Smiles Against Hate was pleased to receive a letter this week from Charles J. Goodacre, DDS, dean of the School of Dentistry at Loma Linda University (LLU). The letter informed us that LLU has dedicated September 11th to a tooth whitening fundraiser for Smiles Against Hate. Smiles Against Hate is a non-profit organization committed to preventing hate crimes and providing public diversity education. “I recently found myself thinking about what the School of Dentistry might do on the upcoming anniversary of September 11,” said Goodacre’s letter. “What would be an appropriate response from a school of dentistry? An idea has evolved that I would like to share with you.”
“The tragedy of September 11, 2001 happened as a result of many bizarre thought processes including hate,” he continued. “Loma Linda University School of Dentistry will be partnering with Smiles Against Hate to do something special this September 11 that will focus on smiles rather than hate. We will be providing tooth whitening ion that date at one-half the regular dental school fee and the money collected will be donated to the Smiles Against Hate organization.”
The full text of Dr. Goodacre’s letter and information about the September 11th project are available on Smiles Against Hate’s website at http://www.smilesagainsthate.org/LomaLinda.htm.
Smiles Against Hate (www.smilesagainsthate.com) is a [501(c)3] non-profit, progressive outreach program committed to preventing hate crimes through promoting diversity and fostering multicultural awareness among individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life. Smiles Against Hate will work to cultivate mutual respect and appreciation among individuals without promoting any one cause.