Since 2004, the Patterson Foundation has been giving back to communities, industries and employees who have helped make Patterson Companies successful. From children in need of affordable dental care, to individuals who have suffered brain injuries and need occupational therapy, to the children of Patterson employees who are following their dreams with the help of college scholarships, the Foundation is touching many lives.

Funded primarily by the generosity of current and former employees of Patterson Companies, the Foundation is separate from Patterson business operations. Its mission is to provide resources to programs that make a distinct contribution to enhance the quality of life and create social and economic value in communities.

The Patterson Foundation’s two giving programs include college scholarships for the children of Patterson Companies employees and grants to nonprofit organizations that are operating charitable programs in the oral health, animal health, and occupational and physical rehabilitation fields. The Patterson Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1.7 million in college scholarships to nearly 300 students from Patterson families to help them achieve their education goals. With respect to its grant-making, the Foundation’s primary interest is in supporting programs where healthcare professionals volunteer their services to disadvantaged people or individuals with special needs in their communities. Funding is most commonly used to support the work of the volunteers or for costs associated with starting up a new program or expanding an existing one to serve more patients in need.

In the dental field, the Patterson Foundation has provided more than $4.5 million in grants since 2004. Grants have been awarded to many community-based organizations and several national ones including Oral Health America, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation and Dental Lifeline Network. Additionally, the Foundation provides resources to many Mission of Mercy events each year that help thousands of underserved people around the country access much needed dental care.

According to Gary Johnson, president of the Patterson Foundation, “We are so proud to be able to support programs that have a direct impact on the lives of individuals in need. Few things are as important as contributing to a person’s ability to lead a full and healthy life.”

Cook Children’s Save a Smile in Tarrant County, Texas, is one of the community-based organizations the Patterson Foundation supports. Save a Smile provides dental care to targeted low-income children in pre-kindergarten through third grade in pre-selected schools. This nationally recognized, collaborative program within the Cook Children’s Community Health Outreach department provides dental screenings (limited oral evaluations) for as many children as possible who are at high risk for serious dental disease.