Giving Back

 Honduras Mission

Honduras is a small, poor country in the Western Hemisphere. It is slightly larger than Tennessee, but instead of the 3,408,064 people that live in Tennessee, this little country is home to 7,833,696 people. As of 2009, 59% of their population is below the poverty line, and 39.9% of their population are children ages 0-14. With an average income of $2,580 (the U.S. average is $37,500), the people there cannot afford healthcare, and in a lot of cases, it is not even offered. Although Honduras makes up only 17 percent of Central America's population, it is home to 40 percent of the region's malaria cases. The country also has high rates for malnutrition, AIDS and Tuberculosis.

Twice a year some of our doctors and staff donate their time to go to Honduras with the Washington Overseas Mission. While there, they provide quality dental care for the underprivileged children that otherwise wouldn't have it. The conditions are rough, the weather even rougher, but in the end, it's worth it. As an office, we have been participating in this mission for over 12 years. See more at http://www.overseasmission.org.

Community Programs

Our doctors and staff are very involved in the community, whether it be visiting a school to promote dental health, volunteering at a program at the Science Center, Give Kids a Smile, St. Louis Boo at the Zoo or  to get their heads shaved for St. Baldrick's Foundation. Here are a few:

School Programs

During Dental Awareness Month (February), and throughout the year, our doctors and staff take time out of their schedules to go to schools in the surrounding area to teach about the importance of dental care. Along with many other educational demonstrations, we use a giant brush and one of our stuffed friends, we show the right way to brush. We also show the healthy and not-so-healthy things to eat to keep your teeth cavity free!!

Give Kids a Smile

Give Kids a Smile, St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization that provides free dental education, preventative care, and restorative care for low-income children. This event occurs every year in February and October in St. Louis. Doctors and staff at our office volunteer, giving their time to give back to our community. GKAS is always looking for volunteers, and you don't have to be in the dental field! They are always looking for kind, responsible people to accompany the children through the dental process, check patients in and out, and more. For more information, check out Suburban Journal's Oct. 31, 2011 GKAS article.

                        

 GKAS also sponsor money raising events year round, like trivia nights and golf tournaments which our doctors also attend to raise money for this worthy program. For more information, see http://www.gkas.org.

Boo At The Zoo

Boo at the Zoo is a popular event at the St. Louis Zoo. Families with small children find this Halloween program a friendly alternative to the haunted house experience and enhancement to trick or treating. Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills is one of the sponsors of  this kid friendly Halloween experience which is filled with laughs and adventure.

               

                   

            

    

St. Baldricks

Every year, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. One out of every 5 of these children will not survive, and many of those that do will suffer from long term side effects like infertility, learning disabilities, loss of limbs and more. Even with a 78% chance of survival, cancer kills more children in the U.S. than any other disease.

St. Baldrick's Foundation raises money for these children. In 2009, the event at Helen Fitzgerald's in Sunset Hills raised $172,475.74, and nationwide over 35,000 people shaved their heads in support of these children, these heros. You can donate, volunteer, or shave your head in support like our brave Doctors and staff pictured here. See more at www.StBaldricks.org

Dinosaur Doings

On February 20th, 2010, Dr. Craig, Dr. Mark and one of our Dental Assistants, Sonia, participated in the Science Center's 'Dinosaur Doings', providing face painting and fun experiments and games for kids!

Halloween Candy Buy Back

Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills sponsored their second Halloween Candy Buy Back and it was another hugh success! The event is promoted to help prevent tooth decay in children as well as to support our troops overseas. In 2010, we collected approximately 1,600 pounds of candy in one week. In 2011, we collected over 1,000 pounds in one day. With the help of our local USO all the candy and letters were shipped and distributed to our troops. See our 2011 Video featured on "Show Me St. Louis".

       

      

     

Venezuela

Dr.'s Fernandez and Albrecht, along with Dr. Albrecht's wife Marcia and Dr. Fernandez's sister Marty travel to Venezuela to administer some much needed medical and dental care to those in need.