KinderSmile Foundation recognized community partners – including Partners for Health Foundation – at the inaugural SMILE! Awards Breakfast, held in October at RWJ Barnabas Clara Maass Medical Center.
First Lady Tammy Murphy gave a keynote address, speaking passionately about her efforts to expose and eradicate the maternal and infant mortality crisis significantly impacting women of color in New Jersey. The event also included recognition of pregnant and newly postpartum mothers who have graduated from the KinderSmile Perinatal Health & Wellness Program.
In the words of KinderSmile’s Founder and CEO, Nicole McGrath-Barnes, DDS FACD, “Our existing Perinatal Health & Wellness Program would not be successful without the initial support from Partners for Health. So many mothers are smiling because they are healthier and empowered! This is because of your willingness to support our pilot program in 2016. Mothers leave the program educated on oral disease prevention, and after they deliver, their child has a place to call their Dental Home.”
Pictured above:
Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes, center, and First Lady Tammy Murphy (second from
right) with Partners for Health Foundation staff (from left): Jackie Gifuni-Koutsouris, Program Associate;
Kathy Smith, Program Director; and Pam Scott, Executive Director.