AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation's mission is to assist in rebuilding the smiles and lives of adults who’ve suffered dental injuries from domestic and sexual violence, through compassionate cosmetic dental services and support programs.
Our vision is to restore a smile, restore a life.
In carrying out our mission, interacting with our volunteers, donors, Give Back a Smile program applicants, and Foundation staff, the AACDCF embraces the following values:
Integrity: We approach all situations and stakeholders with respect, transparency, and we uphold the highest level of moral and ethical standards. We respect the confidential nature of our GBAS patient work and actively strive to protect program applicant information.
Generosity: Our success depends on the generosity of our volunteers and supporters. We foster a culture that honors and recognizes those who make our work possible.
Peace: We believe that everyone deserves to live a life that is free of danger and violence. While we work to heal the effects of domestic violence, we also strive to promote awareness about domestic violence in hopes of stopping it.
Compassion: We have a strong desire to provide our services in a caring and empathic manner by actively working toward understanding what our program applicants have survived.
Compliance: We recognize that the organization operates in a regulated environment by virtue of its tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and are conscious of the need to comply with the constraints and obligations of that status.
CORE VALUES
Give Back a Smile
The AACD Charitable Foundation's flagship program, Give Back a Smile (GBAS) heals some of the effects of domestic and sexual violence, by restoring the smiles of adults who have received dental injuries to the front teeth from a former intimate partner, family member, or due to sexual assault.
Since the program's 1999 inception, volunteer dentists, dental laboratories, and other dental professionals have volunteered their time and expertise to restore the damaged smiles of more than 2,000 people for a total dollar value of more than $18 million. There are currently around 140 people receiving smile restorations across the United States
“This truly has been a life-saver for me. Through counseling and having my teeth repaired, memories of that day and experience of being in an abusive relationship is in the past.”
- GBAS recipient