The Champions of Health Gala is an annual event held to honor programs in Oklahoma that provide access to preventative health services. The event raises money for The Oklahoma Caring Foundation, Inc. - 100% of the evening's proceeds goes to support this non-profit organization.
I am excited to say that the winner of the 'Champion of the Uninsured' was Shirley Harris of D-Dent, a restorative dental care facility in Oklahoma City. In her 14 years as Executive Director of D-Dent, Shirley has maintained a steadfast mission of serving the uninsured dental needs of the elderly and disabled in Oklahoma.
In 2011, D-Dent added Veterans as a targeted group, finding that many were in need. Last year D-Dent staff coordinated free comprehensive dental care for 803 new patients across the state of Oklahoma; and D-Dent volunteer dentists provided care through 2,682 appointments with a donated value of over $1.6 million of free dental procedures in order to restore the oral health of Oklahomans in need. Under Shirley Harris' leadership, D-Dent has grown to become an office that coordinates the volunteer efforts of over 450 dental professionals statewide meeting the needs of Oklahoma's uninsured population. To date, D-Dent has provided more than 30,000 dental visits and comprehensive dental care for over 9,800 people statewide. Over $8 million worth of donated dental-oriented goods and services have been provided by this life saving program.
