THE VENETIAN AND THE PALAZZO ENDS WAITING LIST FOR
VETERAN CARE THROUGH DONATION TO UNLV DENTAL CLINIC
Pete Boyd, SVP of Operations, Ceremoniously ‘Ripped Up’ Waiting List;
Presented $70,000 Check for Supplies and Services
The team members of The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo presented a check for $70,000 today to The Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic for Veterans at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine to effectively eliminate the waiting list of low-income Las Vegas veterans who are waiting for dental services.
The donation was made by Sands Cares, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. global corporate citizenship program, to expedite dental treatment for veterans seeking services at the innovative dental clinic.
The presentation was made by Pete Boyd, senior vice president of operations, The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo, and accepted by Karen P. West, DMD, MPH, dean of the UNLV School of Medicine. Team Members from The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo and a current patient of the Ferrin Dental Clinic for Veterans were on hand to ceremoniously “rip up” the waiting list.
“When we asked our team members at The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo specifically what causes they would like to see us support in the community, veterans charities were very high on the list,” said Boyd. “So when we learned about the great work that the UNLV School of Dental Medicine was doing – and that they had a waiting list for dental services for veterans — we thought this was the perfect opportunity to make a difference in our community.”
The Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic for Veterans at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine was started in honor of a former student, John Ferrin’s, older brother who was killed in action in 2004. John watched his older brother struggle to receive proper dental care for an oral injury that he had sustained during basic training. Following his brother’s death, John was inspired to provide an avenue for local veterans, who otherwise have limited or no access to care, a place to be treated for free.
Today, the Clinic is run as a regular clinic ten times per year offering a full range of services from root canals, tooth extractions and dentures. Veterans who make less than $25,000 a year, have no current dental insurance, and who do not qualify for Veteran’s Administration benefits are invited to become patients. These veterans are much less likely to have access to dental care services than their peers in other demographics and have often not seen a dentist in many years.
Operating since 2008, this is the only such clinic in existence at an American dental school.
Those interested in receiving treatment at future clinics can call Gil Manzano at 702-774-2461
For more information about Sands Cares and key corporate citizenship initiatives, please visit www.sandscares.sands.com