The Wang YMCA Holiday Party is an annual event full of festivities for children and their families. For the last nine years, GSDM students have volunteered at the event, where children enjoy playing games, eating holiday food, and seeing Santa before getting a Christmas gift. This year, more than 700 children and families participated in the event.
The GSDM ADSO volunteers set up tables with various interactive oral healthcare activities for the children and their families. The GSDM ADSO volunteers also handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste to all event-goers. The volunteers served as fantastic role models to the children in attendance by promoting things such as doing well in school, seeking a career, and positive oral health habits.
The Wang YMCA was decorated with balloons, a Christmas tree, and other fun holiday decorations for the Holiday Party. A bouncy house, face painting, and other children’s 
activities were also set up for children and their families to participate in.
“I would like to extend a big thank you to all the GSDM student volunteers that took part in the Wang YMCA Holiday Party,” said Ms. Lituri. “It was clear that all of the GSDM volunteers connected with the children and their families, and I am confident that they had a lasting impact on them.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter remarked, “The efforts of the GSDM ADSO students in promoting oral health to the local community at the Wang YMCA Holiday Party are highly valued and greatly appreciated.”