SCL joined last week with TeamSmile, a non-profit that provides underserved children a life-changing dental experience while partnering with professional sports organizations. The excitement and allure of high-profile sports reinforces the value of a life-long commitment to dental health care. Each child in the TeamSmile program is provided with free preventative care and education and, if necessary, dental treatment at sports venues all across the country.
On July 18, TeamSmile hosted an event sponsored by the Kansas City Royals and SCL sponsor Assurant Employee Benefits at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Over 300 kids from the Boys and Girls Club across the Kansas City area were bused to the home of the Royals to receive free dental care. Though TeamSmile focuses on general dentistry, two of SCL’s orthodontic providers, Dr. Joe Hannah of Hannah Orthodontics and Dr. Steven Hechler of Hechler Orthodontics, donated their Friday to help screen all the kids for orthodontic care.
Alexis Barclay, SCL Director of Provider Services, states, “We’re so happy to have Smiles Change Lives partner with TeamSmile so we can give an orthodontic option to so many deserving children in the Kansas City area.” Alexis and Brooke Vinson, SCL Director of Program Services, headed up SCL’s team of 8 volunteers assisting with the screenings, contributing to the efforts of over 150 total volunteers who helped make the day’s events a home run. Even baseball legends John Mayberry and Dennis Leonard, accompanied by Royals’ mascot Sluggerrr, made special appearances to interact with the kids.
Overall, the day was very successful, and SCL is extremely grateful to work with such amazing providers and partner with an organization as wonderful as TeamSmile. We look forward to another fantastic event when SCL joins in as TeamSmile partners with the Sporting Kansas City pro soccer franchise in Kansas City, KS, to provide dental education and care to more kids on September 19!
