Mitul R. Patel, DDS Successfully Attacks a Major Source of Economic Destruction in the Battle Against Illiteracy and Poverty
Suwanee, GA (PRWEB) July 28, 2014 -- Mitul R. Patel, DDS and concerned leading Dentists from across the nation gathered at the MGE Management Experts Benefit Dinner May 30, in St. Petersburg, FL. Government officials and community leaders joined the Dentists to raise funds for the Improving Youth Literacy Campaign in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs and Youth Programs across America. The funds raised are providing hundreds of thousands of young people with books and audio books to directly tackle illiteracy and help to break the cycle of poverty.
Notables who attended supporting literacy were: Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Jim Coats - former Pinellas County Sherriff and Board Member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, Susan L. Valdes - Vice Chair Hillsborough County Public School Board, Kim Sharpe - practicing Business and Commercial law with Johnson Pope Law Offices and running for Sixth Circuit Court Judge, Group 16, Amy Ronshausen - Deputy Director of both the Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.), Lt. Col. Kirk Kumagai - U.S. Marine Corp (ret), Senior Marine Instructor of the Clearwater High School Marine Corp Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp, Reverend Alfreddie Johnson - Founder World Literacy Crusade and Imam Willmore Siddiq - Spiritual leader, educator, and leader of the program “Putting the Neighborhood back in the Hood”.
At an MGE conference in March, leading dentists and their executive staff met to analyze and take action against one of their major business issues - hiring qualified staff in these times of extraordinarily high unemployment numbers. They isolated illiteracy of applicants as a common denominator to the problem.
According to the Family Scholarly Culture and Educational Success research, access to books is key to reading skills. Studies confirm that the number of books in the home directly predicts reading achievement.
One study found that in middle income neighborhoods the ratio is 13 books per child; in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is one book for every 300 children.* And price is the #1 barrier to book ownership.
“Analysis of the most statistically accurate and comprehensive study of U.S. adult literacy ever conducted proves that 48.7 percent of U.S. adults are functionally illiterate, defined as being unable to hold an above-poverty-level-wage job. We believe illiteracy is a major source of economic destruction in this country and are determined to help fix the problem,” said Mitul R. Patel, DDS, and Founder of Family & Cosmetic Dental Care.
A highlight of the event was the entertainment provided by a phenomenal high-energy trio of brothers AKNU (A Kind Never Understood) who flew in from Los Angeles to help with the fundraising. With astonishing moves and incredible vocal talent, they performed original material and popular hits putting the gathering in high spirits for the live auction. The group was featured on X Factor and has just released an EP independently on Amazon and iTunes titled "A Kind Never Understood".
The hundreds of thousands of books raised during the event are going directly into the hands of young people in need through the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Young Adults Library Services Association.
About Family & Cosmetic Dental Care
Family & Cosmetic Dental Care, a full service private dental practice has been serving the area for over 8 years. Dr. Mitul Patel DDS of Family & Cosmetic Dental Care is a Suwanee GA dentist you can count on to provide patient-centered, comfortable dental care. As a certified Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Dr. Patel has a wide range of experience in different areas of dentistry from cosmetic and restorative dentistry to orthodontics and oral surgery. His emphasis is on patient comfort as well as keeping up-to-date with the latest advancements in dentistry.
Mitul Patel DDS and team are leading professionals honoring their word and committed to service, education, health and happiness provided in a fun atmosphere. For more information, please visit http://www.MyJohnsCreekDentist.com or call 770-888-3384.
Sources:
*Neuman, Susan B. and David K. Dickinson, ed. Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2. New York, NY: 2006 - http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/libraries-for-children-and-ya/publications/Genco.pdf
Evans, M. D. R., et al. Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (2010), doi:10.1016/j.rssm.2010.01.002 –
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0276562410000090
Mitul Patel, Family & Cosmetic Dental Care, http://MyJohnsCreekDentist.com, +1 (770) 888-3384, [email protected]
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