Dear Friends, This season of gratitude invites us to reconnect with what drives us: purpose and gratitude. Purpose gives us direction. Gratitude gives us perspective. The Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation is dedicated to transforming purpose and gratitude into service, healing, and hope. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to reaffirm your commitment to putting that purpose into action—to support, uplift, and heal communities in need.
At the heart of our mission are three core programs rooted in dignity, healing, education, and hope. These programs include: |
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Renewing Minds, Restoring Hope – Delivering trauma-focused psychological care to Israeli dental students and faculty profoundly affected following October 7th.
- Dr. Allen Finkelstein Scholarship Endowment – Supporting seven dental students each year who are committed to research, innovation, and community leadership.
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The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program – Providing pro bono dental care to survivors across the U.S. and Canada, addressing urgent oral health needs with compassion and dignity.
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In addition to these core programs, your generosity has empowered us to respond swiftly to urgent needs and support meaningful initiatives across the Alpha Omega community. This year, with your help, we have: |
Celebrated the dedication of two Magen David Adom ambulances in Ramla, Israel. Joined the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA) as a founding member to help increase AO Society membership in the United States.
Supported the Hadassah–Hebrew University Dental Student Exchange Program at Penn Dental Medicine and the University of Michigan, strengthening clinical education, global understanding, and leadership development. Published the Alpha Omega International Alliance brochure, aligning AO’s global charitable efforts.
Provided emergency assistance to AO members in California who lost everything in the recent fires. Contributed to the rebuilding of the Kibbutz Be’eri dental clinic, helping raise significant funds alongside chapters in Philadelphia and Strasbourg.
Strengthened our financial foundation, now surpassing $2.3 million in assets, expanding our ability to respond to both immediate and long-term needs.
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As we reflect on a year shaped by both gratitude and purpose, we are humbled by all that your generosity has made possible—from rebuilding clinics and supporting students, to caring for survivors and standing with our community in moments of profound need. This Giving Tuesday, we ask you to carry that purpose and gratitude forward by supporting Renewing Minds, Restoring Hope, our newest initiative that reflects everything we stand for: healing, dignity, education, and the unwavering belief in a more hopeful tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving,
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Marc Rothman Chair Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation |
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Healing Starts With Your Help |
Help us provide strength, stability, and support for the Israeli dental community. |
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35% of Students were drafted to reserve service
- 20% of the students after reserve were found to have moderate or higher clinical levels of emotional distress
- 25% of the faculty were involved in the Dental Forensic Identification Unit
- 15% of students are still in active reserve
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Together, as the International Alliance of Alpha Omega Charitable Organizations—which includes the Canadian Foundation, the London Charitable Trust, and the US Dental Foundation—we have raised over $53,000 towards our $150,000 goal. We’re now preparing to launch trauma-informed therapy and mental health support programs for our Israeli colleagues. Click here to learn more.
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We invite you to join us for an AO Night of Purpose during the 2025 AO Convention. |
Not attending learn more about this crucial effort or donate today. |
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NATAN Worldwide Relief Organization Seeking Dentists |
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NATAN Worldwide Relief Organization is seeking dentists to provide medical services to Syrians near the Israeli border, many of whom have not had access to proper medical or dental care for over a decade.
While NATAN has the blessing of the IDF, only volunteers without an Israeli passport are permitted to cross the border. Despite this constraint, NATAN currently has some volunteers from the US and France, but not enough.
Volunteers cover their own travel expenses to Israel; NATAN handles all other arrangements. Anyone interested can contact anat.b@natanrelief.org directly. |
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Alpha Omega’s Lasting Impact on the Trudi Birger Dental Clinic |
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Since its founding in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger, the DVI Trudi Birger Clinic has become a vital source of free, high-quality dental care for underserved children, at-risk youth, and elderly patients in Jerusalem. Alpha Omega proudly recognized Trudi as an Honorary Member in the early 2000s for her remarkable humanitarian impact.
That spirit of compassion is still felt every day—and one volunteer recently reminded us of just how special it is when we received a message from Dr. Derek Song DMD on Instagram. "Shalom! I'm currently volunteering at the DVI Trudi Birger Clinic in Jerusalem and it was cool to see your organization name on their Wall of Honor! You guys have done an impressive job."
Dr. Song, a Boston-based dentist, recently spent time with the Dental Volunteers for Israel at the Trudi Birger Clinic and was deeply impressed by AO's meaningful contributions. He remarked, "I hope to inspire other dentists to come volunteer here." |
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Party thrown in honor of Dr. Song to thank him for his service. |
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| | From left to right, volunteer, Sima dental assistant and Dr. Derek Song.
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AO’s impact at the clinic continues to grow. In 2023, Dr. Jonathan Sherman launched a matching gift campaign to purchase a new dental chair in memory of his father, longtime AO member Alan J. Sherman, z”l. Thanks to the generosity of the AO community, we raised $15,000—surpassing the $10,000 match and making it our largest gift to DVI since 2002.
Most recently, the AO charitable partners combined our funding to help purchase a new compressor motor after two of the clinic’s three units failed. This timely support ensured uninterrupted care for the patients who rely on DVI every day. We’re proud to stand with the Trudi Birger Clinic and DVI—and grateful to Dr. Song for giving his time, talent, and compassion to those who need it most. |
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Mazal tov to Henry Schein on celebrating 30 years on Nasdaq!
On November 5th, Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of products and services to office-based dental and medical practitioners, was invited to ring the opening bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square to celebrate its 30th anniversary as a publicly listed company and to honor the retirement of Stanley M. Bergman as CEO. Congratulations on this superb milestone and thank you for being a partner to AO and its members! |
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Celebrate. Honor. Give Back. |
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The Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation continues to support meaningful initiatives that bring our communities closer in the United States and Israel. Each tribute you purchase does more than honor someone - it directly funds meaningful programs that touch lives. |
Honor someone special, commemorate a milestone, or express your gratitude by purchasing a tribute today. Together, we can continue to uplift dental students, faculty, and our global community.
Click here to send a tribute. |
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Honoring Our Generous Supporters
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On behalf of the Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation, we express our deepest gratitude
for the unwavering support and generous gifts. Thank you, donors! Below is a list of gifts received by the US Dental Foundation for November 2025 |
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Renewing Minds, Restoring Hope - Supporting the Mental Well-Being of the Israeli Dental Community |
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One Step Forward - $125 to $374 |
First Signs of Hope - $375 to $1,249
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- AO San Fernando Valley Chapter
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| Double the Impact - $7,500 to $9,999 |
- Laurie Gordon-Shaw and David Shaw
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Alpha Omega International Dental Society |
- Allen and Danielle Finkelstein
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Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program |
- Hyman R. and Ruth Shapiro Foundation, Inc.
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| - Murray and Barbara Miller
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In Honor of the AO Foundation and AO Presidents Eldad Helft and Sharon Perlmutter |
In Honor of Luba Miller for her 100th Birthday |
- Murray and Barbara Miller
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Murray and Barbara Miller
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In Honor of Gloria Wurman |
- Murray and Barbara Miller
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Silver: $36.00 | Gold: $72.00 | Platinum: $180.00 |
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Celebrating December Birthdays |
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Pay tribute to a friend's birthday by sending a card from the US Dental Foundation supporting our work, supporting the needs of Israel, and AO US Society Chapters. Click here! |
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- Myron Graff
- Arnold Jutkowitz
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- Mark Heiss
- Alana Helene Reifer
- Talbot Sklar
- Marvin Sonne
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- Richard Friedman
- Tommy Gaertner
- Paul Weyman
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- Mariya Barnett
- Harry Bernstein
- Michael Shapiro
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- Stephanie Munz
- Joseph Salkowitz
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- Laurie Gordon-Shaw
- Gary Solomon
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| - Rick Adelstein
- David Schor
- Jerry Wender
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- Scott Emalfarb
- Michele Sackheim
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- Edward Fellows
- Elaine Gantz
- Mindy Price
- Sheryl Weissman
- Richard Winter
- Scott Zirkin DDS
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- Moshe Benarroch
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Arnold Cukier
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- Cary Goldberg
- Dale Rubinchik
- Eugene Smoler
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- Charles Kates
- Harry Randel
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- Steven Berlin
- Richard Plotnick
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Please notify the Foundation about any upcoming events, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, milestones, or a loss. Your communication of these life events helps us foster a supportive and caring environment within our Foundation community.
Send an e-mail to notify the Foundation at foundation@aofus.org or call 301-228-0227.
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