GSDM ADSO Volunteers at Wang YMCA Holiday Party
On Sunday, December 6, 2015, nine members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Asian Dental Student Organization (ADSO) volunteered at the 2015 Wang YMCA Holiday Party, which took place at the Wang YMCA in Chinatown. The GSDM volunteers were organized by the GSDM ADSO in collaboration with GSDM’s Office of Global and Population Health (GPH). They were joined by Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri.
The Wang YMCA Holiday Party is an annual event full of festivities for children and their families. For the last seven years, GSDM students have volunteered at the event, initially with the Vietnamese Student Dental Association (VSDA) and more recently the GSDM ADSO. Each year, more than 400 families participate in the event.
The nine GSDM ADSO volunteers were at the Wang YMCA Holiday Party from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2015. The volunteers set up tables with various interactive oral health activities for the children and their families. The GSDM ADSO volunteers also handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste to all event-goers. The volunteers served as fantastic role models to the children in attendance by promoting things such as doing well in school, seeking a career, and positive oral health habits.
The Wang YMCA was decorated with balloons, a Christmas tree, and other fun holiday decorations for the Holiday Party. A bounce house, games, face painting, and other children’s activities were also set up for children and their families to participate in.
“I would like to extend a big thank you to all the GSDM student volunteers that took part in the Wang YMCA Holiday Party,” said Ms. Lituri. “It was clear that all of the GSDM volunteers connected with the children and their families, and I am confident that they had a lasting impact on them.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter remarked, “The efforts of the GSDM ADSO students in promoting oral health to the local community at the Wang YMCA Holiday Party are highly valued and greatly appreciated.”
Student volunteers:
Community Service Co-Chair Joanna Song DMD 17; Community Service Co-Chair Jimmy Li DMD 17; ADSO Co-President Lishin Wu DMD 17; Jonathan Kuang DMD 17; Bowen Zhou DMD 19; Social Committee Co-Chair Wenyu Qu DMD 17; Social Committee Co-Chair Khanti Tjiang DMD 18; ADSO Co-President Alex Nguyen DMD 17.
Faculty volunteers:
Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri.
Photos form the Wang YMCA Holiday Party can be found on Facebook and Flickr.