Record year for donations from Patterson Dental, business partners

Nov. 30, 2012 (St. Paul, MN) – As in years past, Patterson Dental and business partners raised money in conjunction with the Patterson Leadership Summit in Minneapolis to support Dental Lifeline Network (DLN), a national nonprofit organization that works to provide dental care for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile.

Patterson Dental President Paul Guggenheim reported this year’s total: “With most pledged amounts now in, it’s official,” he said. ”We are excited to announce that 2012 contributions to Dental Lifeline Network programs will exceed $210,000 – making this year our best yet! This tremendous outpouring of support is an important way that we, as a dental industry, can join together to help connect more people with the dental treatment they need and may otherwise not receive.”  

Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated Dental Services (DDS) program involves more than 15,000 dentists and 3,349 laboratories that volunteer to help patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Donations from the Leadership Summit support these services, which DLN President Fred Leviton said helped 7,400 individuals with special needs receive $24 million in dental treatment this year. “Our organization and countless people we help have been blessed by many wonderful donors who sustain our programs, which transform and even save the lives of some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals,” Leviton stated. “Patterson Dental and its business partners have led efforts within the industry that support thousands of dentists and laboratories that volunteer. Their contributions over time have resulted in comprehensive care for over 100,000 people who have benefited from several hundred million dollars worth of care.”

The Patterson Dental Leadership Summit contribution alone will enable DLN to provide support that volunteer dentists and labs need in the coming year to treat more than 800 people.

The annual Leadership Summit brings together the Patterson Dental management team from across North America to discuss initiatives and other opportunities rolling out over the course of the year that will continue to improve the patient experience and practice lifestyle. Time is also set aside to meet with manufacturer partners and discuss additional ways to provide more value to dental teams and their patients.