Hawaii Dental Association Foundation Creates Disaster Relief Fund

The Hawaii Dental Association Foundation established a special disaster relief fund to provide immediate support for dentists affected by the recent fire.

The Hawaii Dental Association Foundation, with support from the Hawaii Dental Association, established a special disaster relief fund to provide immediate support for dentists who have been affected by the disaster.

“No one could have anticipated the magnitude of the destruction that the Maui fires have caused,” wrote Norman S. Chun, DMD, Hawaii Dental Association president, in a letter to ADA president George R. Shepley, DDS. “Dentists on Maui, and specifically in Lahaina, were the greatest affected.”

Immediately after the disaster, the Hawaii Dental Association Foundation created a disaster relief fund for Hawaii licensed dentists, with priority for ADA members who have been directly impacted. The HDA donated $50,000 in seed money and the fund has been steadily growing from donations from private sources and friends and colleagues nationwide, according to the HDAF.

Donations will be used as needed to provide immediate support to dentists who were affected by the Maui wildfires, and the new fund will remain in place to provide relief for any future disasters.

Those who would like to donate to help affected dentists are encouraged to send checks payable to Hawaii Dental Association Foundation. Note in the memo line that the donation is for the disaster relief fund. Checks should be mailed to 500 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 7-411, Honolulu, HI 96813.

“We appreciate the offers to provide volunteer support and materials/supplies,” said Kim Nguyen, HDAF executive Director. “As our Maui colleagues continue to assess the situation and set up necessary systems, we will share any opportunities at their request. We are all so grateful for the outpouring of Aloha. We stand strong with Maui in their road to recovery.”

The HDAF is a tax-exempt, public charity which allows donations to be tax deductible. The Foundation’s tax ID number is 81-3947506.