ST. LOUIS, MO, Jan. 18, 2012 … The success of the Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) organization is attributable to the more than 8,900 dental professionals and lay volunteers who unselfishly give of their time and talents. To honor these unsung heroes, Give Kids A Smile has created the “GKAS Hero” award. John P. Vogl, DDS, of Manchester, was named the inaugural “GKAS Hero” for his unwavering commitment to the organization at the Greater St. Louis Dental Society’s annual installation event held at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Dr. Vogl is a shining example of the type of passion and commitment embodied by Give Kids A Smile volunteers. He has served at all but one of the free biannual dental clinics. He spends his time chairside working to clean, restore and protect the dental health of visiting children in need. He makes sure each child is treated properly and given the kind of care they deserve, often resulting in him being the last dentist to leave the clinic floor.
“We often think of heroes as colorful, spandex covered characters with superpowers, who save the world from imminent destruction,” commented Thomas C. Flavin, DDS, president of the board of directors for Give Kids A Smile. “But the truth is there are heroes who look and act just like mere mortals. We see them every October and February at the clinics we put on at the Center for Advanced Dental Education at Saint Louis University. Dr. John Vogl represents everything that is good about Give Kids A Smile. He is a gentle, caring and dedicated dentist who we have come to count on at nearly every clinic since 2002. He is a generous man that I am proud to call a colleague and a friend. Without him, and so many volunteers like him, this organization would not exist.”
Dr. Vogl graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 1981 and has his own private dental practice, which is located at 13603 Barrett Office Drive in Manchester. He also volunteers with Oasis International, where he provides emergency dental care services to those in need. This organization serves and assists refugees who have relocated to St. Louis. Dr. Vogl has been married to his lovely wife Jane for 30 years. They have five children and reside in Chesterfield.
Dr. Vogl commented on the recognition received, stating, “Working with Give Kids A Smile is both fun and gratifying. None of us is ever going to change the world, but each of us can make a dent in our little corner of it.”
Give Kids A Smile has provided 10,632 local children with $4.6 million in free dental care services through 20 consecutive dental clinics held since 2002. The “GKAS Hero” Award will be presented annually. All recipients must be licensed dentists who have made a significant contribution to the Give Kids A Smile clinics and/or its other community outreach events. To learn more about the work of Give Kids A Smile call, 636-397-6453 or visit www.gkas.org.
Give Kids a Smile was developed by Jeffrey Dalin, DDS; B. Ray Storm, DDS; Tom Flavin, DDS; Mark Ortinau, DDS and Jan Storm, RDHB, in February 2002 to provide children of families who cannot currently afford dental care with access to the benefits of modern dentistry. GKAS has been made possible thanks to major local contributors including Delta Dental of Missouri, Keller Dental Laboratory, Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education, the Missouri Dental Association, Patterson Dental, Goetze Dental, Guardian Life Insurance and First Pacific Corporation and others. As well as through the support of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society and Young Dental and national sponsors Colgate, Henry Shein Dental and Dexis.
To learn more, contact:
Kelly Harris, The Hauser Group, 314-436-9090
Joan Allen, Give Kids A Smile, 636-397-6453