Dear Fellows, This is my first opportunity to talk with you about your Foundation and its mission. It is truly an honor to serve as your President of the Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. This year has been a challenging one. The Foundation is in the process of hiring a new Executive Director. Our Search Committee, consisting of Dr. Kevin Roach as Chair, Dr. Howie Mark, Dr. Jim Englander, and Dr. Mike Perpich, has worked very hard to conduct a nationwide search as advertised on the Foundation Web site. Hopefully, in the next few weeks this search will come to fruition.

On March 12, 2009, the Academy lost its long-time Secretary General, Dr. Richard Kozal. The Academy and the Foundation have indeed lost a true friend--especially those of us who have come through the Chairs of the Academy with Richard's steadying hand always there to get us over the rough spots. Our sympathy goes out to his wife Judy who has always been at his side and has worked so hard for our success.

The Foundation also lost another close friend and member of the Board of Trustees with the death of Dr. Ray Klein of Jacksonville, FL. Ray was a past President of the Academy and of the American College of Dentists. During his practice years, Ray served his profession well in many capacities.

Scholarship Awards and checks are being processed for outstanding junior dental students. We hope to see many of these young professionals in the Academy in the coming years. Your Foundation strives to be good stewards of the monies entrusted to us. It is truly a blessing to be able to help and to give to those less fortunate than we are. Be proud of your Academy and of your Foundation!

Foundation Fundraising Campaign

By Larry Barrett, Chairman

Dear Fellows,

In the last three years, about 375 members have contributed $17,000 to the Foundation Fundraising Campaign. If all of the Fellows could donate about $100, even during these tough times, we could end the campaign this year. The fundraising was necessary to build up our principal to weather the poor stock market returns on the Foundation investments. We, Trustees, did not want to jeopardize the good works of the Foundation due to the nation's economy. And we can be proud of your Foundation's accomplishments. More than 1,100 dental school scholarships have been awarded throughout the world, amounting to $1.65 million. Our Grants Program has presented some 300 grants totaling more than $3 million to aid the needy and indigent.

The federal government is now demanding that 5% of the Fund's principal be distributed, which is greater than the current investments are yielding.

Please send your donations to the PFA Foundation, Dr. Mike Perpich, 4940 Viking Dr, Suite 127, Edina, MN 55435.

INDIA

The PFA International Dental Student Scholarship Award was presented to Ms. N. Sai Jyothsna of Meenakshiammal Dental College, Chennai, by Chief Guest Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil Kohli, President of the Dental Council of India.

UNITED STATES

Louisiana

LSU Director of Student Affairs Darlene Brunet wrote that they will be presenting the Scholarship check to dental student Christopher Feldman.