In September, 2010, the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society filed the necessary paperwork with the California Secretary of State's office to incorporate a new non-profit organization called the SFVDS Foundation. Our paperwork was filed as 'public benefit', 'charitable' organization whose purpose is to provide free oral health education and free oral health services to those members of the public who do not have dental insurance or any other means to pay for needed treatment.
On October 01, 2010, our incorporation documents were certified by the CA Secreatry of State. In turn, working with a CPA that the board had retained, on October 22, 2010 we filed for tax-exempt status with the IRS, which was granted on December 05, 2010. On September 09, 2011, we received our tax-exempt determination from the CA Franchise Tax Board. We have therefore been successful in having the foundation designated as a 501 (C)(3), tax exempt organization, donations to which are fully tax deductible to donors.
The foundation allows us to pursue grants and contributions to expand the community service work of SFVDS members, including taking over the ADA sponsored, annual 'Give Kids a Smile' program which currently serves more than 2,000 children each year. The foundation also offers a free service to serve the oral health needs of low-income, uninsured adults and seniors. Please visit the foundation's website for more information about these programs (see the link below)
By adding this menu item to the main SFVDS website, we will keep members and the public informed of our activities and efforts to help all people within the SFVDS component jurisdiction with improved oral health. Members interested in joining in society efforts to provide care to the low-income and disadvantaged populations within our component boundaries are encouraged to contact the SFVDS central office for more information and an identification of what areas and programs need volunteers.
The foundation is a key element of the SFVDS' efforts to give back to our communities and help alleviate some of the 'barriers to care' problems that prevent far too many people from receiving proper oral health education and care.
In April, 2012, the foundation secured a website address and began to populate the web site's pages with information about our programs, fundraising activities and partnerships in order to provide oral health care services to the underserved, low/no income, uninsured populations of our communities. Here is a link to our foundation's website: www.sfvdsfoundation.org, so please check back often for updates on the foundation's progress and how you can help us make a difference!
