Description
LOVE PEOPLE, LOVE COFFEE FUNDRAISER
ALL NET PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE PACIFIC DENTAL SERVICES FOUNDATION, A 501 (c)(3) NONPROFIT, AND ITS INTERNATIONAL DENTISTRY PROGRAM IN GUATEMALA. THE FOUNDATION’S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH BY IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. LEARN MORE
What if your morning coffee had the power to cross borders and change lives? Now through Jan. 31, it can. Access to care, oral health literacy and the lack of local dental professionals are urgent challenges in Guatemala. The PDS Foundation (PDSF) Clinica Dental in Xenacoj, Guatemala aims to improve oral health outcomes by providing continuous care and empowering local clinicians to be trusted professionals in their community.
A Force-for-Good Trifecta
Love People, Love Coffee is a fundraising campaign running through Jan. 31 to help bring awareness to the clinic’s important work. The PDSF has partnered with Asociación Barillense de Agricultores (ASOBAGRI), a nonprofit, all-female coffee producer co-op known for its high-quality, bird-friendly coffee, and Sir Owlvericks to create a limited-edition, medium-roast coffee with all net proceeds supporting the International Dentistry Program.
Buy a Bag, Give a Smile
Just by its very nature, coffee has the power to bring people together. It is often paired with camaraderie and enjoyed alongside a friend, family member or coworker. In Guatemala, growing (and enjoying) coffee is a vital, economic driver in the community. By purchasing this coffee, you allow the PDSF to continue to provide vital oral health care to the underserved Guatemalan population while also empowering female coffee producers and entrepreneurs to defeat the cycle of poverty. (Plus, it’s bird friendly so you’re helping protect Guatemala’s national bird, the resplendent quetzal, which is featured on the coffee bag design—see below for more details.)
Dedicated to Making a Difference
The power to make a difference is in your hands (and coffee mug) – thank you for being a force for good in the communities we serve. To learn more about the PDSF, please visit our website, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn or contact us for more information.
Remember: Drinking coffee can create surface stains on your teeth. Try drinking with a straw and rinsing with water or mouthwash after. Read the Smile Generation blog for tricks on how to remove stains including regular dental cleanings and brushing with whitening toothpaste.
About the Bag Design
The bag design intertwines two birds, the owl from Sir Owlvericks logo and the resplendent quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird which means “precious” or “divine”, on a night sky background featuring the PDS tooth flower logo as the stars and moon lighting the way. The quetzal is associated with the snake god Quettzalcoatl and seen as a symbol of goodness and light. The bird was thought to be the spirit guide of a Mayan prince and hero, Tecún Umán, who fought against the Spanish conquest. According to legend, Tecún Umán was killed as he fought the conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado. As Tecún Umán lay dying, a quetzal flew down and landed on his chest, dipping its feathers in the hero’s blood. As the story goes, this is how the bird acquired its red breast and belly feathers.
About the PDSF Clinical Dental
Responding to the widespread need for oral health care, the PDSF established a clinic in Xenacoj, Guatemala in 2015. In partnership with Mission Impact and Beeline Wheelchairs, the PDSF Clinica Dental provides comprehensive care to people in need in Guatemala, including those with disabilities, and aims to improve oral health outcomes by empowering local clinicians to be trusted dental professionals in their community. In partnership with Pacific Dental Services, the local team is also trained in modern dentistry to elevate patient outcomes. The approach is two-pronged: the local clinical team is the provider of choice in Xenocoj but engages in community projects that provide access to care for rural populations as far as four hours away from the clinic. Since its inception, the year-round clinic has served more than 16,000 patients and donated over $10 million in dentistry with the support of volunteers and dental students from the University of San Carlos Dental School, who are able to complete a nine-month residency program at the clinic. Additionally, the PDSF clinic partners with the University of the Pacific to host dental students from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry to provide cleanings, extractions, fillings, endodontics, fluoride treatment and oral hygiene education.
Meet Our Clinicians:
Watch this video to explore the clinic and hear from our clinicians and patients about its important work in the community.
