Grant Support to A Gift of Smiles In Pennsylvania Brings Pure Joy

The second of our four non-profit beneficiaries of the Fall Project Grant cycle is A Gift of Smiles , who are committed to transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by offering comprehensive, free dental healthcare. The clinic caters to uninsured and underinsured children and young adults with IDD (up to age 30) residing in Cumberland County and the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. Each year, this dental practice delivers comprehensive dental services to around 160 patients, all of whom are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The vision for AGOS was conceived by Dr. Dwight Ashby, a pediatric dentist with over 35 years of experience caring for patients with IDD. In 2014, Dr. Ashby started offering free care to this group at his private practice in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. By 2016, AGOS had officially become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In November 2024, AGOS proudly inaugurated a state-of-the-art dental clinic in Wormleysburg, PA. Currently, AGOS is the sole nonprofit dental clinic in Central Pennsylvania solely dedicated to providing free dental care for uninsured individuals with IDD and young children with severe decay.

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The Capital Region Civitan club learned about the non-profit this Summer and toured the facility in the Fall to support a grant application. The grant aimed to improve dental care access for individuals with disabilities and young children with severe tooth decay, who face barriers in traditional dental settings. With the grant's $70,534 funding, AGOS will enhance patient comfort, safety, and accessibility by investing in projects and equipment, and improve communication through tools like visual supports and adaptive devices. FCIDD and the Capital Region volunteers are excited about this new partnership!