The Smile Generation® and KaBOOM! Build Las Vegas Playground to Promote Healthy Smiles

In a colossal collaboration on Saturday, October 20, The Smile Generation, Futuro Academy Public Charter School, Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., and KaBOOM! transformed an empty site on the Futuro Academy campus into a kid designed, state of the art playground in just six hours. “Our families are so excited for a space that will promote safe play, fun, and a sense of community for our students,” said Ignacio Prado, Executive Director of Futuro Academy. Throughout the day, dozens of volunteers worked tirelessly as live music played. As the build finished, dozens of proud and tired community members and volunteers participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, which featured a handmade banner crafted by Futuro Academy students. The official unveiling marks the 13th playground built in partnership with The Smile Generation and KaBOOM!.

During the playground construction, volunteers with The Smile Generation, a referral service that connects prospective patients with trusted dentists in their communities, were joined by Smile Generation-trusted dentists to provide patient care. In partnership with the PDS® Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization committed to serving patients by improving oral health care, clinicians utilized the Foundation’s Mobile Dental Clinic to provide patients comprehensive dentistry, including cleanings, x-rays, scaling and root planing, restorations, and extractions totaling $45,000 in donated dentistry for 80 Futuro Academy students and community members in need.

This KaBOOM! playground collaboration, along with dozens of other annual Smile Generation and Pacific Dental Services Foundation initiatives, is part of the culture of service that is fundamental to Pacific Dental Services, a dental support organization (DSO) that provides business and administrative services for dental offices. “We’re passionate about helping people get healthier and happier,” said Kyle Guerin, Director of The Pacific Dental Services Foundation and Corporate Responsibility. “What better way to do that than by building a playground to benefit the children of the local community?” There will certainly be many more healthy smiles at Futuro Academy thanks to this great, safe place for kids to experience healthy play.