Congratulations to Betty Mahan!
We want to thank you everyone for submitting your nominations. The stories of all the individuals nominated were very touching and the gesture of your nomination speaks wonders for their person. If the person you selected does not turn out to be the recipient, you may resubmit a nomination.
Naumann Johnson’s Save a Smile program launched November 13th, 2009 and ran for 9 weeks. This was our first ever program of this kind and we plan to continue this program year round with the Selection Committee choosing one recipient every six months. Eventually, we hope that this program grows and is adopted by at least one orthodontist per county throughout the United States.
We would like to Congratulate Betty Mahan at this time as she was selected as our first ever Save a Smile Recipient!
Part of her story through the words of her nominators:
Victoria Morton writes...."Betty is a long time teacher who has trained and specialized in working with learning disabilities. She has volunteered to teach prisoners to read, an illiterate person has no good way to earn a decent living, she has turned many prisoners lives around. She's helped, over the years, many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of children live better llives by giving them the gift of reading. She makes it fun for them and has designed games that make them want to learn. Betty is the one who gets the 'impossible" kids. They learn to love her and they learn!"
Janet Morton writes..."She has NEVER given up trusting God even when things seemed so hopeless so many times. Betty is like the Energizer Bunny....she just keeps on ticking and doing what she can do to be a light to others!!! I don't hear her complain or blame others, but I certainly have seen her go without things for herself many, many times. It's been embarrassing for her to have a front tooth that seems to have "moved"....which has caused her to stop smiling."
Thank you for helping us help others. Giving the gift of a beautiful smile to someone who has created just as many for others is a tradition that we hope to continue for many years to come. For more information contact Grace Leutele NJO’s Public Relations Coordinator.