Local dentist creates 'Smiles for Education'

Craig Harder wants to help teachers afford classroom supplies.

The dentist at Moses Lake Family Dentistry decided to create a grant program called ‘Smiles for Education’ to support teachers and classrooms financially.

MOSES LAKE — Craig Harder wants to help teachers afford classroom supplies.

The dentist at Moses Lake Family Dentistry decided to create a grant program called ‘Smiles for Education’ to support teachers and classrooms financially. He came up with the plan after talking to many Moses Lake educators.

“My wife has been helping out in my daughter’s classroom for many years and she use to come home and tell me how often the teachers paid for classroom supplies out of their own pockets,” Harder said. “Teachers work hard enough already and it’s terrible the state cuts back so much funding every year. We really need to give teachers a helping hand.”

The National School Supply and Equipment Association reports 93 percent of teachers spend their own money to bridge the gap between classroom funding and student needs.

“Spending our own money to buy supplies for our classrooms each year just seems to be a given and it’s getting more costly each year,” stated Shawn West, second grade teacher at Longview Elementary School.

Smiles for Education awards financial support to selected teachers and classrooms to assist in their school supply or project needs. Teachers go to Harder’s office to pick up an application form on which they list their name, grade they teach, their school and what they need the money for.

Harder put together a board of directors to look through the applications and decide on grant winners. Harder is using proceeds from teeth whitening procedures and donations to fund each grant.

“We already have several local businesses and people wanting to donate,” said Robyn Ramirez, patient care coordinator at Moses Lake Family Dentistry. “Hopefully, we will receive enough money to create grant funds to help out a lot of teachers.”

The grant program officially starts next fall.

“In August we are sending out information about the grant program to teachers and getting them to apply for grants,” Harder said.

Harder is kicking off Smiles for Education this week by having a logo contest for students and teachers.

“Any kindergarten through 12th grade classes in the Columbia Basin can submit a logo idea,” Ramirez said. “It can be anything from a stick person drawing to a graphic design.”

There is a limit of one logo idea per classroom. The winning logo becomes the official grant logo for use on the program’s upcoming Web site and for promotional purposes.

“This program is already receiving national attention, so there is a very high chance the winning logo will be seen and used nationally,” Ramirez said.

Harder spoke about his idea to other doctors and dentists at a conference a few weeks ago. Many informed Harder they would go home and began work on creating the program in their hometown, Harder said.

“It will be great to have this idea carried out nationally, because more teachers will be helped out,” Harder said.

Grant winners receive $250 for use in the classroom as the teachers see fit. The winning classroom is awarded their grant by a surprise personal visit during the week ending in May 28.

Entries can be dropped off in person or sent by mail to Harder’s office, located at 975 E. Nelson Rd. in Moses Lake. Participants can also e-mail applications to craig@moseslakedentist.com.

All entries must be accompanied by school name, teacher’s name and grade level. Applications must be turned in by 5 p.m. May 21.

For more information, call 509-765-4351 or visit www.MosesLakeDentist.com.