Dental Program Contact Information
The Dental Care for Children with Special Needs Program has local Grotto representatives that are known as our "Dr of Smiles". These representatives are the liasion with the parents, dental offices and hospital and anesthesia offices when necessary, to see that all paperwork is provided and properly completed. They also file the application with the Humanitarian Foundation office where all cases are processed and he maintains contact with the parent and dentist. To find a representative closest to you, select your state from the drop down menu above.
When no representative is available in your area/state, those cases will be processed directly through the national office of the Humanitarian Foundation, Grottoes of North America. Please email the office directly with your questions or for forms needed to apply to the program: humanitarian.foundation@hfgrotto.org
The Dr of Smiles are our key people to the dental program. This year at our national convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, we honored one of our members, Dennis Tubb from Alla Grotto in Dallas, Texas. Dennis has worked with the program for many years in the Dallas area and we are proud to have presented the PGM Robert W Rush Award, naming him, Dr of Smiles of the Year, 2008. To learn a little more about our representatiaves and their work, please click the video link to see this year's honoree.
The local Grotto is also very important to the dental program as they sponsor the individual child into the program. At the national convention we also recognized two Grottoes that have played an important part in their community with the dentistry program this past year. The PGM Donald R LaBarre Award was given to Zangi Grotto in Daytona Beach, Florida for the greatest number of children helped. The PGM Michael G Wahl Award was presented to Zorah Grotto in Santa Clara, California for the greatest percentage increase in the number of children helped from the previous year.
We look forward to working with you to help your child maintain that beautiful smile. The Humanitarian Foundation's mission statement is:
The Humanitarian Foundation believes that children with special needs should live as fully and as independently as possible. We are passionately committed to helping to alleviate the suffering and to improve the quality of life by providing dental care for those who otherwise may go without, one smile at a time.