Meet Dr. Clement Hilary, a lifelong servant of others. After decades of providing life-saving care to the underserved in Bangladesh, Dr. Hilary came to our clinic with a persistent toothache. This time, it was our turn to care for him. When asked why he wantedtobeasurgeon,Clementsaid,
“I wanted a way to serve people, like Jesus.” His story is a powerful reminderofresilience,faith,andtheimpactofselflessservice.Thanksto our supporters, we continue providing care to those who need it most justasDr.Hilaryhasdonehisentirelife.
Christina
MeetChristina!ApillaroftheCharleston community whose journey is one of faith and resilience. After losing her sight, battling diabetes, and facing amputation, she now fights advanced kidney disease. Yet, her spirit remains unshaken. With a transplant on hold due to urgent dental needs, she turned tousafterMedicaiddeniedcoverage.
She then came to North Charleston Dental Outreach, where we were blessed to be able to provide the care she needed—ensuring her health andsharingChrist’slovealongtheway.
Isaiah
Meet Isaiah! After spending 19 months incarcerated, Isaiah found a fresh start through the Delancey Street program, where he rebuilt his life through discipline,faith,andpersonalgrowth.As he worked to turn his life around, he turned to North Charleston Dental Outreachforaffordabledentalcare.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to provide Isaiah with the care he needed. His visit not only restored his smile but alsoboostedhisconfidence,givinghimarenewedsenseofself.Isaiah’s story is a reminder of the power of second chances, faith, and community support. We are so grateful to be able to help patients like Isaiah,providingthemwiththeopportunitytosmilewithconfidenceand move forward in their journey of healing and transformation. Every gift makesadifference!
Michelle
Meet Michelle! After a devastating house fire in April, Michelle rushed to saveherAirbnbguests,sufferingsevere burnsandsmokeinhalation.Despitethe setback, she says, “I’m just glad they gotoutandwereokay.Thiswasjusta setback. God is amazing.” When Michelle started experiencing gum sensitivity, she turned to North CharlestonDentalOutreach.
In2024,NCDOprovidedvitaldentalcaretoover2,200patients,allofwhomlive at or below the ALICE threshold individuals who work hard but face financial challenges meeting basic needs. In North Charleston, 1 in 4 residents face barriers to accessing dental care, whether due to affordability, availability, or otherconstraints.Byaddressingthiscriticalgap,NCDOcreatesarippleeffectof positive change, improving not only oral health but also overall well-being and qualityoflifeforourpatientsandtheirfamilies.
Our goal has been to have a diverse group of community partners supporting the clinic to provide access to healthcare for all. Patients, Individuals, Corporations, Churches, and Grant funding all comes together to be a beacon of hope. In 2024, by God’s faithfulness and the support of faithfulindividualslikeyourself...
$2M+ INTREATMENTS
Our cost of clinical supplies and equipment rose by 300% compared to last year due to our expanded services offered. Thankfully, we partnered with amazing grantors to directly fund those expenses.
Thanks to community support, we were able to nearly double our staff by hiring AshtonHernandezasExecutiveDirector,Dr. Mark Barry and Dr. Keith Kirkland as parttime staff dentists, Carmen Iler, Registered Dental Hygienist, and Brandi Rourke, our Dental Assistant. This coincided with crossing over $2M in value of treatment renderedtoover2,000uniquepatients!
Some great mentors along the way have taught me one simple truth: fundraising is a team sport! I’m grateful that through our community’s support we’re able to reinvest in our growth and sustainability. Because of you, the North Charleston Dental Outreach can continue providing access to basic dental care for many years to come. Thank you!
Elijah Melendez Director of Operations & Development
Impact. Generosity.
ThankYou
TOOURSUPPORTERS
At NCDO, every milestone we achieve begins with you our dedicated donors.Yoursupportenablesustotransformlivesbyprovidingvitaldental care to those who need it most. From alleviating pain to restoring smiles and confidence, your contributions create a lasting impact on individuals, families, and the entire North Charleston community. Thank you for standingwithusandmakingadifference,onesmileatatime.
GrantFunders
This year has been a transformative one for NCDO, filled with meaningful events, impactful partnerships, and incredible achievements. Each milestone reflects our commitment to ministering through basic dental care. Together, we’ve expanded access to dental care, shared Christ’s love for our patients and providers, and advocated forourcommunity.Thankyouforbeingpartofourstory!
Charleston County School District was one of our first partners in providing care to the underserved.In2024,wefocusedonexpandingourreachtoserveevenmorefamiliesin need. Our partnership continues to grow, ensuring that uninsured and underinsured studentshaveaccesstocriticaldentalcare.
NCDO is an incredibly valuable resource for our uninsured and underinsured students and families. Access to dental care helps students succeed social and academically by getting our students out of pain and back into school with an increased confidence in their smile. Its hard for parents (and teachers!) to see a child in excruciating pain and not know where to turn for affordable help. NCDO is always there for us and our families when we need help with dental care for a low income student.
Their support providing preventative exams, fluoride, fillings, crowns and SDF helps keeps our students in school and learning and has avoided many painful toothaches. Their emergency extraction services also help students, who might ordinarily miss several school days due to pain, get back to the classroom as quickly as possible. The fact that they are in an accessible location in North Charleston and have wonderful, friendly staff and volunteers is the icing on the cake. It’s hard for a kindergartener to lie still and get multiple fillings, but it is so much easier when the dentist is wearing a princess crown and singing songs from Frozen!
-Lindsey Paredes, Parent Educator at CCSD
As a teacher in a Title 1 School, I know how crucial student health is to their overall academic success. I am very grateful to community partners like NCDO that provide services to our students that support their health. I have had many students that have come to school with severe dental needs that greatly affected their learning. Two students in particular had such badly infected cavities that it caused inflammation in their face and throbbing pain. This of course affected them being able to focus in class every day, and I noticed them falling behind. Our Family Advocate connected them to NCDO and they were very quickly seen and treated. When they came back to school, their overall mood, participation in class, and academic progress improved immediately!
-Kindergarten teacher, CCSD
&Recognitions
2024NAFCGoldBadgeRecognition
WeareproudtoberecognizedwiththeNationalAssociationofFree&Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Gold Badge, a testament to our commitment to providing highquality, accessible dental care to those in need. This designation reflects our adherence to the highest standards in patient care, operational excellence, and community impact. As we continue expanding our services, the NAFC Badge reinforces our dedication to ensuring that every patient receives compassionate andcomprehensivedentaltreatment,regardlessoftheirfinancialsituation.
2024CandidPlatinumSealofTransparency
WearehonoredtohaveearnedtheCandidPlatinumSealofTransparency, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit transparency. This designation reflects our commitment to accountability, integrity, and measurable impact in the community. By sharing detailed financials, program data, and strategic goals, we ensure our donors, partners, and supporters have full confidence in how their contributionsmakeadifference.Thisrecognitionreinforcesourmissiontoprovide accessible,high-qualitydentalcaretothoseinneed.
3-StarRatingByCharityNavigator
We are proud to be recognized by Charity Navigator, a leading evaluator of nonprofit organizations. This badge signifies our commitment to financial health, accountability, and transparency. It reflects our dedication to using donations effectively, ensuring that our programs provide the greatest impact for the communitiesweserve.Throughthisrecognition,wecontinuetobuildtrustwithour supportersanddemonstrateourmission-drivenapproachtoexpandingaccessto qualitydentalcare.
