Campaign Provides Clean Drinking Water to More than 16,500 Ethiopians in Need
IRVINE, CALIF. June 3, 2021 – The Smile Generation®, a brand that connects patients to Smile Generation-trusted dentists who are dedicated to providing an exceptional patient experience and advanced clinical care, provides financial choices for patients, and educates about the connection between oral health and overall health, held a nationwide campaign to support charity: water, a non-profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Smile Generation-trusted dental practices throughout the United States raised over $660,000 to provide clean drinking water to more than 16,500 Ethiopians in need. Since 2009, the Smile Generation has brought clean drinking water to over 200,000 people in need.
“With the generous support of our donors we were able to surpass our original $500,000 donation goal and give even more support to charity: water and their mission to provide clean drinking water for people around the globe,” said Kyle Guerin, PDS’ director of corporate social responsibility and the PDS Foundation. “For many developing countries, access to clean water changes everything. Over the last year, it has it has become increasingly clear how vital access to clean water and sanitation is, making this partnership more important than ever.”
Diseases from dirty water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Clean water is always essential for good health, but right now, it’s a critical defense against COVID-19. Without strong healthcare systems to rely on, prevention is critical to protecting vulnerable people in developing countries from COVID-19. Good hygiene practices, especially effective handwashing with clean water and soap, are key to preventing the spread of the virus.
According to statistics, 785 million people in the world live without clean water, nearly one in 10 people worldwide. The majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their family. As charity: water notes, not only does the time walking for clean water keep children out of school or take up time that parents could be using to earn money, the water often carries diseases. According to the World Health Organization, contaminated water can transmit diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. In addition, by 2025 half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas. Access to clean water, however, means education, income and health - especially for women and children.
Established in 2007, charity: water has funded water programs in 27 countries around the globe – in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
To learn more about the campaign, click HERE.