A Message from Dr. Paul A. Kennedy, Jr.

President: Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children
The Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation has a new name. We are now Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry with a new logo and identity, but retaining the same commitment to children's oral health.

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children...

  • Will act as a trusted steward of its charitable contributions and will use them effectively to support and fund meaningful programs that improve children's oral health.
  • Recognizes that access to oral health information is important for everyone.
  • Supports science-based research and its transfer into practice.
  • Advocates life-long learning, scholarships and other initiatives that promote and sustain excellence in dental education.
  • Believes that good oral health improves children's overall health and quality of life.
  • Seeks synergistic partnerships to generate and leverage resources.
  • Actively solicits the dental community and general public to support its pediatric dental research, education, service and policy development programs.

Why this and why now?

We will increase knowledge of, and access to, children's oral health care by promoting our mission in non-dental communities of interest. In short, Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children wishes to raise its profile among the general public, corporations, and foundations. We hope this leads to a broader base of support which, in turn, will result in increased programming to serve children. We will foster community-based access, service, and impact initiatives on our own and in tandem with other institutions and government agencies.

Our new name and identity open the door to increased public information, media coverage to get the word out about children's oral health, and a broader base of charitable support.

These actions also increase the visibility of the specialty of pediatric dentistry, our dental professionals, corporate and institutional benefactors, and the importance of children's oral health. Your good individual and corporate citizenship will be highlighted even more. A larger audience for our Foundation means that your donations and corporate sponsorship dollars go further and provide more return on investment.

What Stays the Same?

  • Our Commitment to optimal oral health for all children.
  • Our Commitment to the education of children and their caregivers.
  • Our Commitment to scientific research, education, and evidence-based pediatric dentistry.
  • Our Commitment to you, our donors and friends, whom we invite to join us on this exciting road to a bright future.

Over $1 million has been disbursed for pediatric dentistry research, education, and service activities to benefit the children we care for over the past two decades. As we celebrate the Foundation's twentieth anniversary, we reflect, dream, and prepare to expand its presence beyond organized dentistry. Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children will have a dynamic public profile for years to come.

Thank you for your support and partnership,

Paul A. Kennedy, Jr., DDS, MS, President