Press release from Smiles Change Lives:
Dr. Timothy Scanlan, DDS, MS, in Asheville, Marion and Rutherfordton, was honored at the Smiles Change Lives (SCL) 8th Annual Gini Awards, on Oct. 27, 2018, in Kansas City, MO. The Gini Awards honor those who have gone above and beyond to inspire hope, raise self-esteem and help change the lives of thousands of children.
The Gini Awards are named in honor of SCL founder, Mrs. Virginia “Gini” Brown, whose vision and dedication has created a legacy of care for qualified children in need of orthodontic treatment. This annual event honors the orthodontic providers, orthodontic staffs, referring dentists, volunteers, sponsors, and board members who have gone above and beyond to support the mission of SCL. SCL works with over 800 orthodontic providers to provide braces to children throughout the USA and Canada.
Dr. Scanlan was honored this year for his selfless service to his community and donated orthodontic treatment he has provided to children. He embodies the spirit of this award by being a vital member of the SCL orthodontic provider family. Dr. Scanlan has been donating treatment to kids in the Asheville, Marion and Rutherfordton areas through Smiles Change Lives for over 8 years. Dr. Scanlan accepts screening patients all of the time and has agreed to accept one child per month for treatment, totaling over $70,000 in donated care per year.
Smiles Change Lives is an international nonprofit that helps kids get braces who could not otherwise afford them. On average, braces cost $6,000 per child, making them out of reach for many hardworking families. Further, orthodontic treatment has long been considered cosmetic by insurance companies, providing little assistance, even for those that are insured. As a result, many children and teens suffer unnecessary discomfort and embarrassment from their misaligned teeth. Smiles Change Lives’ mission is to provide these families with the opportunity to provide their children with braces through its network of over 700 volunteer orthodontists in the United States and Canada.
Thanks to Dr. Scanlan, Smiles Change Lives has immediate openings for treatment for kids in the Asheville area. To qualify for the program, a child must be between the ages of 7-21, have “good” oral hygiene, not be wearing braces currently, have a moderate to severe need for braces, and meet certain financial guidelines. Families can find out more and apply online at www.smileschangelives.org/apply.
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