CADF is Your Foundation

I became Editor of the Capital Star in 2002 and our dental society was well respected throughout the state way before then. As our society grew in numbers more of our members became involved in many ways and CADS earned a recognizable positive presence within the community.

Our New Dentist Committee has been very active in hosting socials as well as informational events. The society became more organized and efficient through leadership training, strategic planning, and the dedication by many to be the best dental society. The Star is now in color and a website was developed. The society has become a significant voice on the state as well as on the national level with local members holding leadership positions at all levels. Our Texas Dental Association Delegates year after year take the time to know the issues facing organized dentistry including current resolutions and have never been afraid to debate these issues, even when the side we took in what we felt were in the best interests of our members, was not the most popular stance.

CADS and its members have always shown a big heart participating in health fairs and doing pro-bono treatment for those in need without the ability to pay for services. Then the Theo Project was developed. Theo depended upon our members to provide dental care to schoolchildren on mobile vans at area schools. Many of our members worked as well to raise money to support the program by helping to organize the Theo’s Swinging for Smiles Golf Tournament for five years. That program is now the St. David’s Foundation Dental Program and has grown beyond our wildest dreams. Largely because of that program, the Capital Area Dental Society was the recipient of the Outstanding Organization Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

We as a dental organization have become more sophisticated within the society as well as reaching out into the community to improve the dental health of those that live in our metropolitan area. One of the ways this has happened is by founding the Capital Area Dental Foundation. In just over three years, the Foundation has grown to provide care through many programs such as DOCS, the St. Vincent de Paul Dental Program, the enhancement of the Donated Dental Services program in conjunction with the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation, a new program that brings dental care to local musicians through HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) in conjunction with St. David’s Foundation and the list grows.

The Board of Trustees for the Foundation now represents a cross-section of leaders from the community and not just dentists. It is very reassuring to see that non-dentists share our enthusiasm and dedication toward making the Austin area a better place by helping our neighbors in need. CADF has been nominated for a Greenlights for Non-Profits Community Service Award.

The point of this historical rant is to highlight that CADS has come a long way in the past ten years by building upon the successes of those that have come before us to make CADS great. The Foundation is amazing with unlimited potential but remember that it is an arm of your Capital Area Dental Society. We as dentists have unique abilities to help those unable to help themselves. We have special opportunities to make our community a better place to live. So when you participate in Foundation initiatives, go to the Gala, or read about the Foundation, remember that it is YOUR foundation. Be proud!

By J. Kavin Kelp, DDS

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