The Capital Area Dental Foundation has been awarded Gold Level status from Guidestar, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Now more than ever, you can be confident in your donation to CADF as we work together to expand access to charitable dental care to our neighbors in need.
Dr. Simon Garza
In practice for more than 37 years, Dr. Simon Garza started his career in the small town of Yoakum, Texas, but moved to Austin in 1990 where he has practiced ever since. Charitable dentistry is something he embraced early in his career helping families from his church access dental care when money was tight. Today, Dr. Garza is one of the Capital Area Dental Foundation’s most dedicated volunteer dental providers, treating patients with emergency dental needs through the St. Vincent de Paul program and low-income musicians through our partnership with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and the St. David’s Foundation.
“It’s a good feeling to give something away and not expect anything in return,” said Dr. Garza. “We all go into health care for altruistic reasons. Sometimes we get paid for it. Sometimes we don’t.”
Dr. Garza is a deacon at his church and has participated in several dental mission trips abroad to places like Mexico and Guatemala. “We’ve been blessed and I try hard to help people,” Dr. Garza said. “It’s very gratifying to have the skills to help someone in pain.”
The Capital Area Dental Foundation coordinates six different charitable care programs and is actively recruiting new dentists to treat patients in need. Paperwork is minimal and some programs provide reimbursement.
“What CADF is doing is so helpful, not only for the patients who need care, but for dentists who want to volunteer. By the time a patient gets to my office, he or she has been completed screened. I know this person needs help.” Dr. Simon Garza, CADF Volunteer of Quarter
As one of the nation’s largest dental suppliers, Patterson Dental, is a major player in charitable dentistry and, lucky for CADF, a generous supporter of our growing Foundation. The local Austin branch, which employs 25 team members, is led by CADF’s very own board member, Jon Fidler (pictured above).
Jon was introduced to charitable dentistry when he was a territory representative with Patterson in New Mexico. When he moved to Austin, he quickly got involved with CADF and assumed multiple leadership roles including Secretary and Chairman of the Development Committee.
Recently, Patterson Dental was a generous sponsor of the inaugural CADS/CADF Golf Classic & After Party last November and was the casino sponsor for the CADF Round Up & Gala.
“I am fortunate to work for a company that sponsors events like the golf tournament and gala. But truly the Foundation would not be what it is without our dental providers. Dentists are the ones who step up and actually do the work of caring for patients. Without our providers, there is no Foundation.”
– Jon Fidler
If you come across a Patterson Dental representative, please thank them for supporting CADF’s charitable work in the community.
Lyda Creus Molanphy (center) with fellow board members Jon Fidler and Melinda Perrier at the 2016 CADF Roundup & Gala.
Congratulations to current board member, Lyda Creus Molanphy, who was recently appointed to serve as the new Chair of the Capital Area Dental Foundation.
Lyda replaces Dr. Alan Moore, who successfully guided the
Foundation through two years of rapid growth. Dr. Moore, the recently named CADS Dentist of the Year, will stay on the Board and focus on recruiting new dentists to provide care to patients in need throughout Central Texas.
Ms. Molanphy has been a friend to dental care for many years. She has served as the Interim Executive Director of the TDA Smiles Foundation and has worked as both an executive and consultant with the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association and the Texas Association of General Dentistry.
A graduate of Duke University, Lyda is the owner of Connections Consulting, an Austin-based strategic communications consulting firm.
The Capital Area Dental Foundation would like to warmly congratulate our chairman and longtime board member, Dr. Alan Moore for being named the CADS Dentist of the Year
Dr. Moore is a dedicated and visionary leader who has led CADF successfully through a period of tremendous growth. Dr. Moore’s term as chairman ends in June, but he will remain on the CADF board where he will focus on recruiting more dentists to care for patients seeking care from the Foundation.
Congratulations Dr. Moore and thanks for everything you to do transform lives through charitable dentistry!
Thank you to those that attended our Round Up & Gala on Saturday, April 16!
Because of YOU, the Capital Area Dental Foundation raised over $180,000 that will be used to transform the lives of hundreds of Central Texans living with dental pain and disease.
A special thank you goes to our incredible Gala Co-Chairs, Amie Nemec, Dr. Benjamin Nemec and Melinda Perrier for a night to remember and to all of our amazing sponsors.
Follow us on Facebook to check out all the photographs.
Breaking news: Thanks to a last-minute donation, CADF raised over $8,000 during Amplify Austin. A big thanks again to all of our donors. Every dollar counted. Rest assured your charitable dollars are in good hands and will be used to eliminate pain, promote health and keep Austin smiling!
Dr. Danny Watts
The CADF Volunteer of the Quarter is Dr. Danny Watts, founder of Pediatric Dental Professionals. A beloved pediatric dentist for the past 38 years, Dr. Watts is a shining example of how an individual can lead an organization to make a difference. Dr. Watts has been an active volunteer with CADF’s newest partner, HeartGift, providing dental care to children with serious heart conditions who are flown into Dell Children’s hospital for life-saving heart surgery that is not available at home. In 2014, Dr. Watts was recognized for his generosity and commitment to raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House, earning Pediatric Dental Associates the Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation of the Year award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
“Volunteering, whether it is donating services or fundraising for charity, is truly my pleasure. It is an honor to volunteer for and serve the community which has given so much to me.” Danny Watts, CADF Volunteer of the Quarter
If you are a pediatric dentist and would like to learn more about getting involved with HeartGift or you are a general dentists or specialist interested in CADF’s other charitable programs, please contact Liz Rubio with the Capital Area Dental Foundation at 512-922-1217 or l.rubio@capitalareadentalfoundation.org.
For the fifth year in a row, the Capital Area Dental Foundation is participating in the Austin American-Statesman Season for Caring program. The Foundation has committed to providing dental care to 13 deserving individuals who have been nominated by local nonprofit organizations.
Read more in this wonderful article written by Statesman reporter, Nicole Villalpando.
Thank you to the generous and kind CADF Dental Providers who have stepped up to provide dental care this holiday season to people in need.
