First Bank was eager to take the opportunity to contribute to a project that will help provide the children of Trenton and the surrounding metro area with quality oral care and education. The Bank’s $10,000 sponsorship to KinderSmile will help provide health services to those in need. The First Bank-sponsored Children’s Toothbrush Station is located in the pediatric area of the Trenton facility and will foster oral health care education and practices!
KinderSmile Foundation and Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes, Founder and CEO are addressing one of the most acute “Dental Deserts” in the State of NJ with the opening of a comprehensive Oral Care Center in downtown Trenton, where the need is greatest. The City of Trenton is designated as medically underserved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, based on the NJ Medically Underserved Index. KinderSmile Foundation has had a clear mission from the beginning to provide oral health education and access to oral care to low-income families as well as expectant and new mothers, uninsured children and the special needs population.
KinderSmile Foundation has thriving offices in Bloomfield and Newark, NJ. Dr. McGrath-Barnes has provided free dental services to many children in NJ, and travels to Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, and Guatemala to donate dental care to children and adults.
The Grand Opening of the Trenton KinderSmile Center for Oral Health Care on September 9, 2020 brought together supporting members of the community to celebrate. Opening remarks were given by Dr. McGrath-Barnes. Additional speeches were then given by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora; Dr. Darwin Hayes, NJ Dental Director; Dr. Jianping Wang, President of Mercer County Community College; Dr. Eric Schwartz, Executive Director Capital Health; Emily Sands-Gartenberg, and First Lady Tammy Murphy. This group then performed the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and sponsor representatives were guided on a tour through the fully renovated facility. Visit KinderSmile Foundation on Facebook to view the impactful and emotional speeches!