Lawndale Christian Health Center.

In 1984 a group of residents of Chicago's Lawndale and Garfield communities spearheaded an effort to address the lack of affordable, quality health care services. With hands-on volunteers and a $150,000 grant, a former Cadillac dealership was transformed into what is now the Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC).

The Lawndale waiting room.

Over 80,000 patients are seen every year at the bustling clinic, including 3,300 dental visits. LCHC provides quality services without regard for a patient's ability to pay. Access to dental care for Chicago's west side residents—most of whom live below the federal poverty level—is a chronic need. In Lawndale, there is one dentist for every 7,000 people vs. one for every 1,300 in Chicago. The average wait for a dental visit is over nine months.


While need is great, resources are limited

Tom, Marybeth Chichester (Tom's of Maine Field Sales rep), and Whole Food employees.

Tom's Dental Health for All™ contribution has enabled much-needed expansion at the LCHC Homan Square dental facility. Three new dental chairs in refurbished treatment rooms will double the number of patient visits to 6,600 per year.

Says LCHC Director of Dentistry Rick Ziegler: "Our goal is to reach out and make ourselves more available to those who need us. We provide services at one-third to one-half the cost...and the only reason we can do this is because of the collaborative efforts of partners like Tom's." With its expansion of dental services, LCHC continues to serve its residents by providing a place where their diverse health care needs can be attended to in one location.

Tom speaking to the Lawndale group.

Celebrating the partnership

On January 21, dozens of dental health professionals, business leaders, staff and friends gathered to celebrate the expansion at LCHC's Homan Square location. Tom Chappell spoke of "the remarkable, tangible results of the Dental Health for All™ partnership," and welcomed retail partners like Whole Foods, who share the vision of both improving access to quality oral care and creating a platform for dental health education.