_edited.png){kind=small}
Key Figures
Dora Pena Pesqueda is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of TheSmileZone. Her journey began as a single mother of four, navigating the challenges of balancing work and her children’s healthcare appointments. With a background in the pediatric dental field, Dora recognized the critical importance of dental care for children, often overlooked and postponed by many. Her experience working in a dental outreach program inspired her to create a solution for her own community, combining education with comprehensive healthcare services, including dental care. Understanding the obstacles parents face, such as work and school commitments, Dora established TheSmileZone to ensure children receive regular dental visits without parents having to choose between preventive care and providing for their families. Driven by her passion for children's health, Dora is dedicated to bridging the gap in access to dental care for underserved communities.
Raymond Pesqueda is a Founder, Board Member, and Executive Assistant for TheSmileZone. The organization began with a simple yet profound question: "How can we help the children and families that cannot come into a brick-and-mortar office?" Inspired by his wife Dora's extensive career and undeniable passion for dental care, Raymond became deeply involved in addressing the need for dental accessibility. Moved by the stories Dora shared about parents canceling appointments due to work commitments, school obligations, and financial strain, Raymond empathized with the struggle of choosing between providing for one's family and addressing "minor" health needs that could escalate into more significant issues. Recognizing the broader impact on overall health and family stability, Raymond and Dora founded TheSmileZone to bridge this gap. Their dedication to making a lasting difference in the lives of families and children in Arizona drives their mission, reflecting their commitment to ensuring dental care accessibility for all.
Andres Cano sits on the board of TheSmileZone and is one of the co-founders. He is responsible for the creative direction and philanthropy for TheSmileZone focusing on donor and sponsor relationships. I started my journey with nonprofit work independently working with close friends and for-profit organizations who focused their time on raising money for nonprofit organizations. I would partner with these organizations to help in toy drives, back-to-school drives, and other event coordination to help families in Arizona. I've always had a passion for helping others, and I crossed paths with Dora and Raymond through our Arizona Cardinal football tailgates and they asked me to join them on their journey with TheSmileZone. It's inspiring to see the faces of happy families, children, and communities when you give back through the work we are doing at TheSmileZone. I love being in a nonprofit because you get to understand the needs of the community and collaborate with others to bring so much change in such a selfless way. I love spending time with family, friends, my two fur babies, and my partner, and truly enjoy food and traveling which is another way we learn about each other. Excited to continue this journey, and see what TheSmileZone does or goes next.
Our History
The inception of TheSmileZone is rooted in a deep passion for dentistry and a profound desire to help others. The journey began years ago when Dora was part of another Dental Outreach Team. The experience was not only fulfilling but also therapeutic. Her passion for dentistry has always been driven by a desire to make a difference in people's lives.
In 2019, while promoting a dental office in Texas, Dora engaged with school nurses, administrators, and parents, quickly encountering a significant barrier: getting children and families into a dental office for care amidst their busy lives. A conversation with a teacher profoundly impacted the founder. The teacher shared the struggle of not being able to take her daughter to the dentist due to work commitments. This encounter sparked an idea: What if a dental outreach program could be brought to the schools? The teacher's enthusiastic response confirmed the need, and thus, TheSmileZone was born.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development of TheSmileZone. This journey taught the founder two invaluable lessons: a love for the rewarding nature of this work and a strong desire to bring TheSmileZone to her home state of Arizona. During a dental event in June 2023, Dora shared her vision with event coordinators who offered their support. With their encouragement, TheSmileZone was officially founded in Arizona in June 2023.
Evolution of TheSmileZone
While TheSmileZone is only one year old in Arizona, it has been operating in the mobile dental space since 2019. Its mission is to provide accessible and quality dental care, education, and hygiene supplies to children in Arizona, improving their overall well-being and empowering them to lead healthier lives. TheSmileZone believes in providing equal opportunities for children to receive top-notch dental care, irrespective of their background or socioeconomic status. Access to care is their number one priority, ensuring no child in Arizona suffers from preventable dental issues.
Mission, Vision, and Core Focus
The core mission of TheSmileZone is to provide accessible and quality dental care, education, and hygiene supplies to children in Arizona. By addressing the oral health needs of underserved youth, the organization aims to improve their overall well-being and empower them to lead healthier lives. Their vision is to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to top-notch dental care.
The core focus areas are:
Accessibility: The primary goal is to make dental care accessible to underserved communities. By bringing dental services directly to schools and community centers through their mobile dental program, they aim to remove barriers such as financial constraints and transportation challenges.
Community Impact: TheSmileZone strives to make a positive impact on the communities they serve. Through partnerships with schools, local organizations, and healthcare providers, they enhance dental health education and promote preventive care practices.
Preventative Dental Care: Beyond providing dental care, they emphasize overall well-being. This includes dental education, dental hygiene supplies, and referrals to additional healthcare resources when needed.
Impact on Underserved/Rural Communities
Identifying and selecting the communities served is a critical aspect of TheSmileZone's work. They assess the need throughout Arizona and rely on community engagement and partnerships for collaboration. Their needs-based approach has fostered multiple collaboration opportunities with other organizations. The goal is to reach areas where children and families face challenges in accessing preventative dental care.
TheSmileZone has encountered several challenges in bringing dental care to underserved and rural communities, including limited funding and language barriers. To overcome these challenges, they host several fundraising events throughout the year, continuously seek grants and donations, and have invested in a translator device for their outreach team.
One impactful story that stands out involves a teacher who visited TheSmileZone during a school outreach program. She thanked the team for seeing her daughter earlier that morning and providing a prescription for an active infection. The teacher shared how work commitments prevented her from taking her daughter to the dentist. This encounter underscored the significance of TheSmileZone's work and motivated the team to ensure access to dental care for underserved communities.
Accomplishments, Accolades, and Growth
Over the past year, TheSmileZone has been featured on various news channels and podcasts, including AZ BIG Media, where the founder was a Healthcare Leader of the Year Finalist for the 2024 Champions of Change Awards. TheSmileZone was selected as a Healthcare Company of the Year in 2024 for the Champions of Change Awards.
The organization secured a prestigious grant from Delta Dental Arizona Foundation, a significant achievement for their young nonprofit. They hosted their 1st Annual SMILEZOOM, a 400m run for children, which received positive feedback from the community. Their next event is the 1st Annual Smile FORE a Cause, PUTT FORE a Purpose Charity Golf Event on September 7th, 2024. They are also planning a November 3rd, 2024 - Dia De Los Muertos, Celebrating Life in Business event.
In their first year, TheSmileZone provided dental care, education, and supplies at 27 health fairs, community events, and schools, impacting 375 smiles. Their impact goal is 1500 for 2024.
Growth and Team Expansion
TheSmileZone continues to grow with additional outreach events and services. Since 2019, they have been driven by a core team of six. In mid-August 2023, they welcomed an additional board member and co-founder, Andres Cano, Director of Philanthropy. Andres has significantly contributed to the organization's growth, helping rebrand in Arizona, develop their website, establish marketing collateral, and create a comprehensive marketing plan and strategy. Andres has significantly contributed to the organization's growth through his visionary approach, helping rebrand in Arizona, establishing a robust partner network, developing its website and direction, establishing marketing collateral, creating a media and PR strategy through his vast network, and strategically creating a comprehensive marketing plan and strategy.
Dental Outreach Program and Education
TheSmileZone provides quality dental care, oral health education, and oral hygiene supplies. They ensure that children and families receive verbal instructions and pamphlets with tips on brushing and flossing at home.
They engage and educate the community through separate oral hygiene days at schools, providing nutritional fun facts and interactive activities to highlight the importance of dental care.
Hope for the Future
In the next five to ten years, TheSmileZone aspires to operate at full capacity, making a daily impact on as many lives as possible. Their goal is to increase access to dental care for children and reduce the likelihood of preventable dental issues in Arizona.
They are excited about their upcoming events, including the Smile FORE a Cause Charity Golf Event on September 7th, 2024, and the November 3, 2024 Dia De Los Muertos, Celebrating Life in Business event.
Community Involvement
The best way to get involved is to follow TheSmileZone on their social media platforms and website, www.thesmilezone.org. Potential supporters can contribute through donations, attending events, volunteering, and sharing posts on social media. They welcome collaborations with Head Starts, elementary schools, middle and high schools, and community organizations.
Personal Motivation and Leadership
Passion drives the founder's commitment to this mission. Dentistry doesn't feel like work; it's a passion that continues to help those in need. Challenges are a part of life, but they won't hold TheSmileZone back from their mission.
As a Board Member, Founder, President, and CEO, Dora's vision and extensive experience in the dental industry guide TheSmileZone. Raymond Pesqueda, Vice President, brings his leadership experience, team leadership and growth, his Spanish bi-lingual skills supporting the Spanish-speaking community, and his creative and analytical outside-the-box thinking talent. Andres Cano has helped the organization grow through his 18 years of global enterprise corporate experience in business development, technology sales, strategy, business foundational growth, and dedication to philanthropic growth.
Message to Families
To families hesitant to seek dental care for their children due to financial or logistical barriers: Access to dental care is here. Look for TheSmileZone at an event near you. Their preventative dental care is free, and they may be able to help direct you to additional resources if needed. Reach out to TheSmileZone; they look forward to hearing from you.
Comments