In
1998, Alireza Parhizkari, D.D.S. decided to donate his time and dental expertise
to volunteer at a small community health fair. There, Dr. Parhizkari treated individuals
suffering from intense dental pain. Their quality of living had been drastically
reduced by untreated oral problems. Parhizkari was in disbelief. "With
the amount of wealth and resources in this area, it's staggering to have these
conditions. It is a total shock."
When he received numerous requests
to perform additional charitable work, he felt compelled to respond to the suffering
all around him. For Parhizkari and co-founder Mike Reza, the desperation of those
individuals, especially children, to be relieved of their dental pain was heartbreaking.
Gradually, Dr. Parhizkari began devoting more and more of his time to volunteering
in the East San Jose School District, Alum Rock. Ultimately, in October of 1999,
his passion was officially transformed into Tooth Mobile-a 501 ©3 non-profit
organization. In its infancy, Tooth Mobile operated as a single mobile dental
clinic, and was financially supported by the private funds of Dr. Parhizkari,
who served as both the Executive Director and primary dentist alongside President,
Mike Reza. Today, Tooth Mobile operates three mobile dental units and is
currently designing two more. Traveling throughout California to schools, community
centers, rural and urban areas, migrant camps, and health fairs, we provide dental
care to thousands of the state's underprivileged children. |
