From the desk of President M. David Campbell

A little Mexican girl had a wide open cleft lip and palate with the ensuing emotional trauma that goes with it. She needed surgery. Her family traveled several days by bus to get to a clinic that could help her. That clinic was operated by a team of U.S. dentists called ''A Thousand Smiles Foundation.'' Her treatment was successful, as were many others. These children's lives were changed dramatically because of our profession. These services were provided free of charge by volunteers who donate their services to those needy children. The Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy funded a grant to help keep this clinic in operation.

We also fund a grant for a clinic in Georgia that does incredible service for the uninsured and homeless, using 60 dentists and 12 hygienists with no fee for service at any time. In West Virginia, there is a dental clinic for the poor, low-income, and uninsured population where all the dentists are volunteers. It is comforting to know our profession is providing dental care at no cost to patients and has done so for many years. These are just a few of the grants which the Foundation has helped with financial support. I know you are pleased and proud of the positive financial impact on the dentally indigent of the Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Our Foundation financially supports these service projects along with others. In fact we funded $225,600 worth of grants this year, along with the $113,500 that went to fund dental scholarships throughout the world. Our total giving in 2007 was $339,160.

If you would like further information about the activities and opportunities of the Academy and the Foundation please visit our web site at www.fauchard.org. We hope 2008 will bring us an ever grater opportunity to help!