So Many Reasons to Smile
Irvine’s Pacific Dental Services (PDS), which supports over 825 dental practices in 24 states, joined forces with The Smile Generation to launch the 11th annual Smile Generation Serve Day, an annual day of service and nationwide campaign of giving that focuses on providing donated dentistry to underserved patients and community service.
More than 660 PDS-supported dental practices and volunteers throughout the United States on Aug. 21 provided over 2,000 patients with more than $4 million of oral healthcare, including procedures such as CEREC same-day crowns, implants, root canals, oral surgery, and scaling and root planning, taking care of the patients’ overall dental care needs.
“Service is at the core of who we are as an organization,” said Stephen Thorne, founder and CEO, PDS. “Participating in the act of service changes our hearts and minds about what matters most in life. We’re humbled to be able to provide donated dentistry each year to thousands of people in need during Smile Generation Serve Day.”
Donation to the Power of 20
Larry Kaplan, owner and operator, McDonald’s of Stanton, on Sept. 2 presented a check to the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton to fund renovations, including a new playground, updated restrooms, Wi-Fi installation, and more. The $10,000 donation was multiplied by a factor of 20 by the city of Stanton to equal $200,000, making it the single largest donation the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton has receive since its inception in 1982.
The city of Stanton matching donation to the Boys & Girls Club was made possible by $9 million funding through the American Rescue Plan Act which the city plans to use for additional donations to organizations who continue to serve the community through the pandemic.
Planting Solutions
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, in partnership with local sustainable farming firm Solutions for Urban Agriculture, has launched a farming initiative on 45 acres of land at the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources’ South Coast Research and Extension Center, along Irvine Boulevard in Irvine.
The goal of the project is to help provide consistent access to nutritious food for residents in Orange County by growing produce for distribution to food bank partnerships throughout Orange County. The endeavor is called the Harvest Solutions Farm.
The Food Bank planted its first cabbage transplants on Aug. 31. Dave Coffaro, board chair, Second Harvest Food Bank, joined A.G. Kawamura, chairman, Solutions for Urban Ag and former California Secretary of Food and Agriculture; Darren Haver, director, Agriculture South Coast REC; and dignitaries including Farrah Khan, mayor, Irvine; Katie Porter, representative, 45th Congressional District; and Don Wagner, OC supervisor, District 3, on-site for the ceremonial planting of the first crops.
Volunteers transplanted approximately 26,000 young cabbage plants. Second Harvest expects to receive 40,000 pounds of cabbage per week as of Nov. 18 when the first harvest is expected to take place. When all 45 acres are fully planted, they are anticipated to yield over half a million pounds of produce over four months.
“This is a historic day for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County,” Coffaro said. “Few food banks, if any, have attempted to grow their own food on this large a scale. Our unique good fortune to have access to 45 acres in the heart of an urban center like Irvine where we are able to cultivate an array of crops and supply our food pantry partners with fresh, nutritious produce brings us a huge step closer to making nutritional security a reality for our entire community.”
The Harvest Solutions Farm is the latest component in Second Harvest’s strategy to fuel nutrition security for all, including a new focus on pursuing planned nutrition based on consistent access to fresh protein, produce and dairy, rather than relying on situational nutrition driven solely by donations.
The farm also allows Second Harvest to mitigate challenges like pandemic-induced inflated food prices and supply chain disruptions.
Connectivity for Those in Need
Cox Communications is working with local schools and libraries to help provide internet service through the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program.
“We immediately raised our hand to participate in this federal program that helps connect people to the internet,” said Pat Esser, president and CEO, Cox Communications. “Our teams are reaching out to school systems and libraries to ensure they’re aware of the ECF program so they can help consumers take advantage of the program as soon as possible.”
The ECF program is open to students, educational staff and library patrons who would otherwise lack a sufficient connection to the internet for remote learning and remote library services.
Cox also participates in the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Open to eligible Americans for a limited time, EBB is available to provide temporary financial assistance for internet service. Eligible families may qualify to receive up to $50 off their monthly bill or up to $75 if they live in a tribal area.
Bits & Pieces
The 25th Annual Newport Beach Garden Tour and Summer Garden Party, presented by the Volunteer Association of Sherman Library & Gardens, raised more $75,500 for children’s education programs, thanks in part to a $25,000 “kick-start” gift from Julia and George Argyros. … Capital Group awarded a total of $65,000 to Families Forward, a combination of three grants: $30,000 towards annual support of general operations, a one-time grant of $30,000 for special project support, and a $5,000 COVID-19 relief grant. … The Sundt Foundation awarded Gift of Adoption with a $4,000 grant to assist in completing the adoptions of vulnerable children, as well as ABC Hopes Inc., which received a $1,400 grant to support their mission to empower adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities through fitness education and life skill building.
