About Us
Thanks for taking the time to learn about us! We are a 501c(3) non-profit organization, the Growing Smiles Foundation.
Dr. Bari Levine founded the organization while she was a student at Temple University.
Dr. Bari Levine's family of dentists, pediatric dentists Dr. Sheryl Radin and Dr. Ross Levine (Growing Smiles in Floral Vale) and periodontist, Dr. Robert Levine (PA Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics) have helped shape the successful Growing Smiles Foundation program and are key mentors for the Temple Dental students. Dr. Bari Levine is opening Growing Smiles Main Line Pediatric Dentistry in January 2022.
Our story began in August 2013, where we designed and implemented a brief oral health intervention for the children at La Sagrada Familia orphanage outside of Lima, Peru. This public health intervention is the foundation of our program.
In June 2012:
Dr. Bari Levine traveled with Temple University medical students to an orphanage in Peru and immediately noticed the need for oral health education and care. She vowed to herself that she would return with a team to help the children.
In June 2013:
As a first year dental student earning her Masters in Public Health, Dr. Bari organized a team of dental students, along with her mother as the supervising pediatric dentist, to provide screenings and in-depth oral health education to over 150 orphans and supervising adults at the orphanage.
In June 2014:
The group provided over $50,000 in free dental care and oral health education to over 150 orphans and supervising adults at the orphanage.
In July 2015:
The team returned to the orphanage and in five days provided over $130,000 in comprehensive dental services. In addition, the Foundation partnered with a local dental school in Lima, the University of Peruvian Sciences (UPC) to ensure sustainability of the Foundation's efforts.
In August 2016:
The dental team visited a new location, Jose Maria Arguedas Elementary School in Chorrillos, Peru and provided over $140,000 in free, comprehensive dental services with the help of UPC. Children from the school can receive follow-up preventive dental treatment from dental students at UPC, making the annual outreach program sustainable.
In August 2017:
The Growing Smiles Foundation team saw 240 children and provided over $160,000 in free, comprehensive dental services hand in hand with the local dental school, UPC at Jose Maria Arguedas Elementary School.
In February 2019:
The group traveled to Chorrillos again, this time to a local church. During the week, the Foundation saw 250 children and 80 adult patients and provided over $120,000 in free, comprehensive dental services, in collaboration with UPC.
Due to COVID-19 our future trips are on hold.