My wife, Jennifer, and I started The Happy Teeth Project in May 2020, during a time when, as everyone can universally attest, smiles were hard to come by. Through volunteering in children and teen ministry programs at our church, we began to recognize one overwhelming need among these age groups. While many of the children we worked with attended some of Michigan’s most prestigious blue-ribbon schools, many students in those districts were also fighting a daily battle against poverty. One area where this poverty was evident was in the inability to access cosmetic dentistry care, particularly orthodontics, as state insurance does not consider it essential.
The Happy Teeth Project is a nonprofit established with the goal of removing the financial burden of orthodontic care for families, while also boosting the recipient’s self-confidence in the process. When we began this work, we had two near-teenage daughters, and we not only understood the aesthetic benefits of orthodontics, but, more importantly, we understood what neglect in this area meant for long-term dental health.
One of the more challenging aspects of running this nonprofit is that not everyone who qualifies financially will be able to receive help. These projects cost thousands of dollars, so we’re likely years away from helping hundreds of youth each year. In addition to the financial requirements, we also have a character requirement. Since we’re investing thousands of dollars into these individuals, it’s vital that we ensure both our donors and The Happy Teeth Project are investing in the right people. In our brief time running this nonprofit, I’ve found that we’re investing in the parents’ character just as much as the child’s.
There were many inspirations behind founding The Happy Teeth Project, and I believe God will provide us with many more as we continue. Our vision is to inspire confidence in our youth by changing the world, one smile at a time.