It’s often said that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the importance of giving back. 

But why limit acts of goodwill to the last few months of the year when we can spread joy and make a difference year-round? At Tokuyama Dental America, our commitment to philanthropy extends beyond the holiday season. We believe in dedicating our time, resources, and energy to local nonprofits, ensuring our community is always at the heart of our mission.

As Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to forget that life isn’t a race or a competition—it’s a journey that we all take together. At Tokuyama, we see it as our duty to lift one another up. We strive to make this journey easier and more fulfilling for others by offering whatever we can to those in need.

One of the ways we do this is by partnering with local nonprofits to provide composite materials for free or at low-cost through our Tokuyama Empowers program. For instance, we partner with California CareForce (CCF) based right here in our backyard. CCF has multiple clinics staffed by hundreds of licensed volunteer healthcare professionals and general community members and is 100% funded by donations, grants, foundations, and sponsorships. Tokuyama Empowers has aided in providing restorative material to California CareForce, assisting in their total donations of more than $17,044,000 worth of care to those in need. Another organization we work closely with is Healthcare for the Homeless, an organization that provides free dental services to individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The impact of these services is life-changing, both mentally and financially. To illustrate, here’s a powerful story from Healthcare for the Homeless that demonstrates the profound effect a dental procedure can have:

Susan came to Healthcare for the Homeless in search of dental work as her mouth had “been a source of both physical and emotional pain.” After a year of working with both her dentist and case manager, Susan looked at herself and started to cry. Thinking she was in pain or that something needed to be adjusted, Dr. Grygo asked, “What’s wrong? Does everything feel okay?” Susan looked at Dr. Grygo. “Thank you,” she said. “I feel human again.”

Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston

California CareForce - Official Home Page

Building on our ongoing commitment to service at a more local level, most recently, our team continued the yearly tradition of dedicating time at the San Diego Food Bank, helping pack 420 boxes of food, approximately 5,040 meals, to donate to those in need.

The purpose of this blog is to inspire others and demonstrate the ripple effect that every contribution—no matter how big or small—can have on a community. By sharing these stories, we hope to encourage more people to join us in making a positive impact.

We are incredibly fortunate to have the ability to donate dental products, and even more fortunate to witness the joy and transformation that these efforts bring to patients. Seeing their happiness firsthand is a reward in itself, reminding us all of the power of service, the impact we can have, and how far we can travel, when we travel together.

If you would like to take action in your own community and find ways to volunteer check out the following links….

Take Action | Feeding America

Unified Volunteers - UVP UNV

Volunteers of America