Posted on November 12, 2012

On the evening of November 5th, more than 100 students, faculty, volunteers, alumni and friends gathered at U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry to honour student award recipients and to launch the first phase of the Faculty’s $18-million campaign.

Dean Daniel Haas announced the success to date of the faculty’s initiative, which has already secured $9.6 million—more than half the goal.

“This is a testament to the dedication of our alumni and friends,” said Haas “and we are most grateful to everyone who has contributed thus far.”

Haas outlined the Faculty’s immediate plans to raise $5 million for student awards.

“Students are the future of dentistry” said Haas, “and their futures bring greater health to the people of Ontario, Canada and the world. Providing financial aid is a tangible way of showing our students we support them, recognize their commitment and hard work and understand the financial pressures associated with studying dentistry.”

Dean Haas had the great pleasure of unveiling four new student awards established through substantial pledges from Mark and Edith Nusbaum, Walter and Mary Lou Montanera and Dental Emergency Service. The impact of these generous gifts will be doubled through University matching programs.

Vice-President of Advancement David Palmer announced the creation of a fifth student award, the George and Olga Haas Scholarship, endowed by Dean Haas in memory of his parents, who placed tremendous value on higher education. The impact of the gift will also be doubled through the Boundless Promise gift matching program.

Another immediate goal of the campaign is to raise $3 million to support expenses related to lower-income patients who come to the Faculty’s dental clinic requiring urgent dental care. The Access to Care Fund allows the Faculty to supplement what patients can afford so that they can complete the treatment recommended for them.

“Almost 20,000 people each year receive treatment they would not otherwise,” Palmer noted. “Dental clinics represent one of the University’s most tangible and direct examples of service outreach to the community. Great praise is due the clinical instructors, clinic staff, and particularly the students, who work to ensure these patients have healthy smiles and all the opportunities that affords.”

The next phase of the campaign will broaden fundraising efforts to attract and retain distinguished scholars and teachers through permanently endowed Chairs and Professorships. This effort will also focus on research innovations in dentistry, such as molecular biology, pain management, biomaterials, bone regeneration and public health that have ramifications across the entire realm of human health. The campaign for Dentistry is a vital part of the University-wide Boundless campaign, a $2-billion fundraising effort.