The L.A. Trust and Mark Ridley-Thomas protect Wellness Centers with PPE

Maryjane Puffer of The L.A. Trust distributes protective masks to Dr. Anitha L. Mullangi, MD, MHCM, chief medical officer of St. John’s Well Child and Family Centers.

The L.A. Trust and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas have joined forces to distribute 5,000 N95 protective masks to frontline workers at L.A. Unified Wellness Centers in the 2nd Supervisorial District. Ridley-Thomas will join the L.A. City Council next year.

A total of 1,300 masks were distributed by Ridley-Thomas to the mobile clinic at Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High operated by T.H.E. (To Help Everyone) as part of a socially distanced get-together November 2.

Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust, has taken personal charge of distributing the remainder of the critically important personal protective equipment, stopping at South Central Family Health Center at Jefferson High School and then at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, where she was met by Dr. Anitha L. Mullangi, MD, MHCM, the group’s chief medical officer.

“We take care of our providers”

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said, “School-based health centers are culturally sensitive, safe and accessible places where high-quality care is being provided to students and families, oftentimes in areas that have historically suffered from inadequate access to quality care. The pandemic has only exacerbated health disparities and made the need for these services more profound.”

He added that “youth are not immune to this virus and we also know that this pandemic has created serious mental health impacts for youth that require attention. We can’t grow complacent about making sure that the providers in these settings continue to be equipped for the job,” he said. “We take care of our providers, so they can take care of our communities.”

Puffer agreed. “It is critical that we protect our frontline heroes right now. I want to thank our Wellness Center staff for fighting this pandemic in our communities, and I want to salute Supervisor Ridley-Thomas and his team for backing them up with this protective equipment and support.”

The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will help kids brush up on oral health

Who flosses after every meal? The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will advance oral health Saturday, February 22 at Dodger Stadium.

Students and their families will join oral health providers and Los Angeles Tooth Fairy Maryjane Puffer at The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event, Saturday, February 22 at Dodger Stadium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fifth annual event is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s annual “Move It!” Health and Wellness Festival and 5K, attracting more than 5,000 kids and family members. 

In addition to the 5K walk/run course, the Festival will include live entertainment, food trucks, fitness and dance classes, celebrity appearances, free stadium parking, booths from health providers and an interactive Kids Zone featuring games, face painting, an obstacle course, sports clinics and more. 

The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event will be a key component of this high-profile community event, featuring free dental screenings, prizes and giveaways, photo opps and character appearances by Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster and others.

It’s fun-ucational

The Tooth Fairy Event will spotlight oral health information and booths hosted by L.A.’s leading oral healthcare organizations, including the Title Sponsor, UCLA-led consortium More LA Smiles. Other event sponsors include Big Smiles Dental, Liberty Dental Plan, the office of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, America’s Toothfairy, Cedars-Sinai, East West Bank, Patterson Dental and Premier Access Dental.

Sponsorship opportunities for The L.A. Tooth Fairy Event are still available; please contact Anna Baum of The L.A. Trust by Friday, January 31.  

Registration is not required for the Festival—pre-registration is required for entering the race.

“February is National Children’s Dental Health Month,” said Maryjane Puffer, L.A.’s top Tooth Fairy and executive director of The L.A. Trust. “There’s no better time — and no better place — to promote the lifelong benefits of good oral health to children, adults, and caregivers than The L.A. Trust Tooth Fairy Event!”

“We have a lot of fun surprises planned for this year’s event,” said Stella Kim, associate program director at The L.A. Trust. “Program Manager Esther Yepez and I will be on hand with every member of The L.A. Trust staff to ensure everyone has a great time and learns more about oral health.”