Our smiles are a direct reflection of what we think and feel. The happier and more confident we are, the more we tend to smile and the more assertive we tend to be. A healthy smile can be a gateway to prosperity. However, for many Americans, the opposite is true. Confidence, enthusiasm and openness have been replaced by shame, indifference and reticence. A "broken" smile can negatively impact almost every aspect of one's life – from personal relationships and friendships to professional opportunities and employment.

Economic hardship in America is a reality that many of us who are more fortunate tend to ignore. An unfortunate consequence is that millions of men, women and children are facing an oral health crisis like never seen before! Literally, there are generations of families that can neither afford proper dental care, are underinsured, unemployed and even homeless. A sad reality is that those seeking employment to break free from the cycle of poverty have almost zero chance of improving their situation without proper oral health and restorative procedures. Confidence and self-esteem often begin and end with a smile. Don't we all deserve better?

Hope's Smile Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is here to help and change lives. Dr. Kathleen Abate and her team provide free dental and oral health services to the less fortunate. They aspire to do God's work and turn hope into a reality – making miracles happen! Hope's Smile mission is to restore dignity to the underprivileged and to change lives on a generational scale. However, they cannot do this without your support. Let's break the cycle of poverty one smile at a time... together! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Hope's Smile today.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

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In 2011, Dr. Kathleen Abate decided to volunteer at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, Michigan. The visit that day changed her life. It was there that she met many men, women and children that had experienced several bad breaks in life and were now homeless. Many were in pain from a severe decline in their oral health as food and shelter had become higher priorities than teeth cleanings.

It was on that day and in those moments with the less fortunate that Dr. Abate's purpose became very clear – she needed to help by making her dental services available and free of charge to residents of the Soup Kitchen. Arrangements were made by a Director at Capuchin to shuttle 10-15 people at a time to her dental practice to get proper oral care and treatment. She did this on her own time and at her own expense. "Charity Days" became a mainstay at her practice and still continue to this day.

Dr. Abate's mission with the Hope's Smile Foundation is to serve the underprivileged. It is her goal to change lives one smile at a time. While her volunteering at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen was selfless and noteworthy, she felt that she needed to go "one step further" by doing what she could to get the residents out of their current predicament by opening up her practice to them. Dr. Abate believes that smiles can be the gateway to prosperity by instilling confidence, a sense of self-worth and hope! She sees bright futures ahead for many of the people that she helps. Futures that include stable employment, stronger family units and happy, well-educated children.

The Hope's Smile Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, needs your help. It was founded to treat the underprivileged on a national level. All tax-deductible donations will go towards providing free dental care services to homeless or abused men, women and children throughout the United States. You can make a difference by making a donation to Hope's Smile today. Let's change the cycle of poverty one smile at a time!