2008 National League MVP Albert Pujols Teams with ADA’s Give Kids A Smile
2008 National League MVP Albert Pujols Teams with ADA’s Give Kids A SmileStars in public service announcements to improve dental access for underserved childrenCHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2009 – Albert Pujols, National League Baseball’s 2008 Most Valuable Player and St. Louis
2008 National League MVP Albert Pujols Teams with ADA’s Give Kids A Smile
Stars in public service announcements to improve dental access for underserved children
CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2009 – Albert Pujols, National League Baseball’s 2008 Most Valuable Player and St. Louis Cardinal first baseman, is starring in several American Dental Association (ADA) Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) public service announcements (PSA) to help promote increased access to oral health care for underserved children.
Pujols also is the 2008 recipient of Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award, given in recognition of the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.
Working with the ADA, Pujols stars in 15-, 30- and 60-second PSAs that raise awareness and encourage community involvement in the GKAS program and GKAS Day activities. GKAS Day, observed every year on the first Friday in February, provides free dental services to underserved children and educates them about their oral health.
“We are extremely gratified that Albert Pujols joined with us in bringing attention to the need for increased access to oral health services for underserved children,” states Dr. John S. Findley, president, American Dental Association. “He is truly a most valuable person and an all- star in every sense.”
The 2009 GKAS Day marks the seventh consecutive year of the national event in which millions of underserved children have received free dental services. On Feb. 6 of this year, more than 12,000 dentists and 32,000 dental team volunteers will provide free dental services to approximately half a million children in need at more than 1,600 locations nationwide.
National distribution of the PSA should reach about 1,300 television stations through approximately 800 broadcast stations and some 500 cable outlets. The PSA is available for viewing at http://www.givekidsasmile.ada.org/.
The PSA is part of expanding the program to make GKAS “more than just a day,” and include fundraising, presenting grants to programs and organizations providing dental care to the needy year-round, and building one central voice advocating for oral health care for underserved children. The GKAS program expansion’s mission is to eradicate cavities in five-year-olds by 2020. For information on donating to the ADA Foundation Give Kids A Smile Fund, please go to http://www.ada.org/ada/adaf/donate.asp.
The Pujols Family Foundation, among its other good works, annually sends dentists to the Dominican Republic on a weeklong mission to provide dental care for children in need. More information is available at http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/.
