Bullied throughout her childhood because of her broken smile, Savannah recently shared her story with those in attendance at the America’s ToothFairy Celebration of Smiles Feb. 21 in Chicago. Her heartfelt words and story of struggle struck an emotional chord with many in the audience and helped reiterate why supporting oral health services for at-risk children is so important. She spoke of hiding her smile and admitted that she even learned to sing without showing her teeth in an effort to avoid ridicule from others. “They are going to give me a smile,” Savannah said about America’s ToothFairy and her dentist Dr. Mario Paz. “It means the world to me.”
14-year old Club member Savannah Robinson is now ambassador to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, and received a standing ovation during her performance at the recent Celebration of Smiles event. She’s part of the Tomorrow’s Smiles program, and couldn’t be more grateful for what the program means to her: a smile. Both talented and compassionate, Savannah is an active volunteer in the anti-bullying campaign at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and helps teach children how to respond in situations where they are being bullied.“I don’t want others to have to go through what I did,” she said. “That is why I feel it is my turn to step up to the plate and take a stand.”
Savannah sang on Ellen two years ago when she was 12. Check out her performance!
Savannah was recommended for Tomorrow’s SMILES, a teen program of National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy®, sponsored by the Patterson Foundation, by the Director of her local Boys & Girls Club. Tomorrow’s SMILES provides at-risk adolescents with comprehensive oral health services to help prepare them for healthy and productive futures. Caring volunteer dentists like Dr. Paz provide pro-bono restorative services for prescreened, under-served youth and have access to generously donated products from Invisalign® and Nobel Biocare™.
As an expression of her gratitude, she sang “Beautiful” and dedicated it to the America’s ToothFairy supporters and volunteers who are helping to make a difference in young lives like hers. With tears in their eyes and clapping wildly, the audience leapt to their feet. The fourteen-year-old girl smiled shyly and bowed. Savannah Robinson, a remarkable young lady, talented singer and recipient of life-changing services provided through the America’s ToothFairy Tomorrow’s SMILES program, strives to give back to her community by helping other youth who struggled with bullying.
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Savannah rehearsing for her performance at the NCOHF Celebration of Smiles reception.
In return for the life-changing services she will receive as an America’s ToothFairy Tomorrow’s SMILES teen, Savannah will Pay It Forward by delivering oral health education to children in her community. With new smiles and restored self-confidence, Tomorrow’s SMILES teens serve as mentors to young children and encourage them to practice good oral health behaviors.
With a powerful voice that conveys soulful emotion and depth well beyond her years, Savannah has a bright future ahead of her. A YouTube sensation, she sang on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Anderson Cooper 360 and with celebrities such as Jennifer Hudson. With help from America’s ToothFairy Tomorrow’s SMILES, she can now face her future with a confident smile!
You can help transform a child’s needless pain and suffering into a beautiful smile and the promise of a happy, healthy future by volunteering for the America’s ToothFairy Tomorrow’s SMILES program. Click here to register today or visitAmericasToothFairy.org to learn more about all of our life-changing programs!
Feb. 28th, 2013 | by Jill Malmgren NCOH
http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/dental/article/ncohf-america-s-toothfairy-gives-talented-teen-reason-smile