FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Restoring Smiles Gala
Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSITY AND STRENGTH OF WOMEN
Celebrating a Decade of Restoring Smiles
March 5, 2020
Aga Khan Museum
Toronto, February 27, 2020
Since its launch on International Women’s Day 2010, the Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation continues to help survivors of gender-based violence. Through its program Restoring Smiles, the foundation provides domestic abuse survivors with dental and oro-facial reconstructive treatment free of charge. The foundation works closely with 33 women’s shelters in the GTA to identify women in need of care. To date, the foundation has provided complex gold standard of care to over 100 women, approximately $1,000,000 of dental treatment to survivors of domestic abuse. Restoring Smiles is the only charitable program in Canada which provides the gold standard of care such as dental implants for missing teeth, orthodontic treatment for correction of the bite and alignment of teeth, and reconstructive jaw and facial surgery to patients in need. Restoring Smiles started with oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Tina Meisami and four other dental colleagues, and now has over 40 practitioners
“Providing surgical and dental care for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse not only eliminates pain and disease, but also provides emotional and mental support needed to leave behind the painful physical and psychological reminders of abuse which in turn allows the brain to recover and the mind to feel safe,” says Dr. Meisami, the foundation’s Founder and Executive Director. “Women are resilient. Once women feel safe, they are able to heal emotionally, move forward in their lives, and reach their full potential.”
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women – while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender balance. The theme for 2020 is “I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” This year’s theme acknowledges true gender equality does not yet exist for the majority of girls and women across the world.
The Women of the World Gala, held on March 5, 2020 at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto highlights and honours the cultural diversity of the women involved in the foundation, including patients and volunteer practitioners. The gala includes globally-inspired food, decor, and performances. A highlight of the evening is a video story of one of the foundation’s patients and a panel discussion. Women of The World Gala is made possible through the generous support of Major Sponsor Mawer Investment Management Ltd. and Supporting Sponsors Invisalign, Mansha Financial, and Yellow Beauty, and in-kind support from The Concierge Club and The Colony Project.
For more information or to purchase a ticket, please visit drbmeisamifoundation.com/gala or call 416-915-4495. Media are invited for pre-event interviews from 5:30-6:30pm on March 5. Dr. Tina Meisami, the foundation’s Founder and Executive Director, Restoring Smiles patients, board members and volunteer practitioners will be available for interviews. Interviews can be scheduled by emailing info@drbmeisamifoundation.com
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The Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women rebuild their lives after domestic violence. The foundation was created in honour of Dr. Borna Meisami, an orthopaedic surgeon and humanitarian. For more information, please visit: www.drbmeisamifoundation.com