Press Release
Toronto, ON
Recognizing International Women’s Day 2016 and the 5th Anniversary of Project Restoring Smiles: Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation
Helping Female Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Restore a smile. Empower a woman. Reclaim her life.
Video link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bmny4gz6h4cal1f/TIMELINE.mp4?dl=0
It’s not just a date. March 8 is International Women’s Day. And it’s not just a day for making promises or delivering speeches; it’s a day of action to empower women and in particular, women survivors of domestic abuse.
March 8, 2016 marks the fifth anniversary of Project Restoring Smiles, a charitable network of dentists and physicians in the Toronto region who provide free treatment to survivors of domestic violence. As the Project marks its fifth year of service to the community, Restoring Smiles is proud to announce expanded coverage beyond the Greater Toronto Area to St. Catharines and Ottawa. “This growth marks the first step in the Project’s goal to offer services nation-wide across Canada,” says project founder and oral surgeon Dr. Tina Meisami.
The Toronto-based Project Restoring Smiles was founded by five University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry Alumnae – Dr. Tina Meisami, Dr. Shiva Shadmand, Dr. Maureen Fenn, Dr. Renu Varshney and Dr. Yasmin Mawji. It grew out of the Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation to honour the work and humanitarian efforts of Dr. Borna Meisami, a compassionate surgeon deeply concerned with women’s social issues. Through the philanthropic work of dental treatment providers and generous community sponsors, the Project’s services help survivors of domestic violence rediscover their self-confidence by restoring their smiles, empowering them to move forward and to reclaim their lives after abuse.
“Our vision is to restore confidence in women who have survived domestic violence by addressing the physical effects of abuse,” says Dr. Tina Meisami. “The length of our wait list tells us that a lot of survivors in our community need access to dental care. We plan to grow Project Restoring Smiles nation-wide in order to reach as many women in need as possible.”
As a Canada Revenue Agency registered charity, the Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation is focused on expanding Restoring Smiles services to meet the needs of female survivors of abuse. Since 2010 the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation has provided over $200,000 worth of restorative treatment for over 45 patients, most of whom live in shelters in the GTA. In 2015, the Project’s eighteen volunteer treatment providers broke their own patient record by doubling the number of patients in treatment.
“Restoring a woman’s smile has an incredibly powerful impact on her overall physical and mental health,” says Dr. Tina Meisami. “It is inspiring to know that something as simple as restoring a smile can help someone’s self-confidence, her relationships, her job prospects –it really improves her life.”
To contact us for volunteering and partnership opportunities, call 416-923-2102, visit www.drbmeisamifoundation.com or find our table at the Ontario Dental Association’s Annual Spring Meeting, May 5th– 7th 2016 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Media are invited to a 5th anniversary celebration in Toronto on March 7th to celebrate International Women’s Day. RSVP t0 drbmeisamifoundation@gmail.com for additional details and to schedule your interview.
Contact Info
drbmeisamifoundation@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/drbornameisamifoundation
Twitter: www.twitter.com/restoringsmiles
About the Foundation
Video link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bmny4gz6h4cal1f/TIMELINE.mp4?dl=0
The Restoring Smiles project is administered by the Toronto-based Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation, which was established in 2010 to honor the memory of Dr. Borna Meisami. Borna was an Orthopaedic surgeon and a humanitarian who was deeply affected by violence against women. Borna passed away at the age of 40 on July 1, 2007. Restoring Smiles commemorates his work as a compassionate and humane doctor with deep concerns about women’s social issues. It was originally founded by five University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry Alumnae – Dr. Tina Meisami, Dr. Shiva Shadmand, Dr. Maureen Fenn, Dr. Renu Varshney and Dr. Yasmin Mawji.
Interested in getting involved or learning more about how you can help survivors of abuse? The Foundation is seeking new doctors and social workers to join the team and expand our coverage across Canada. To get in touch, call 416-923-2102, visit www.drbmeisamifoundation.com or find our table at the Ontario Dental Association’s Annual Spring Meeting, May 5th– 7th 2016 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.