Mortenson Dental Partners (MDP) was recognized this past weekend with numerous awards at the Crown Council annual gathering in Salt Lake City, Utah. Among the many honors MDP received was the Smiles for Life Hall of Fame Award, given for raising over $2.5 million in 25 years through the annual Smiles for Life fundraising campaign. MDP was also named the Top Smiles for Life Team for contributions raised in 2022. In addition to the company as a whole, several team members were recognized. Regional Director of Operations Dawn Brutscher was honored with the Frances Hammond Humanitarian Award, while Dr. Heather Walker was awarded “Best Doctor to Work For.” Dawn Brutscher and Dr. Brandon James were both honored with a Lifetime Qualified Member Award while Dr. Emily Monsma was recognized as a Third-Year Qualified Member.
The Crown Council is an alliance of dedicated, leading-edge dental teams who have committed to sharing ideas and best practices to improve dental care. Through its charity arm, the Smiles for Life Foundation, the Crown Council partners with dental practices across the country to raise money for underprivileged children by providing whitening services at a reduced cost. MDP has conducted its Smiles for Life fundraising campaign annually since 1998, raising $219,662.74 in 2022.
Last fall, Dr. Wayne Mortenson, founder of Mortenson Dental Partners as well as chair and cofounder of the Mortenson Charitable Foundation with his wife Sue, emphasized the giving spirit that drives Smiles for Life: “The Smiles for Life Foundation spawned from the idea that we should engage our teams, our patients and our communities in doing good. Since then, Smiles for Life has impacted thousands of individuals. First, it built teams with unselfish minds and big giving hearts. Second, it involved our patients, who have given generously of their dollars to have their teeth whitened for a great cause. Third, our many community members were blessed with funds and service to support their priority needs. We serve, we give, we share and we enjoy the privilege of working for a company with a HEART that cares for everyone.”
The 2023 Smiles for Life fundraising campaign will kick off March 1 and run through June 30.
