The gala is St. Joseph Health Ministries’ biggest fund-raising event, last year netting almost $35,000 for the organization’s children’s oral health initiative, “Brush. Brush. Smile!”

The inn’s Casa di Fiori banquet facility will play host to the gala and its “Under the Tuscan Sun” theme. Besides hors d’oeuvres and dinner, the event will include silent and live auctions. Among the auction items will be a couple’s luxury package to the Inn at Leola Village, an evening’s use of a limousine, and items autographed by Joe Paterno.

The cost is $140 per person. For more information, call 717-397-7625 or send an e-mail to info@sjhm.org.

Since its debut in 2004, Brush. Brush. Smile! has provided more than $2.2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children in Lancaster County’s 16 school districts.

The nonprofit St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County.

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It was hosted by the school’s neighbor, Columbia Public Library, in conjunction with Power of a Smile Week.

Susan Scott, director of operations, read the book “The Tooth Story,” and Beth Zimmerman, dental hygienist, talked about the importance of brushing twice daily, flossing once a day, and eating and drinking the right things to ensure good oral health.

Beth Zimmerman teaches brushing and flossing techniques with the help of Canine the dog.

The award borrows its name from “The Star Thrower,” an essay by Loren Eiseley. In it, a boy shrugs off the daunting task of saving hundreds of starfish washed up on a beach. He throws one starfish into the surf and pronounces, “I made a difference for that one.”

Similarly, the Starfish Award recognizes individuals and organizations that make a positive contribution to St. Joseph Health Ministries’ mission: to improve the health of children in need within Lancaster County.

Ross has worked closely with the “Brush. Brush. Smile!” dental team to ensure top-quality care, provided guidance on policies and procedures, and donated care to children whose needs exceeded the capabilities on board St. Joseph Health Ministries’ mobile dental clinics.

“He just goes above and beyond,” said Susan Scott, director of operations for St. Joseph Health Ministries.

Ross is in private practice with Lancaster Pediatric Dental Associates on Lititz Pike. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and has a certificate in pediatric dentistry from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Brush. Brush. Smile!^®‘s two 40-foot mobile dental clinics – each known as the “Brush Brush Bus” – provide free dental care to economically disadvantaged children throughout Lancaster County.

Since its debut in 2004, Brush. Brush. Smile! has provided more than $2.2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children in Lancaster County’s 16 school districts.

St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County.

From left, Coleen Kayden, chair, St. Joseph Health Ministries board of directors; Dr. Peter Ross, volunteer dental advisor to St. Joseph Health Ministries and 2010 Starfish Award winner; Susan Scott, director of operations, St. Joseph Health Ministries.

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The half-hour programs will be offered as part of “Power of a Smile Week,” which St. Joseph Health Ministries is sponsoring June 13-19 in its ongoing effort to promote oral health.

The oral health education programs will be held at:

Columbia Public Library
10 a.m. June 14
Register at the front desk or send e-mail to lgreybill@columbia.lib.pa.us

Salisbury Township Branch Library
Gap Community Center
10 a.m. June 16
No registration required

Manheim Township Municipal Building
Municipal Building, 1840 Municipal Drive
10 a.m. June 18
Register at Manheim Township Public Library’s Web site, www.mtpl.info

To celebrate Power of a Smile Week, St. Joseph Health Ministries will give away three different collectible pin-back buttons, each one featuring a smiling face design created by a Lancaster County elementary student. The buttons will be available at all Lancaster County public libraries and at select other locations while supplies last.

St. Joseph Health Ministries operates the children’s oral health initiative “Brush. Brush. Smile!” The program has provided approximately $2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children across the county.

St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County.

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The nonprofit St. Joseph Health Ministries is bringing back “Power of a Smile Week” June 13-19 in its ongoing effort to promote oral health.

St. Joseph Health Ministries will give away three different collectible pin-back buttons, each one featuring a different smiling face. The buttons were designed by Morgan Combs, a fifth-grader at Blue Ball Elementary School; Anika Haski, a second-grader at Landisville Primary School; and Alex Lahr, a third-grader at Paradise Elementary School.

The buttons will be available starting June 13 at all Lancaster County public libraries and at these other locations, while supplies last:

• City Hall, 120 N. Duke St., Lancaster
• Ephrata Community Hospital, 169 Martin Ave., Ephrata
• Healthy Beginnings Plus, 531 N. Lime St., Lancaster
• Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, 223 N. Lime St., Lancaster
• Lancaster General Health Downtown Family Medicine, 540 N. Duke St., Lancaster
• Meadow Creek Family Practice, 435 S. Kinzer Road, New Holland
• Southeast Lancaster Health Services, 625 S. Duke St., Lancaster
• Welsh Mountain Medical & Dental Center, 584 Springville Road, New Holland

St. Joseph Health Ministries operates the children’s oral health initiative, “Brush. Brush. Smile!” Its two 40-foot mobile dental clinics – the “Brush Brush Buses” – provide free dental care to economically disadvantaged children throughout Lancaster County.

The buttons include St. Joseph Health Ministries’ Web address, www.sjhm.org. The recently revamped Web site features a “For Kids and Families” section that offers free downloadable oral health resources, including songs by children’s musician Steven Courtney, a children’s activity book, and a 30-day brushing and flossing chart. There’s also a countdown clock that resets to two minutes, which is how long children and adults should brush, twice daily.

“Just like a trip to the Brush Brush Bus, Power of a Smile Week puts a fun, informative spin on brushing and flossing,” said Kelly Altland, interim president of St. Joseph Health Ministries. “We hope that parents and children will pick up and wear these cool buttons – and then visit our Web site to learn about how to take care of their teeth and gums to ensure happy, healthy smiles and overall health.”

Heart disease, clogged arteries and strokes are among the cardiovascular diseases that may be linked to oral health, according to MayoClinic.com. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth. Poor oral health can make diabetes more difficult to control.

Since its debut in 2004, Brush. Brush. Smile! has provided approximately $2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children in Lancaster County’s 16 school districts.

St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County.

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The 2010 Dental Olympics are coming to Lancaster County.

To celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, St. Joseph Health Ministries is teaming up with a number of elementary schools – including Stiegel in the Manheim Central School District and Conestoga, Martic and Pequea in the Penn Manor School District – that will each host a Dental Olympics.

The first one – complete with brief opening ceremony – is 9:30 a.m. Feb. 5 at Stiegel, 3 S. Hazel St., Manheim.

The news media is encouraged to cover this or another Dental Olympics. To coordinate a school visit, contact Neal Goulet at 717-566-4541.

The Dental Olympics comprises four activities, overseen by a physical education instructor, that teach students about oral health while promoting physical fitness. The activities focus on brushing, flossing, food choices and what to expect during a visit to the dentist. For instance, “Plaque Attack” pits students – competing as dentists, teeth or plaque – in a game of freeze tag.

St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County. Its children’s oral health initiative, “Brush. Brush. Smile!,” has provided approximately $2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children across the county.

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Kelly Altland, interim president of St. Joseph Health Ministries, said the larger new space eliminated the need for off-site storage, saving the organization money.
“Our goal is to operate as efficiently as possible and to focus our resources on what’s best for the community: improving the oral health of Lancaster County’s children and families,” Altland said.

St. Joseph Health Ministries is best known for its children’s oral health initiative, “Brush. Brush. Smile! ™” It has provided approximately $2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to 23,000 children across Lancaster County’s 16 school districts and numerous community partners.

The hallmark of Brush. Brush. Smile!™ are its two mobile dental clinics, known as the “Brush Brush Buses,” which travel with their dental teams to see students at their schools.
St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) is dedicated to improving the health of children in need within Lancaster County.