SAN JUAN, P.R.–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–February 20, 2003–In recognition of Children’s Dental Health Month in February, Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico a $5,000 grant to help fund oral health education programs. The grant is part of a partnership between Walgreens and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 (CHS 2010) in which 10 cents from every Crest sale at Walgreens in February and March, for a total donation of up to $100,000, will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 20 cities across the country.
The CHS 2010-Walgreens partnership and the grant are particularly timely because children are facing a silent epidemic of oral health disease in America. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease — five-times greater than asthma — and poor dental habits in children can have a serious affect on their overall health and well-being. Yet, these problems can be easily prevented.
“We are excited to partner with CHS 2010 during Children’s Dental Health Month to bring smiles to Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico members,” said William Geary, divisional merchandise manager at Walgreens. “We are glad to take the opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to improving the oral health of our customers and the community.”
“Through our partnership with Walgreens, we will be able to further CHS 2010’s goal of improving the oral health of children in need,” said Diane Dietz, marketing director for Crest. “The grants will be used to help maintain our oral care education and access programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico and Clubs nationwide.”
Club kids at the Las Margaritas Boys & Girls Club at Ave. Eduardo Conde in San Juan will celebrate receiving the grant with a special dental access day on Friday, February 21st that includes:
— A local dentist will provide free dental screenings for Club kids ages 6-12.
— Club members will participate in fun oral hygiene games and activities from the Cavity-Free Zone-an interactive program that teaches members about proper oral hygiene with exciting games and activities.
— All participating children will receive a Crest manual toothbrush and paste, a Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 T-shirt and a Parenting Guide with information to help educate their parents on proper oral hygiene habits.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PUERTO RICO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico provides daily services to 1,500 youths. These services are offered in public housing projects; Las Magaritas and Ernesto Ramos Antonini in San Juan and Franklin D. Roosevelt. From 3pm to 8pm hundreds of kids find a safe haven where they can be themselves. CHS 2010 will enrich our programs and the life of our kids.
ABOUT WALGREENS
Walgreen Co. is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2002 sales of $28.7 billion. The company operates 3,967 stores in 43 states and Puerto Rico, in addition to Walgreens Health Initiatives, which provides mail service prescriptions, pharmacy benefits management and other clinical services. For information on store locations log onto http://www.walgreens.com.
ABOUT CREST HEALTHY SMILES 2010
Based on the principle that good oral health is integral to overall health, Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 combines the passionate vision of Crest with the resources of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and other leading members of the dental community to affect real change in the state of the country’s oral health by 2010. Crest is also working with dental schools and local communities to sponsor mobile dental clinics that bring full service dental support to areas in need, as well as building upon its 40-year tradition of broad-based in-school health education programs which reach 90 percent of first graders. The program will reach more than 50 million children and their families over the next ten years.
A trusted leader in oral health, Crest was the first oral care brand to secure the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a clinically proven fluoride toothpaste, a major preventer of cavities. Since first introducing a fluoride toothpaste 40 years ago, it is estimated that Crest has helped prevent more than half a billion cavities in the United States. In addition, Crest created Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, a national outreach program designed to help improve the state of oral health in America. By providing education, tools, and increased access to dental professionals, Crest hopes to reach 50 million children and their families. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Crest is owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.
ABOUT THE AAPD
The AAPD is the professional organization dedicated to the advancement of pediatric dentistry, one of the nine recognized dental specialties. Our 5,600 members serve as primary care providers for millions of children from infancy through adolescence; provide advanced, specialty-level care for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special health care needs in private offices, clinics, and hospital settings; and are the primary contributors to professional education programs and scholarly works concerning dental care for children. The AAPD also recently completed a merger with the American Society of Dentistry for Children. As a result, the AAPD now speaks not only for the nation’s pediatric dentists, but also for general dentists who treat significant numbers of children in their practices.
–30–
CONTACT:
DeVries Public Relations
Sabrina Macias/212-891-0432
or
Bea Cardenas/212-891-0451
