Adopt a Vet News
November 10, 2022
AAVD is promoting a fundraiser for patient-turned-volunteer U.S. Air Force Veteran Tiffany Swisher this Veterans Day.
Swisher was hit by a drunk driver in February. See the story here.
If anyone would like to donate to a cause out of gratitude for our nation’s heroes, consider doing so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/life4tiffany.
Swisher is a valued member of the AAVD team and volunteered faithfully in the clinic. She is a Max E. Lambert Outstanding Volunteer Award recipient. See other news on Swisher here.
October 2022
Join us for the MASH BASH! The Reno Blues Society is holding a Veteran’s Benefit Dance and proceeds are going to Adopt a Vet! Join us November 5, 2022! Doors open at 6:30pm at the Ramada in Reno! You can purchase tickets at www.renobluessociety.org or at the door! Don’t forget to buy those Raffle Tickets!!
US Navy Veteran Carlos Navera recently completed the Adopt A Vet Dental Program. Look at that new smile!
Ms. Charlotte, I am very grateful and thankful to all the staff of Adopt a Vet Dental Program for helping a veteran like me to have free dental care which I was not afforded through the VA. Wish that this program expands throughout the USA so you all can help veterans to have free dental care. You all are very instrumental for me to regain back my confidence and secure my health again. Now, I can smile again and talk to people without fear. Thanks so much again. God bless you all.
Very respectfully, Carlos Navera (before and after below)
Join the Reno Aces on September 15, 2022, in supporting the Adopt a Vet Dental Program. For every ticket purchased through the QR code or link below, 50% of the ticket sales will go to the Adopt a Vet Dental Program to help restore Veteran’s smiles in Nevada.
Reserve your seat now! Tickets range from $14 -$18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adopt a Vet Dental Program
Phone: (775) 470-8707
Email: info@aavdp.com
Website: https://adoptavetdental.com/
Help a Veteran Smile Fundraiser for the Adopt a Vet Dental Program
Our goal is to help provide lifesaving dental care to impoverished Veterans in Nevada!
Las Vegas, Nev. – Adopt a Vet Dental Program will host a fundraiser to get the veterans out of pain, give them their smile back, and get them back into the community by working or volunteering their time. September 25, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Ventano Italian Grill & Seafood: 191 S Arroyo Grande Blvd. Henderson, NV 89012.
In August 2019, AAVD became their own nonprofit organization and continue their mission to provide critical dental care to low-income veterans who do not qualify at the VA or cannot afford to see a dentist.
“This is why Adopt a Vet exists — to thank and serve veterans! They have given so much to us, this is the least we can do. We are thrilled to now be a statewide program and to be able to serve not only Veterans in Northern Nevada and the Rurals, but now Southern Nevada as well! This fundraiser is our first big event in the Las Vegas area, and we are excited to see the love and support the community has for Nevada’s Veterans! Help a Veteran Smile…those words have such a deep impact- Save a smile, is to change a Life!” Heather Borkowski, Assistant Executive Director of AAVD said.
AAVD’s mission is to give free critical and life-saving dental care to impoverished veterans throughout the state of Nevada. For the last eleven years, AAVD’s 130 providers have donated more than $7 million in care. Equipped with new smiles, veterans can continue their legacy of service by actively participating in their communities.
Click the image or link below to reserve your seat today! https://givebutter.com/rfiHYz
MENU
VENTANO WELCOMES
ADOPT A VET DENTAL PROGRAM
ANTIPASTI
ANTIPASTO VENTANO
Grilled zucchini-artichokes-peppers, sundried tomato, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, Mediterranean olives, salumi, prosciutto, aged balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil.
SHRIMP ON THE STONE
Creamy wasabi dipping sauce.
INSALATA
CEASAR SALAD
Garlic croutons, parmesan cheese.
I SECONDI
FILETTO DI SALMON
A grilled salmon fillet, paired with sauteed zucchini and a half oven roasted tomato.
BAKED LASAGNA
Lasagna noodles, layered with Ventano meat sauce and cheeses, then oven baked to perfection.
EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA
Breaded sliced eggplant topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese then paired with pennette pasta-marinara.
CHICKEN PICATTA
Chicken breast sauteed in a caper and lemon white wine sauce over pennette pasta.
DESERT
Chef Flemmings Bake Shop – assorted mini pastries
PRICE PER PERSON, $75 ALL INCLUSIVE. SODA AND ICED TEA INCLUDED. ALCOHOL PAY AS YOU GO SERVICE AT THE BAR.
January 31, 2022
Shout Out to the Northern Nevada Confederation of Clubs
Adopt a Vet Dental Program would like to recognize the Northern Nevada Confederation of Clubs for their $3,000 donation as part of the 41st Reno Toy Run to provide low-income veterans access to life-saving, life-changing dental care. They presented a check to AAVD Executive Director Deme Gonzalez and Assistant Executive Director Heather Borkowski on December 11, 2021.
The Northern Nevada Confederation of Clubs website states: “Every year, well over a thousand bikers participated in the Reno Toy Run enabling donations of over $20,000.00 to local charities … and 5000+ toys donated and distributed all over Northern Nevada.”
Thank you, Northern Nevada Confederation of Clubs for all you do for our community!
September 15, 2021
From AAVD Patient to Volunteer — Tiffany Swisher Receives Max E. Lambert Outstanding Volunteer Award
Reno, Nev. — Adopt a Vet Dental Program presented the Max E. Lambert Outstanding Volunteer Award to former patient Tiffany Swisher for her selfless service to veterans in Nevada.
Swisher has been a volunteer with Adopt a Vet for four years. Her journey with AAVD started as a patient. Swisher was diagnosed with adult-onset epilepsy, and the medication prescribed to manage her illness caused severe damage to her teeth. Her parents took out a $10,000 loan so she could get crowns on her most broken teeth. Swisher was desperate for a solution.
“When you’re a woman, you can do everything to make yourself as pretty and cute as possible, but if your smile is broken, none of that matters,” Swisher said. She was exhausted using all her energy to try not to smile. It took a toll on her emotional health.
“I eventually lost hope. When I found Adopt a Vet, I thought it was too good to be true,” Swisher said. Swisher went through the AAVD program in 2017. She has volunteered ever since.
“The transformation I went through I now get to see others go through,” Swisher said. “I am so incredibly thankful for what AAVD did for me, but then I think about the other thousands of veterans waiting for care. They’re forgotten. They need this program. We have to reach them.”
AAVD’s vision is to get veterans out of pain, restore their smiles, and get them back into the community working or volunteering their time. This vision is realized in Swisher.
The award Swisher received is named after AAVD President and Founder Linda Haigh’s father, WWII veteran Sgt. Max E. Lambert. Sgt. Lambert was a crewman on the first Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Squadron — the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron. This squadron saved hundreds of lives during WWII. Sgt. Lambert received the Asian Pacific Campaign medal, Army of Occupation medal, Victory medal, American Campaign medal, and the Good Conduct medal.
“The unit Sgt. Lambert served in was a volunteer search and rescue unit — the first of its kind. This unit in WWII is what all other search and rescue units in every other branch of the armed forces are currently based on,” said Executive Director Deme Gonzalez. “The men didn’t know what they were signing up for, and many gave their lives to recover their brothers. It is this spirit of volunteerism we are acknowledging in Tiffany today.”
Gonzalez said that going forward, this award will be given each year to a member of the community who selflessly serves veterans.
September 8, 2021
Community Honors Korean War Veteran
Carson City, Nev. — Adopt a Vet Dental Program is calling on members of the community to thank Korean War veteran Robert Rumbaugh for his service by participating in a vehicle parade. Attendees are encouraged to decorate their vehicles to show their gratitude and meet Sept. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Bully’s Sports Bar and Grill: 3530 N. Carson St. Carson City, NV 89706.
Rumbaugh’s daughter, Kelly, reports that as he is approaching his final days, he keeps repeating, “No one ever said thank you.” AAVD is organizing an event to change that.
“This is why Adopt a Vet exists — to thank veterans,” Deme Gonzalez, Executive Director of AAVD said. “We thank veterans by providing free dental care for those who qualify and now we have the honor of thanking Mr. Rumbaugh with a parade.”
July 11, 2021
Adopt a Vet Dental Program Celebrates Becoming a Statewide Program
Las Vegas, Nev. — Adopt a Vet Dental Program is excited to announce they will be opening a second program location in Las Vegas, Nevada, becoming a statewide resource for low-income veterans in need of dental care. This achievement will be marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 12 at 8:30 a.m. in partnership with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce at 2955 East Sunset Road, Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89120-2725.
“We are so excited to now be serving veterans in the whole state of Nevada,” Deme Gonzalez, Executive Director of AAVD said. “As a retired Navy Corpsman, I know how critical access to dental care is for the overall health of a person and due to the gaps in our system, it’s something many veterans — especially those on fixed incomes — can’t afford.”
Join AAVD as they commemorate the growth of their program with this ribbon cutting.
“I set out to start AAVD after discovering 60 veterans living in subsidized housing in Reno in need of emergency dental care. Now, we have served more than 1,450 veterans in 14 counties. This number will only grow. It’s been an honor to serve them,” Linda Haigh, President and Founder of AAVD said.
AAVD’s mission is to give free critical and life-saving dental care to impoverished veterans in Nevada. For the last eleven years, AAVD’s 130 providers have donated more than $7 million in care. Equipped with new smiles, veterans are able to continue their legacy of service by actively participating in their communities.
