2020 Class Project: Healthy Little Smiles
We want more healthy little smiles in South Carolina!
The 2020 Leadership South Carolina class project addresses a serious health issue in our poorest communities. Dental diseases are a silent epidemic plaguing poverty stricken children in South Carolina and we are committed to helping K-12 students and their parents in rural South Carolina understand the importance and benefits of good oral health care. Our class project targets 10,000 students in 24 rural schools located in the Allendale, Hampton, Summerton, Dillon and Manning.
Back-to-School HEALTHY SMILES Campaign:
Despite encouragement from the school superintendents and teachers, most children in these areas do not regularly see a dentist. Many parents have little knowledge or appreciation for the value of oral health care and some kids don’t even have their own toothbrush at home. Our goal is to increase the number of under-served K-12 students enrolled in Welvista’s Smiles for a Lifetime school based dental care through a back-to-school HEALTHY SMILES campaign. Our campaign will distribute 10,000 HEALTHY SMILES kits including basic dental supplies, educational materials and a consent form. All class members are coordinating individual dental supply drives for toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss and are reaching out to potential sponsors to support our campaign through in-kind or monetary donations. Class members will also volunteer during back-to-school events in August 2020.
Project Outcome:
The goal of our project is to increase the number of under-served children enrolled in routine dental care so that every child, no matter their circumstances, can thrive in the classroom and smile with confidence. Healthy little smiles translates into a healthier South Carolina in years to come.
DONATIONS ARE NEEDED:
We are accepting monetary and in-kind donations to support our ambitious goal to provide 10,000 HEALTHY SMILES kits to high need students.
Sponsor/donate:
Donate via the PayPal link at the bottom of this page or by check to Leadership South Carolina, PO Box 2346, Columbia, SC 29202.
In-kind wish list includes:
soft bristle toothbrushes, travel or small toothpaste and floss
printing of 10,000 spiral bound 3×5 educational brochures
printing of 10,000 consent forms – single page double sided full color
packaging for 10,000 Healthy Smiles Kits
Cynthia Dannels || cynthia.dannels@sto.sc.gov || 803-360-5039
or
Kelly Shockley || kshockley@welvista.org || 803-463-7733
Leadership South Carolina is a nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization
dedicated to educating and training future leaders. FEIN#57-1126323