Students Organize School Charity Gala

Leslie Yuan, a second-year dental student at UNC, says she and other students spend much of their time volunteering at the Dental Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) clinic.

With this outreach and other responsibilities during the academic year, students, faculty and staff at the School of Dentistry have limited opportunities to get together as a community and just enjoy time together.

So why not sponsor an event that combines the opportunity to socialize and help a good cause? Yuan and other members of the DDS Class of 2013 (Abbey Hawkins, Lauren Hollowell, Sarah Lee, Jessica Moshir and Holly Parsons) are sponsoring the the school’s First Annual Charity Gala from 8 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 1, with proceeds benefiting Dental SHAC. The location will be the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel at One Europa Drive.

“Having more funds could help us logistically, and also we could use the money to buy instruments and materials,” she says. “In addition, there is always an overabundance of volunteers at dental SHAC, but not enough space. It would be amazing if we could serve more people in the community with our funds.”

Individual tickets are $20, with group tickets available for $17.50 per person; all tickets must be purchased beforehand. Those interested in purchasing tickets can bring their cash payments or checks to the student lounge on the third floor of Old Dental Building from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21-23 or e-mail Yuan at other times for more information. Checks should be made payable to the Dental Foundation of North Carolina.

“I think UNC Dental has so much to offer; I loved the idea of a ‘dental dance’ and felt the school really needed an event like this – to bring everyone together in a non-dental setting,” Yuan says. “There are so few opportunities after college to attend something like this.”

She adds that the event is open to all members of the dental school community, as well as anyone who supports the school and Dental SHAC.

“I fondly like to call the gala an event for the dental community and those who love them – meaning people can bring their significant others and friends from outside the school, too!” says Yuan.

Cocktail attire is requested, and the evening will include music, dancing, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres.