MEDIA RELEASE – August 2010
Give a Smile™ broadens Aussie grins with a commitment to ‘Target 1,000’

Give a Smile™, a charitable arm of the Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO), has partnered Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Limited, makers of LISTERINE® and REACH® to announce a goal of reaching 1,000 patients in 2011 through an initiative titled: ‘Target 1,000.’

Founded in 2005, Give a Smile™ has facilitated orthodontic treatment for well over 700 children throughout Australia, providing pro bono care by specialist orthodontists for in-need Australian families who could not otherwise afford private orthodontic treatment.

But it’s not just about health – the self-esteem and emotional benefits that these children experience following their Give a Smile™ treatment are immeasurable.

“Give a Smile™ has been an incredibly successful and rewarding initiative for all involved. To be in a position where we will be treating our 1,000th patient after just five years is an amazing achievement,” said Give a Smile™’s Chair Dr. Ted Crawford.
Patients accepted into the Give a Smile™ program are offered a full-program of orthodontic care which, depending on their needs, takes an average of two years. This equates to a saving to the public system of between $6,000 and $8,000 per patient.

At present, there are more than 260 Give a Smile™ orthodontists right across Australia offering their unique skills to patients in need – from Bunbury to Cairns and in between. The impressive support level of over 60% of all ASO orthodontists has resulted in a 10% reduction in public orthodontic waiting lists nation-wide.

The work of Give a Smile™ orthodontists not simply changing the lives of these young people – although this is the most crucial and valued aspect of the program. In addition Give a Smile™ has saved Australian taxpayers more than $6 million dollars since its inception in 2005 and is now forging towards the target of 1,000 patients and beyond - spreading smiles throughout Australia.

Renowned Australian comedian and actor, Shane Bourne, has been a great supporter of Give a Smile™ since its foundation:

“The work that the Give a Smile™ orthodontists undertake is so important to the communities in which they work; and their ongoing contribution through this initiative is really making a difference to the lives of many young people. Health aside, the more smiles we see in Australia, the better!” says Bourne.

For all media enquiries, interviews with Shane Bourne, Dr. Ted Crawford or a Give a Smile™ beneficiary from your local area, please contact:

Thrive PR
Sophie Walton / Sarah Bamford
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / (02) 9310 4011