alumni of Smiles Change Lives. We thank Dentma for their continued dedication in bracing kids for a better future!
8th Annual Gini Award Sponsors
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Brown
Mr. Tanner James
