January 2018, updated December 2018

Angelina Catania and her HOSA: Future Health Professionals Club at Atlantic High School have kicked their Smile Drive into full swing. The club’s goal is to raise awareness of the importance of children’s oral health and supply seven schools in Delray Beach, Florida, with needed oral care products. To date, the club has decorated more than 40 boxes that they will place at locations across their community and school.

Team leader Angelina Catania knew from an early age that she wanted to become a dentist. Her passion is to help those in need, especially young children without access to good dental care. After seeing past Smile Drive participants visit schools to educate young children and provide oral care supplies, Angelina was inspired to do the same for children in her community.

With the support of the Atlantic High School HOSA club, the school’s principal, local police and fire departments, the business community, and other community members concerned about children’s oral health, the Atlantic High School HOSA Smile Drive is poised to make a significant impact, not only by collecting products but donations as well. Angelina set up a Team Fundraising Page to further support her efforts for kids in Florida, raising enough in donations to purchase 3,456 toothbrushes to share with kids in her community.

Angelina's passion for children's oral health show through in her efforts to promote her Smile Drive including this video she created and shared on social media:

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In addition to the toothbrushes purchased with the donations from her virtual Smile Drive, Angelina and her team collected 494 other oral care products. She had such fun with her first smile drive that she is holding another in 2019. We hope Angelina's creative Smile Drive inspires you to host a Smile Drive of your own! Click here to learn more.

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