JACKSONVILLE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
At Parkway Prosthodontics, we take our responsibility to the greater Jacksonville, FL area to heart. Giving back is an integral part of who we are, and we are deeply committed to supporting our community in any way we can. Led by the compassion and dedication of Dr. Kathryn Ryan, our team actively participates in a variety of local and national initiatives to help those who are underserved or in need of a helping hand.
Dr. Ryan works closely with several organizations to extend oral healthcare and other essential services to the most vulnerable populations. Some of the initiatives we proudly support include:
Give Kids a Smile
This national volunteer program is a cornerstone of our outreach efforts. Give Kids a Smile provides free dental care to underserved children who otherwise may not have access to proper oral healthcare. Through this initiative, our team helps kids across Jacksonville get the dental attention they need to start their lives with healthy smiles, contributing to the long-term well-being of our future generations.
Mission of Mercy
As part of our mission to make a difference, Dr. Ryan volunteers with Mission of Mercy, a community-driven program that provides free healthcare to the uninsured and underinsured. Whether it’s dental care or other vital services, Mission of Mercy helps ensure that individuals and families who fall through the cracks of traditional healthcare systems are still able to receive the care they need and deserve.
Stand Down for Veterans
Our team at Parkway Prosthodontics is honored to work with Stand Down for Veterans, an organization dedicated to assisting homeless veterans. We help provide critical necessities such as food, clothing, and oral healthcare services to these brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. This initiative is especially close to our hearts, as it allows us to give back to those who have served and protected us.
The Sulzbacher Center
Serving more than 360 homeless individuals and families in Jacksonville, including many children, The Sulzbacher Center offers housing, healthcare, and hope to those experiencing homelessness. Dr. Ryan and our team are proud to partner with this local organization to provide dental care and support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, helping them get back on their feet and smile with confidence.
McKenzie’s Run
Giving back also means fostering a sense of community and coming together to support local causes. Each year, our team participates in McKenzie’s Run, a 5K run that raises funds for the Boys and Girls Club of North Florida. This event is not only a great way to support youth development programs, but it also helps to ensure that every child in our community has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation.
And we don’t stop there! At Parkway Prosthodontics, we are always looking for new ways to give back and elevate our community involvement to even greater heights. We are committed to expanding our partnerships with charitable organizations and participating in events that make a positive impact on Jacksonville and beyond.
If you know of a worthy cause, local event, or charitable organization that could benefit from our support, we would love to hear from you! Together, we can make an even bigger difference in our community. Please don't hesitate to contact us and share your ideas.
Give Kids a Smile
The Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) program, launched nationally in 2003, provides underserved children with free oral health care. Each year approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at local GKAS events to provide free oral health education, screenings, preventive, and restorative treatment to over 300,000 children.
GKAS events kick off annually on the first Friday in February, which is Give Kids A Smile Day. GKAS events are held throughout the year.
To date, over 6 million underserved children have received free oral health services through the GKAS program.
Our team attends this event every year, to learn more on how you can help the cause, follow the link below!
https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/give-kids-a-smile/about-give-kids-a-smile
Saulzbacher
The Mission of Sulzbacher is to empower homeless and at-risk women, children, and men through health, housing, and income services thereby restoring hope and self-sufficiency.
Funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services), Sulzbacher offers comprehensive healthcare to anyone in the community in need. Sulzbacher’s Health Centers are classified as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and as such, are designed as safety net providers that serve medically underserved areas and populations. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale based on the patient’s ability to pay, and all insurances are accepted.
Sulzbacher is a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) deemed facility that offers a complete range of healthcare services the community. For further information on our FTCA status, please contact us at 904-394-8069.
Our team attends this event every year, to learn more on how you can help the cause, follow the link below!
Mission of Mercy 2018
Our Parkway team paired up with Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) in downtown Jacksonville. FLA-MOM is a large-scale, two-day, professional dental clinic that provides care to any patient at no cost to them, with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida — those who would otherwise go without care.
Since 1994, Mission of Mercy has been providing free healthcare, free dental care, free prescription medications to the uninsured, underinsured, and those who “fall through the cracks” of our healthcare system.
Our team attends this event every year, to learn more about how you can help the cause, follow the link below!
Mission of Mercy 2021
Our Parkway team paired up with the Florida Dental Association and Point Meadows Dentistry to volunteer our time at the Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) in downtown Jacksonville. FLA-MOM is a large-scale, two-day, professional dental clinic that provides care to any patient at no cost to them, with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida — those who would otherwise go without care.
This was truly a rewarding day that was felt in each of our hearts! From Point Meadow Dentistry’s Dr. Z completing oral surgery (extractions), to our Parkway team of Dr. Kathryn Ryan-Peterkin and Dr. Chung completing a number of prosthodontic treatments (fabricating, delivering dentures and partials), with Taylynn and Sonja assisting, and Mary, Kaitlyn, and Christine coming through in triage to explain treatment and check patients in/out.
Every team member had an important role in getting these patients the treatment they needed. As Mother Teresa once said, “None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” So, a huge thank you is in order to our entire team for their volunteer work and time!
Our team attends this event every year, to learn more on how you can help the cause, follow the link below!
