With a little help from their friends, the new alumni association at the School of Dental Hygiene has hit its first major goal. A three-month fund-raising campaign culminated this week as the University of Manitoba School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association (UMSDHAA) hit its target of raising $2,000 in support of their new organization.

“We, the executive of the University of Manitoba School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association are very excited to announce we have met our goal,” said

Cindy Isaak-Ploegman, president of the new UMSDHAA. “We received support from the entire profession in Manitoba during this drive and that was totally the key to our success. Thank you to everyone who came forward in support of us.”

The group received substantive support from throughout the dental hygiene profession in Manitoba including the Manitoba Dental Hygienists Association and the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba in addition to entire classes of students and school alumni throughout the city and the province.

The drive came about following a pledge from the Dean of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Anthony Iacopino said the group would qualify for a start-up grant of $5,000 provided they were able to raise $2,000 on their own prior to the Canada Day deadline of July 1.

“This is wonderful news and a great way to kick-off the summer for all of us here at the School of Dental Hygiene,” director Dr. Joanna Asadoorian said. “I am so very pleased and proud of both the alumni committee for all their hard work and all of our alumni and supporters who rallied around us. Congratulations to all!”

It was the first major challenge for the new alumni organization for the School of Dental Hygiene. It also helps punctuate the first successful formation of a dental hygiene alumni group after a number of unsuccessful bids several years earlier. The creation of the dental hygiene group comes about following the successful reorganization of the University of Manitoba Dental Alumni Association roughly three years ago.

The UMSDHAA still welcomes additional support to move forward with social and charitable projects and to increase its membership base. Ms. Isaak-Ploegman said the group plans to meet again in the summer to begin developing programming options and events for the new membership.

For more information contact Grant Warren, Faculty of Dentistry, School of Dental Hygiene, University of Manitoba, 204-789-3267 (dent_events @umanitoba.ca).