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117,000+ want our free toothbrushes!
Teachers representing more than 117,000 students responded to our advertised offer for free toothbrushes, in a joint effort with Smile Kentucky! The back cover of the Spring Reader asked teachers to register for our Online Teacher Guide and tell us how many students in their schools needed new toothbrushes and tooth paste. The response was overwhelming! From 742 schools we serve, more than 600 teachers registered for the Teacher Guide and toothbrushes. We are working to meet this incredible need. Contact us today (502-222-8017) if you can donate to be sure every Kentucky K-3 student has a new toothbrush when school starts in the fall. Smile Kentucky! tackles the most common disease affecting U.S. children, dental decay. Smile Kentucky! is a unique community partnership to provide dental education and free dental care to children at elementary schools in Louisville Metro and surrounding counties. Smile Kentucky! complements an effort by the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA has called the program a model for community service.
According to their website, Smile Kentucky! hopes to bring attention to what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “silent epidemic” of oral disease affecting children from low-income families. The Surgeon General’s 2000 report found dental decay is the most common disease affecting U.S. children, occurring at five times the rate of asthma and seven times that of hay fever.
A recent Kentucky study found 29% of school children examined in the 3rd and 6th grades had visible dental decay; another 20% said they’d had a toothache in the past month. Oral health problems can affect a child’s overall health including speech, eating patterns and concentrating in school.
Smile Kentucky! originated in 2002 from an existing partnership between Louisville Water Company, the Louisville Dental Society and the UofL School of Dentistry. The group wanted to make an impact on the health of the community’s children. The funding for Smile Kentucky! comes from its steering committee and grants. For example, Colgate donates 17,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste. Louisville Water Company donates 17,000 reusable Pure Tap® water bottles and curriculums for teachers. Sullivan Schein Dental donates supplies to screen 5,000 children and treatment for another 400. The UofL School of Dentistry hosts Smile Kentucky!Treatment Day in their clinics. In all over 600 volunteers make the program work - - from employees, dental students, TARC, local school systems, and dental supply companies. Smile Kentucky! complements an effort by the American Dental Association to provide care to underserved children.
28,160,000 pages of health curriculum!
In our first year of serving all 742 Kentucky public elementary schools, we have donated more than 880,000 FIT4FUN Readers! For the first time ever, the entire Practical Living curriculum is reaching every student, for just $4 per student for the entire year. We’ve created, illustrated, printed and donated more than 28 million pages of learning about healthy living and critical thinking! There’s nothing like us nationwide.
All four editions of the Reader have been delivered to every K-3 student in the state. Our message of parent engagement has reached 70% of parents between the ages of 18 and 40. In a survey of Kentucky’s public school district superintendents, 95% gave us the highest possible rating in 4 out of 5 categories, including ease of use and effectiveness. Kentucky principals are calling us “the best thing that’s happened to public education in a long time” and teachers from Paducah to Pikeville tell us they love how much their students love learning with The FIT4FUN Reader.
Our entire program costs just $4 per year per student. We provide 4 Readers per student, a year’s worth of planning in our Online Teacher Guide and on-page curriculum citations, and an e-version of each Reader. The FIT4FUN Reader prompts young students to learn lifelong lessons about how to make smart choices based on critical thinking.
We’ve been endorsed by the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Restaurant Association and many other professional organizations working to improve the lives of Kentucky citizens.
Please tell someone about us today! CALL 502-222-8017 TO DONATE OR BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING EFFORT!
25 ½ free things to do instead of watching television!
1. Chew gum
2. Do cartwheels
3. Take a walk
4. Pat my cat
5. Blow bubbles
6. Draw a cartoon
7. Write a letter
8. Look for a 4-leaf clover
9. Climb a tree
10. Ride my bike
11. Help my mom
12. Go to the library
13. Toss a Frisbee
14. Play hopscotch
15. Write a play and act it out
16. Build a sandcastle
17. Have a picnic
18. Draw with sidewalk chalk
½ Draw ME!
19. Read outside
20. Do jumping jacks
This is a page from our magazine “Fit 4 Fun,” available statewide for all students in grades K-3.
Reading to Children Greatly Improves Prospects
Ninety-five percent of Americans consider early childhood literacy an important problem, but they do not know that reading to children between the ages of 3-5 has long-term consequences for a child's academic achievement and life-long success, according to a new survey.
Children's Charities Focus on Families
The best minds are coming together to discuss how best to help Kentucky's children.
The entucky Commission on Philanthropy is sponsoring the
2009 Summit on Philanthropy on behalf of the entire volunteer Commission. The
Summit will be held at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort on October 26–27.
We hope you’ve already saved the date!
Philanthropists from across the Commonwealth will gather ‘round a “tribal fire” to
discuss the many ways philanthropy can—and does— matter. Join us in thoughtprovoking
sessions, examination of timely topics and networking opportunities.
You will have the chance to learn about cutting edge opportunities to impact our
state’s future, starting with Early Childhood Education and Child Health/Welfare.
Prominent national speakers will share the benefits of strategic philanthropy and a
focus on results. Prior to the day-long summit, we’ll offer pre-summit, value-added
workshops at no additional cost and a welcome reception hosted by Gov. Steve
Beshear at the Governor’s Mansion.
Invite your staff and trustees, your experienced or budding philanthropic friends,
and your colleagues to a meeting promising to be productive and inspiring.
Creativity Helps Children Stay Healthy
Artist Liz McKenna hopes that by teaching young children to be expressive through art, they can avoid such illnesses as eating and sleeping disorders.