Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry is committed to helping our community though volunteering at the Dupage Community clinic in Wheaton Illinois once a month and through sponsoring schools, local charities and sports teams. In addition we have a primary charitable organization in which we endorse and support annually.

2012

Dayspring is proud to be sponsoring Friends of Child Advocacy for 2012. Friends of Child Advocacy is a nonprofit organization that raises money to assist the hundreds of sexually and physically abused children in Kane County and their family members whose cases are investigated by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center. Friends of Child Advocacy assists with funds for counseling sessions and medical examinations, supports advocacy programs, funds education and training for counselors, coordinates a Holiday Sponsor-a-Family program for families in need, and provides the Kane County Child Advocacy Center with items that directly benefit child abuse victims. For more information about Friends of Child Advocacy, call the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at 630-208-5160.

2011

Dayspring pediatric dentistry is proud to sponsor The Chicago Chapter of the Navigators which was founded in 1933. John and Julie Mueller and their two children live and work with The Navigators in the neighborhood of North Lawndale, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago. Along with local residents, John & Julie operate a non-profit organization called Breaking Ground. Breaking Ground consists of an on-the-job training school called APL Teaching Factory, an affordable homebuilding and rehab program, as well as a neighborhood beautification business called Cleanstreet. The school and businesses give men and women from the North Lawndale community an opportunity for a fresh start, help them develop real job skills, expose them to practical applications of God’s Word, all the while surrounding them with a loving environment. John and Julie also host a weekly Sunday-night dinner where many Breaking Ground Employees, neighbors and their families come together for food, fellowship and fun. Please visit their website at http://www.navigators.org/us/staff/mueller.

Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry is proud to support Lazarus House a local homeless shelter serving the western and rural Kane county area. Founded in June 1997, Lazarus House serves men, women and children by providing safe shelter, food, personal hygiene items and shower and laundry facilities as well as clothing and healthcare through local free clinics. Lazarus House also assists people at risk of homelessness by helping them retain Independent living through many offered programs. To learn more about Lazarus House and how you can help, please visit their website at www.lazarushouseonline.com.

In 2009 Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry was a proud sponsor to Arena of Dreams. Arena of Dreams, which opened in Oct. 2008 south of Galena, Ill, near Chestnut Mountain Resort offers therapeutic horse riding and ground therapy, such as brushing and feeding the horses. Arena of Dreams offers other therapies as well. There is a listening room, a pool, a play room and a small gym, all designed to meet the needs of children with a range of disabilities from autism to spina bifida to brain injury. Dr. Karen Maloney of St. Charles founded this wonderful program and you can learn more about this great cause by visiting the Arena of dreams website at www.careinconnections.com.

In November of 2008 Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry was proud to support Dr. Maureen Sevandal on her week long Mission trip to Negril Jamaica. Dr. Maureen volunteered with the “1000 Smiles Project for Great Shape, Inc., which has been bringing dental care to Jamaica since 2002.

Great Shape Inc. is service in action. In Jamaica they facilitate a humanitarian dental project, a literacy empowerment project, and an eye-care vision project. Dr. Maureen participated in the 1000 Smiles and counting project, one of the world’s largest international humanitarian dental projects. Statistics showed that in rural Jamaica, there is just one dentist for every 100,000 people! In over 6 weeks, more than 200 volunteers served about 4,500 people in temporary dental clinics. The dental education teams served about 15,000 children in the local schools. Dr. Maureen was assigned to Cave Valley where she provided free dental care, including cleanings, extractions, fillings and sealants to local grade school children

Dr. Maureen’s volunteer trip proved to be very challenging yet quite rewarding. She worked in a healthcare clinic where the dental chairs and equipment were less efficient and the conditions were very hot and humid. However, Dr. Maureen’s experiences with the Jamaican children was very rewarding and all those treated were grateful for her services. The children expressed their gratitude with big hugs, drawings, letters and a performance given to the volunteers at their school.

To learn more about this great project please visit their website at www.gsjamaica.org.