Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) has been behind tens of thousands of healthy smiles since they began business in 1994. Today, some of the biggest smiles can be found at KidWorks, where the company and its team members have generously partnered with us since 2015.

It is with this gratitude and deep appreciation that we honor PDS as our September 2022 “Volunteer of the Month.”

“The partnership with KidWorks has brought joy to so many of our team member’s lives,”
 says Vivian Loi, a marketing specialist at PDS.

She adds, “Whether it’s connecting our team members with an opportunity to serve for the first time or inviting our families to volunteer alongside us, the act of service truly changes our hearts.”

“Without partners such as KidWorks we would not have the opportunity to see this change happen. It’s been rewarding to see that we are able to help KidWorks start off the new school year the right way by helping assemble school supplies for the children.”

PDS is one of the country’s leading dental support organizations, with a unique business model that enables dentists to own their dental practice and empowers them to focus almost exclusively on patient care while PDS remains focused on the business aspects of the practice. The company currently supports over 875 dental offices located across the United States and is continually expanding within its existing markets. It has been on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America 14 times.

In 2011, the September “Volunteer of the Month” originated “Smile Generation Serve Day,” an annual day of service and nationwide campaign of giving that focuses on providing donated dentistry to underserved patients. 

“During this year’s event, held Aug. 20, more than 700 PDS-supported dental practices located across the country provided donated dental care to over 2,500 patients, including some life changing procedures such as CEREC® CAD/CAM same-day dental restorations, fillings, implants, root canals, oral surgery and much-needed dental cleanings,” Vivian says.

Forty local PDS team members made Smile Generation Serve Day special for our students and families. Those serving KidWorks ranged across multiple departments at PDS, including marketing, communications, finance, recruiting, data analytics, information technology, and executive leadership.

Says Chris Adams, one of the PDS team members who helped that day, “What I love about Smile Generation Serve Day is getting the chance to help others alongside my PDS teammates. Serving others together is both an awesome way to bond as a team and a cool opportunity to bring encouragement and help to those in need.”

“It was fun sharing with the PDS team about our students and how the back-to-school kits would provide such a positive impact,” says Ryann Smith, KidWorks’ Marketing & Communications Associate.

She adds, “PDS has such a vibrant culture; they are so committed to giving back to communities like ours.” 

The back-to-school kits assembled by PDS team members included such essentials as pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers, Kleenex, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Our students were especially delighted by the bookmarks designed, colored and laminated by the group.

A commitment to helping others is deeply rooted in PDS culture.

“Smile Generation Serve Day has become a substantial part of our organization,” says Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services.

“The act of service changes our hearts and minds about what matters most in life,” he says.
“This annual event gives us the opportunity to selflessly engage with the communities we serve and help them improve their health.

“This year’s success is evident through thousands of lives that have been positively impacted by the hearts of our team members and their gift of over 55,000 hours of service.”

In addition to supporting KidWorks during Smile Generation Serve Day, hundreds of PDS team members and families across the U.S. joined community service projects such as park and beach clean-ups, blood drives, creating cards of encouragement for children undergoing cancer treatment, and serving in local food banks.

More about the company and its Smile Generation Serve Day is at these links:

PDS’ desire to help the underserved and those in need also occurs beyond Smile Generation Serve Day.

“PDS is a service organization at heart,” says Carli Kingsley, Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility at PDS.

“We created a platform called the 3Ds: Dentistry, Donate, Do Something which drives our corporate social responsibility efforts and guides our work to creating a healthier, happier world,” Carli says.

She adds, “We provide several opportunities for clinicians to provide donated dentistry and empower them to offer pro-bono services to patients in need. We connect our patients to a variety of causes through in-office drives and conduct point-of-purchase drives which support local non-profits.”

Carli explains that donations are often encouraged by offering $100 off dental treatment in exchange for the donation.

“Team members take it one step further by volunteering their time to do something and serve these local organizations,” Carli says. “When all 3Ds are implemented, it builds trust for our brand and helps offices be the provider of choice in the market they serve.”

Vivian says PDS looks forward to continuing its support of KidWorks in many ways.

“We are continuing to partner with KidWorks by providing multiple opportunities for our team members to serve and for them to provide items through donation drives,” Vivian says.

This heartfelt dedication to others is sure to make everyone smile!

By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer

When Maureen Moore arrived at KidWorks to tutor second graders each Monday and Wednesday afternoon during the 2021/2022 academic year, she knew that each session began with a prayer led by one of the young students.

Those prayers always included thanking God in ways only a second grader can.

After giving thanks for such wide-ranging blessings as the classroom chairs, their family pets and even crayons, you’d often hear this refrain: “And thank you, Jesus, for Ms. Maureen.”

That would be Maureen Moore, our August 2022 “Volunteer of the Month.”

Maureen was a volunteer tutor in Jacky Hernandez’s second grade class. (Jacky has since been promoted to Program Administration Lead.)

“I chose KidWorks because of the children,” Maureen says. “I love how their eyes light up when they accomplish something on their own or learn something new.”

Adds Maureen, “I was very impressed by how all the children behaved with courtesy and respect. They were happy, energetic and eager to learn.” 

Maureen is also drawn to KidWorks’ faith-based foundation.

“I hope that all the children come to know God as their personal, loving Savior and friend,” Maureen says. “Having lived my school years in Santa Ana, I hope the community continues to strive for unity. 

“Maureen has been such a wonderful addition to KidWorks this school year, in the classroom and also during summer break activities,” Jacky says. “She brought a warm and kind presence to all environments she was in.”

Adds Jacky, “Maureen always gave her full attention to each student, making them feel special. The students really responded to her because she was so intentional with them and made them feel seen and heard.”

Rachel Cervantes, our Volunteer Coordinator, describes Maureen as “kind and caring.”

“Maureen is always in high spirits and spreads that to our students,” Rachel says.

She adds,  “Maureen is always willing to jump in wherever she is needed in after school programs.”

The second graders she tutored also appreciate Maureen. One even called her his favorite volunteer of all time.

Maureen asked why.

“Because you’re so funny,” he explained, identifying the criteria by which a second grader might rank order the attributes of his or her tutor. 

Maureen is no stranger to volunteering or working with children and youth.

She’s a retired accountant, who most recently worked at Orangewood Foundation, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit that provides services to youth.

“I’ve volunteered in various ways, such as helping prepare meals for the needy, sifting through ashes to help fire victims find any remaining possessions, helping with repairs in Ensenada, assisting with a Christmas party for the homeless and working in the office for several nonprofits,” Maureen says.

It was at Orangewood Foundation about two and a half years ago that she saw a pamphlet about KidWorks in their lobby and decided to see if it would be a place to fulfil a desire to work with younger children.

“I volunteered at the KidWorks’ Thanksgiving Feast for kids and their parents,” Maureen says. “I wanted to volunteer in other ways at KidWorks, but within a few months COVID-19 hit and spoiled all the fun. 

Eventually, in-person after school sessions resumed at KidWorks and Maureen volunteered in Ms. Jacky’s classroom one or two days a week.

“It’s amazing how these young students treat us like friends,” Maureen says. “It’s so enjoyable to have the kids trust and even confide in you.”

Over the school year, Maureen grew more and more confident as a tutor.

“I put myself at the students’ level by leaning down or sitting down beside them so we are face-to-face (or should I say, mask to mask),” Maureen says.

She adds, “I ask them questions about their school, family or daily events and would tell them about my family.

“I was able to get most of the children focused on their homework by helping them with a few problems or telling them that they were smart and can do it.”

Maureen encourages other adults, semi-retirees and retirees to consider volunteering at KidWorks, just as she did.

“Volunteering is very rewarding when you see a child’s face light up when they see you arrive at their classroom,” Maureen says.

She adds, “It’s uplifting when you see the excitement in a student’s eyes when they’ve figured a problem out by themselves or when you are chosen by a quiet child to help with her or his art project.”

Maureen recently moved to Ohio, where her brother lives, and will not be able to join us for upcoming after school programs.

We’ll miss the way Maureen bonded with the second graders and helped them to grow spiritually, academically and as leaders.

And we wish her every joy as she settles into her new home in Ohio.

“I’ll miss the children tremendously,” Maureen says. “If I’m in California, I’ll come to visit.”

KidWorks will be delighted to welcome you any time, Maureen!

By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer