Continental Societies Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Partner up for Bright Smiles

Today commenced the first day of shooting a project for my new client, Continental Societies Inc., a non-profit charitable organization that through many initiatives- aims to improve the lives of youth within the community.  One of CSI’s programs and national initiatives is to provide health and wellness services so they partnered with Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures campaign to provide dental services free of charge to area children.

My job was to go out, film the dental service activities, and interview the volunteers servicing children ages 1-12 at A.W. Brown Fellowship Leadership Academy in Dallas, Texas.  Today’s shoot reminded me of my childhood, only during that time- not so long ago- we didn’t get what these students received which was a full dental examination free of charge thanks to Continental Societies Inc. Dallas Chapter and the Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures partnership. 
Dallas Chapter president and volunteer, Judith T. Nix told me that the only thing the children had to do was to bring back their permission slip signed by their parents in order to get the exam and get a goodie bag full of healthy items to keep their teeth clean.  “A lot of students do not return the forms with their parent’s signature so we offered a box of healthy cereal as an incentive to get families to participate,” explains Nix.  Their plan worked! About 750 slips were returned in far comparison to the lower numbers received in the past. Additionally, parents came to school and provided consent forms.

I expected that the charitable activities would happen in A.W. Brown’s gym or the school nurse's office but I was pleasantly surprised to see the large, 18-wheeler-sized mobile dental facility parked in the school’s parking lot.  As the children single-filed, marched towards the mobile, I could hear them saying, 'I’m scared of doctors' but all their fears dissipated once they entered the facility. “Wow, this is cool!” was the general response about the Colgate facility’s bright, clean, kid-friendly interior. It looks just like a real dentist office because it is!  Dr. Jackson must have examined over 700+ smiles during the three-full day event.  Dr. Jackson taught them the importance of how to care for their teeth, how to brush, what to avoid i.e. the candy Lucas because of its damaging effects on children’s teeth.  The kids echoed the dentist’s advice to “drink water!” after every meal, treat and drink.  Each examination concluded with a dental report that recorded the status of the child’s teeth. A lot of kids do not get regular health and dental exams in disadvantaged communities so Continental Societies Inc. seek to make these resources available through this valuable partnership with Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures. 

I could tell you how Ms. Nix and I almost had an altercation with management at a local grocery story because we tried to buy all Cheerios in stock! I’ll just say that the manager didn’t seem too thrilled about the idea of having empty shelves but he finally came to his senses as it related to giving it to the children.  The 2 for $1.29 per box sale helped to cut costs but I’m wondering what if General Mills knew about how Continental Societies Inc.’s plan to give these boxes to children as an incentive to receive quality oral care?  Would they want to reach out and make a financial or product donation for this cause?  Colgate dispatched the oral care van all the way from Houston to provide free services to children in Dallas and around the nation.  It’s charitable organizations like Continental Societies Inc. that help organize it, find volunteers in areas where services are most needed and of course, make it happen.  It would surely help President Nix and CSI who gladly paid the large bill for literally hundreds of General Mills Cheerios for those bright smiles.

Continental Societies Inc. was founded in 1956 by a group of women who wanted to create environments within the community that empower children; provide a quality of life and opportunities to help them reach their full potential. Next year marks the 35th Anniversary where they will celebrate the occasion with their Mardi Gras Gala annual fundraiser in March 2015.  I’ve been commissioned with the opportunity to produce, shoot and edit a documentary presentation for CSI’s Mardi Gras gala audience.  It’s sure to be extraordinary event with Zydeco music, masques, exclusive silent auction items and Mardi Gras King and Queen James & Pamela Thomas of Southern Dallas Magazine. And it’s all “pour les enfants” so “lassier les bon temps rouler!"

For more information about Continental Societies, Inc. and its initiatives, please contact Judith T. Nix, Chapter President at judithn.csi@gmail.com.  For information about the Mardi Gras Gala contact: Crystal Newhouse at crystaln2011@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there!