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Shannon Aronson and David Silverstrom, DDS By Deborah Schapiro, photo by Dan Epstein This month, we are pleased to introduce our readers to the Short Hills husband and wife team Shannon Aronson and David Silverstrom, DDS, the co-founders of Solstice 620 Foundation. They are just returning from their second grueling nine day medical/dental mission to Guatemala. The trip required a police escorted, seven hour drive—deep into the mountains to where the Solstice 620 team treated more than 450 impoverished people, most of whom were children.
What is the mission of Solstice 620? Shannon: The mission of Solstice 620 is to create sustainable improvement in the lives of people in need by connecting them with professionals who are eager to donate their time, expertise, skills and unique abilities. David and I have found that most people are aware of what they are uniquely good at and genuinely want to do whatever they can to help others.
How did Solstice 620 choose Guatemala? Shannon: Close friends of ours from Canada had been traveling to the Merendon Mountains in Guatemala with the Canadian Central American Relief Effort (CCAMRE) for about 12 years, in order to provide dental services to the indigenous people living there. They would tell us about the living conditions—10 to 12 people in one-room mud huts with no electricity and no access to clean water. We decided to make Guatemala our organization’s first project. David: Shannon saw an opportunity for Solstice 620 to add a medical component to CCAMRE’s work. We gathered up doctors, nurses, hygienists and ample medical supplies to treat the people there. Every morning we would shoo away the roaming chickens and set up M.A.S.H.-style clinics where people would line up outside in the 100-degree heat. Shannon: The trip was horrible and exhilarating at the same time. The illness and dental decay resulting from the extreme poverty is deeply disturbing, but you get to make a positive difference in someone’s life.
Why did you establish Solstice 620? David: It was Shannon’s idea upon our marriage two years ago, that we set up this foundation to honor our commitment to each other and to use our partnership to make a positive impact on the world. We were married on June 20, 2015, which happened to be the summer solstice. We liked the idea of incorporating our wedding date and the symbolism of the sun rising, bringing light and warmth to the world, in our foundation’s name.
Aronson and Silverstrom plan to expand the foundation’s reach to other areas and issues in the future. When not doing foundation work or charitable community activities, they are busy with their careers. Shannon is a realtor with Keller Williams Premier Properties and David has a dental practice in Livingston, The Silverstrom Group. Those interested in donating their time or resources should contact Shannon at 973-214-0691.
Photo strip courtesy of Solstice 620
May 2017
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