WITH
WITH US
WITH US TODAY DR. JACK MATUNAS, AN ORTHODONTIST AND
PRESIDENT OF THE IDAHO
DENTAL FOUNDATION. A
FOUNDATION THAT IS
GIVING BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY ONE SMILE
AT A TIME...
TELL
TELL US
TELL US ABOUT THE IDAHO DENTAL FOUNDATION WHAT IS ITS
MISSION?
OF THE IDAHO DENTAL
FOUDATION IS TO
IMPROVE THE ORAL
HEALTH OF IDAHO'S
UNDERSERVED CITIZENS
THROUGH ACCESS TO
CARE AND EDUCATION.
THESE DENTISTS ARE ALL
VOLUNTEERS CORRECT?
OUR DENTAL
FOUNDATION BOARD
MEMBERS ARE UNPAID,
VOLUNTEER DENTISTS
FROM ALL SEVEN DENTAL
DISTRICTS REPRESENTING
THE ENTIRE STATE OF
IDAHO. THIS ALLOWS US
TO IDENTIFY THE
DENTISTS, COMMUNITY
HEALTH DISTRICTS, AND
CHARITABLE DENTAL
LEADERS WHO ARE
PROVIDING CARE FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WITH THE
GREATEST NEEDS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING CARE, THESE
DENTIST ALSO DONATE?
- MOST OF THE MONEY
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH
COMES FROM DONATIONS
FROM IDAHO DENTISTS.
- THE BOARD MEMBERS
MEET EACH YEAR TO
REVIEW, DISCUSS, AND
GRANT REQUESTS FOR
MONEY.
- THE GRANT PROJECTS
THAT WE FUND ARE SO
EFFECTIVE THAT IF YOU
WERE TO DONATE ONE
DOLLAR YOU COULD BE
ASSURED THAT NINETY-
EIGHT CENTS OF THAT
DOLLAR WILL GO
DIRECTLY INTO TREATING
EACH DENTAL PATIENT.
HOW DOES THE
FOUNDATION UTILIZE THESE FUNDS? - THIS YEAR WE GAVE
OUT
OUT $8,000 TO FIVE DIFFERENT CLINICS WHO WE KNOW ARE MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
- FOR EXAMPLE, THE
GRANT GIVEN TO MILES
FOR SMILES WILL GO
TOWARD THEIR MISSION
OF PROVIDING DENTAL
CARE FOR CHILDREN IN
THE BOISE SCHOOL
DISTRICT WHO ARE
UNINSURED OR CANNOT
AFFORD IT.
- ALSO, TERRY REILLY
HEALTH SERVICES
RECEIVED GRANT MONEY
TO USE FOR PATIENTS
WHO ARE BOTH
FINANCIALLY AND
SOMETIMES PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED.
- WE TRY TO SPREAD
THE GRANT MONEY
AROUND THE STATE
INSTEAD OF
CONCENTRATING IT IN
JUST ONE AREA.
HOW HAVE YOU HELPED
AROUND THE STATE?
- IN A STATE AS BIG AS
IDAHO, IT'S VERY EXCITING
TO MAKE SUCH A
WIDESPREAD IMPACT.
- IN COEUR D'ALENE,
WE GAVE A GRANT TO ST.
VINCENT DE PAUL, SO
THEY COULD PROVIDE
DENTAL CARE VOUCHERS
FOR VETERANS IN THAT
AREA.
- IN NAMPA, WE
OFFERED A GRANT TO
HELP COVER LAB FEES FOR
PATIENTS WHO NEEDED
DENTURES BUT COULDN'T
PAY THOSE FEES. THAT'S
SATISFYING.
- AND IN BOISE, WE
HELPED THE BOISE RESCUE
MISSION UPDATE THEIR
DENTAL CARE
CAPABILITIES, SO THEY
COULD OFFER MORE
COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED THEIR HELP.
IF VIEWERS ARE
WATCHING THAT CAN
BENEFIT FROM SOME OF
IF VIEWERS ARE
WATCHING THAT CAN
BENEFIT FROM SOME OF
THESE EFFORTS WHERE DO
THEY GO TO LEARN ABOUT
THESE OPPORTUNITIES?
CAN VIEWERS ALSO GIVE
SUPPORT?
SUPPORT?
THESE
THESE OPPORTUNITIES? CAN VIEWERS ALSO GIVE SUPPORT?