It’s not uncommon for a local business to be visited by eager young students begging the owner to buy an ad for the annual yearbook, football program or calendar. That sort of thing has been done for decades. What’s more unusual, yet quite welcomed, is when a small business steps up in a tangible way to benefit students.
That’s what Bluegrass Orthodontics has done for 134 Kentucky schools so far in its school contribution program.
“For anybody who does a comprehensive orthodontics treatment with braces or with Invisalign, our office donates $100 to the school of their choice, both public and private or certified home-school programs,” explained Ed Tipton, D.M.D., who along with Stan Ferguson, D.M.D., are partners in Bluegrass Orthodontics.
Tipton and Ferguson are Kentucky natives and University of Kentucky dental school graduates. Their practice has two locations in Lexington and one each in Nicholasville, Ky., and Paris, Ky. Both are aware of the decrease in funding for schools and how many teachers often dig into their own pockets to provide for needy school children.
“We just thought this was kind of important,” Tipton continued. “We write checks every month or two and send them out to the schools. I just wrote checks for about $8,000 two weeks ago.”
Since the Bluegrass Orthodontics school donation program began two years ago, $59,000 has been donated by the practice. That means 590 patients began treatment and were allowed to designate a gift of $100 to their favorite elementary, middle or high school. With two offices in Lexington and many patients living nearby, 42 Fayette County public schools have benefitted thus far. So, too, have Bourbon County and Jessamine County schools.
But schools in a wider area also get a share of the company’s profits. Sometimes the way the money is used can be a bit heartbreaking.
“We asked schools to please let us know where the donations were being used,” said Liz Maskos, practice coordinator for Bluegrass Orthodontics. “In Mercer County, the school sent us a thank you note and told us they used the money for their food pantry. They fill up the needy kids’ backpacks on Fridays so they can take food home for their families to eat over the weekend.” The school also used some of the money to buy 25 backpacks for those children.
Maskos said the average cost for full orthodontic treatment, lasting 18 to 24 months, is between $4,000 and $5,000 per patient, which can be pricey. Most of the younger patients ask that the donation associated with their treatment go to their own schools. But sometimes an adult patient who is well past high school gets full orthodontic treatment and picks a school to which they are loyal.
“If they went to Clark County High School in the ’70s, then we’ll send that school a check,” said Maskos.
Other uses for the money include youth services for kids who need school supplies, school uniforms, eye exams, money for a field trip and dozens of other uses for services that sometimes fall through the cracks.
Jane Dreidame, principal of Southern Middle School in Lexington, used her school’s checks to restock on student incentives.
“We put them into an account that is used to buy rewards for students. We have prizes every nine weeks for accelerated readers and other student recognition programs. The donations help us fund those,” she commented. “It was a surprise when we got the letter. I think it’s a really nice idea and a way to support their students. Some of their clients are our students, too.”
Once a month, Maskos gives Tipton a list of the most recent schools that have been tabbed for a donation and the amounts to each school.
“She will send a letter or hand deliver a letter to the school, and it will contain the name of the person in whose name the donation is made,” added Tipton.
The practice only asks that the schools use the cash wisely for student and classroom needs.
Many local businesses are continuously asked for donations of all kinds by various schools. With state budgets stretched to the breaking point and federal stimulus dollars long gone, some school districts across the country are short of money again.
Tipton and Ferguson urge other businesses in the state to design some kind of school support program that they are comfortable with and help students out.
“We do encourage other businesses to do this, by all means,” Maskos said. “Maybe they can find a program they’ll want to do.”