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Arhaus Furniture Donates $50K to Global Dental Relief

September 25, 2013  by in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

GDR is a children's charity started in 2001 with the goal of providing dental care in impoverished nations around the world. The donation is the result of a percent-of-sales campaign held in Cleveland, Ohio-based Arhaus' 46 stores and online at arhaus.com.

From August 1 to August 31, a percent from the sale of lighting--fixtures ranging from pendants and chandeliers, to table, task andfloor lamps--was redirected to the Denver-based non-profit. This is the third season for this giving campaign.

"Customers have embraced the cause," said CEO John Reed.

In total, Arhaus has contributed $151,107 to the organization--in 2012 giving $60,700; and earlier this year raising $40,407.

All of Arhaus' dollars support week-long clinics hosted by Global Dental Relief. The organization and its team of volunteers--dentists, hygienists and dental assistants and non-medical personnel--treat hundreds of children up to the age of 18 at a clinic. Each child receives a comprehensive check-up with cleaning and fluoride treatment, and any additional treatments necessary, such as extractions and fillings.

Conversations began between Reed and Global Dental Relief co-founder Laurie Mathews in 2011. Reed was so taken by the organization that he immediately signed up to volunteer at a clinic on the outskirts of Kathmandu in Nepal, where he administered fluoride treatments to more than 600 children in five days.

Since his trip, Arhaus has donated to Global Dental Relief, sponsoring several clinics, including one at Trieu Dong Primary School in a village near Hue, Vietnam. In five days, 604 children received treatments: 334 fillings/restorations, 401 extractions, 358 fluoride applications and 484 sealants. The total value of care provided in U.S. dollars at this clinic alone was $161,070.

Arhaus has also sponsored clinics in Guatemala, treating children living in several villages high in the Mayan Highlands; and in Kenyaat the Kikuyu Dental Hospital in Karen Hills, outside of Nairobi, Kenya.

"With this Arhaus sponsorship, we were able to serve 30 percent more children in 2013, reaching 12,000 children with care," Matthews said. "Arhaus is really making a difference in children's health and lives throughout the world. We hope to expand our outreach with the assistance from great partners like Arhaus in 2014."

Since 2001, when the organization was founded, Global Dental Relief has provided care to more than 71,500 children and donated more than $14 million in care. The organization relies upon volunteers to staff its clinics; 1,074 dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and non-medical personnel donate their time and effort and pay their own travel and miscellaneous expenses.