The Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership was established in 1997 as a community-based orthodontic program to help children from families who could not afford the full cost of braces, whose self-esteem was impacted by having crooked teeth, receive orthodontic treatment. Now known as Smiles Change Lives (SCL), it has grown into a national organization with close to 750 orthodontists participating in the program. To date, nearly 12,000 children nationwide have received life-changing orthodontic treatment through SCL.

This is due to SCLs unique model, which matches qualified children, who need orthodontic treatment, with caring orthodontists willing to provide such treatment. Each family must agree to abide by the programs rules and contribute a set amount to SCL to be approved for the program. SCL uses these funds to recruit more doctors willing to treat more children. In this way, each family truly pays it forward by helping their own child, they are making it possible for the next child to be treated as well. Since its inception, more than 98% of the children approved for SCL have successfully completed treatment.

Each year, SCL publishes an annual report. This gives an opportunity to share with others highlights and accomplishments throughout the past year. We are grateful for everyone who partners with us to change the lives of so many children. This is their story as much as it is ours. Enjoy!

Based in Kansas City, the program has treated more than 15,000 children since 1997. With its origin as the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership, Smiles Change Lives has emerged as the nations leader in providing access to orthodontic care for qualified youth.

Thousands of children across the United States have something to smile about because of the generosity and vision of Mrs. Virginia Brown. Mrs. Brown grew up during the Great Depression. She and her sister both desperately needed braces, but her parents could only afford treatment for one child. Her sister received orthodontic care first. Mrs. Brown was unable to undergo treatment until she was well into high school. As a result, she endured years of teasing and ridicule from her peers because of her crooked teeth. She hated to have her picture taken and rarely smiled. This experience touched her so deeply she vowed that someday, when she was able, she would take action to help children in need.

In 1983, Mrs. Brown and her late husband, Maurice Brown, formed the Virginia and Maurice Brown Foundation with donor-advised funds at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. These funds were earmarked for children in need of facial and oral surgery, particularly those with cleft lip and palate. The Foundation made a major investment in a maxillofacial surgery effort then underway at the University of Kansas. When her husband died after enduring major facial trauma during his battle with sinus cancer, Virginia was more determined than ever to help children who could not afford the treatment necessary to live with dignity and confidence.

Searching for the most effective way to make an impact with her philanthropic passion, Virginia and her son Tom began meeting with experts to discuss gaps in access to medical care for young people. When they discovered no program existed in the United States to help children gain access to orthodontic treatment, they began a partnership with the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry. In 1997, an initial grant facilitated treatment for 48 youth in the Kansas City area. This effort marked the formation the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership a nonprofit entity serving children with severely crooked teeth and/or jaws.

Since its inception in 1997, The Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership has evolved into Smiles Change Lives, a nonprofit organization which is now serving children nationwide. Smiles Change Lives manages outreach, marketing, applications, screenings, orthodontic treatment, case management and evaluation. Since 1997, thousands ofchildren have been given new smiles, renewed hope and restored self-esteem. The Brown family continues to pave the way in creating access to orthodontic care with a cadre of staff, volunteers and more than 750 orthodontists nationwide.

Smiles Change Lives is governed by a dedicated volunteer board of directors who provide governance and leadership to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the organization. It is these individuals who set the direction for our growth, sustainability and national expansion.

A Kansas City native, Mrs. Virginia L. Brown founded the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership in 1997 with the intent of filling the unmet need of providing braces for low-income children. After serving the first 48 children in Kansas City in 1998, Mrs. Browns vision and generosity grew into a national nonprofit organization named Smiles Change Lives (SCL). To date, SCL has changed the lives of thousands ofchildren nationwide. Mrs. Brown retired from the board in 2015. She continues to support the organization as a member of the board of directors. She enjoys reading notes of gratitude from the kids and families touched by SCL.

Mr. Brown co-founded SCL along with his mother. He serves as president and chairman of theboard of directors. Mr. Brown is an attorney with Brown Law Firm, LLC and has provided legaland business counseling services to organizations and individuals in the Kansas City area formore than thirty years. As an entrepreneur himself, Mr. Brown has proven instrumental inbusiness management, matters of financial sustainability and the development of keypartnerships for SCL.

Dr. Toombs has been an SCL board member since the organizations inception as the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership. In addition to serving as one of SCLs directors, Dr. Toombs has many professional memberships including the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Southwestern Society of Orthodontists, Kansas Association of Orthodontists, Kansas Dental Association, Greater Kansas City Society of Orthodontists, Fifth District Dental Society (Johnson County) and UMKC Orthodontic Alumni Association. Dr. Toombs attained his Certificate in Orthodontics from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1984. Much of SCLs program model has been developed and refined over the years under Dr. Toombs leadership.

Dr. Litton is SCLs Minnesota program champion. He has been instrumental in recruiting volunteer orthodontists and expanding SCLs reach throughout the state and nationwide. Dr. Litton received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1967, his Certificate in Orthodontics in 1970 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1972, all from the University of Minnesota. Throughout his career he has received a variety of honors, including recognition from the Minnesota Association of Orthodontists, the Minnesota Dental Association and Midwestern Society of Orthodontists. He has served in a variety of leadership positions for organizations including the American Association of Orthodontists and The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Dr. Litton is currently a delegate to the American Association of Orthodontists House of Delegates.

Dr. Hechler, our newest board member, is a practicing orthodontist with his Dad, Dr. Steven Hechler at Hechler Orthodontist in Overland Park, KS. He received his dental degree at UMKC School of Dentistry, graduating as a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. After attaining his dental degree, Dr. Paul completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Iowa. There he was awarded both a Certificate of Orthodontics and masters degree. He is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and the Kansas Dental Association (KDA).

Mr. Paulsen serves as treasurer for the SCL board of directors. He earned a Bachelors in Accounting from Washburn University in 1968. Since that time, Mr. Paulsen has worked in various companies until beginning his own accounting firm in 1997, specializing in small business accounting. Mr. Paulsen is also the Coordinator of the American Baptist Disaster Relief Team in the East Central Region of Kansas. In addition to his meticulous attention to detail, Mr. Paulsen is critical to the organizations budgeting process.

Ms. Nolan has significant experience in business management, product and program development and consulting. She most recently worked as President of Peruvian Connection, a privately held knitwear and accessories company that markets to an international clientele. Her civic leadership includes five years on the Kansas Board of Regents, including a term as Board Chair. Ms. Nolan has also served on the board of a number of nonprofit organizations including the Kansas Policy Institute, the Kansas Civil Rights Commission and Heshima Kenya. She received her B.S. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and her MBA from Rockhurst College.

Ms. Schmelzers professional background includes a range of experience in non-profit administration, education administration, consulting, and teaching. She received her B.S. from the University of Missouri, her M.A. in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and her Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education from the University of Missouri. Ms. Schmelzer has more than 25 years of experience in volunteer community service. She has previously served on the board of directors for a number of organizations including Planned Parenthood of Greater Kansas City, Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Alex Brown is an attorney at Lathrop Gage, specializing in complex policyholder and insurance coverage litigation. Prior to joining Lathrop, Mr. Brown worked as an attorney in Chicago for Dentons LLP in the litigation and arbitration practice group. Mr. Brown has a political science degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Brown provided finance and business advice to low-to-middle income entrepreneurs in the KC metro area with the Missouri Womens Business Center.

Susans background includes over 20 years in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. She worked with AC Nielsen leading consulting teams on clients such as General Mills, Georgia Pacific, Hormel, & Nestle, and spent nearly a decade with Coca-Cola Company holding management positions across Sales, Marketing, and IT. She currently serves as COO of Infiniti Logistics, and is involved in a number of non-profit boards. Susan received both her undergraduate & MBA from the University of Kansas.