Program Details:

The Rotary Clubs in the county seat of Jefferson County, Williamson County, and Jackson County have formed a program partnership with Klein and Cook Orthodontics, LLC. Each of the participating Rotary Clubs utilize existing committees, or have established new committees as they see fit, to administer the program in their respective counties. The scholarship program is designed to be a quarterly scholarship program. Four scholarships will be awarded per year in each of the three counties (a combined total of twelve scholarships per year). Scholarships will be awarded in January, April, July, and October of each year.

Applicants will be able to download an application on the Klein and Cook Orthodontic website or the Rotary website of the county where they reside after July 1st, 2009

The applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Applicants must have resided in the county one year or greater.

2. Applicants must be between the ages of 10 & 18.

3. Applicant's parents must have a combined income that is lower than 150% of the Federal poverty level. If the applicant qualifies for free or reduced school lunches, they may be eligible.

A complete application will contain the following:

1. A current photo.

2. Age and locator information (i.e. phone number, e-mail, address, etc.).

3. Paragraph written by the applicant about how the scholarship will benefit them.

4. Two letters of recommendation (preferably from a dentist, teacher, clergy, etc.).

5. Verification of parent’s income in the form of the previous year’s complete tax returns (including W-2, etc.). Current paystub or other pertinent financial information must be made available upon request.

6. Agreement that the application and photos become the property of the scholarship program committee and will not be returned to applicant.

7. Signed consent to use the names and photos of the scholarship recipient for professional presentations and to announce the recipient on Klein and Cook Orthodontic and Rotary websites.

All applications need to be mailed to the local Rotary Club. Applications will be considered active for one calendar year and will be inactivated thereafter. Applicants may reapply as many times as they wish.

The Smiles of Hope Scholarship Program selection committee for each county will meet quarterly to review all applications and identify a scholarship recipient candidate for each county who meets the financial criteria (a total of three candidates – one in each county). The committees will contact Klein and Cook Orthodontics with the contact information of the scholarship candidate. Klein and Cook Orthodontics will invite the candidates to come for a screening as soon as possible. Complimentary orthodontic records will be taken on these candidates and reviewed to determine their current orthodontic need (i.e. would benefit from treatment within the following 12 months), the severity of their need, and to ensure an adequate level of dental health is met (i.e. lack of adequate oral hygiene, or severe dental decay would make a candidate ineligible for treatment). After the screening has been completed, Klein and Cook Orthodontics will advise the committees if the candidates are eligible. The scholarship program committees will then award the recipient of the scholarship for their county once their financial and orthodontic needs are verified. If the initial candidate in a county is deemed ineligible due to orthodontic need or dental health, the appropriate committee will be contacted to submit a second candidate. Candidates will remain in the applicant pool until their application is inactivated one year after its submission.

Klein and Cook Orthodontics will contact the recipient of the Smiles of Hope Scholarship to make treatment arrangements. Treatment will begin as soon as any needed dental treatment is completed and the patient is deemed ready for treatment. The scholarship recipient has one calendar year from the time the scholarship is awarded to begin treatment. If the scholarship recipient is not ready for treatment for whatever reason, or does not have necessary dental work completed in time to begin treatment during the following calendar year, the scholarship will become invalid. The scholarships will only include current orthodontic needs (i.e. either current phase treatment needs or full treatment), one set of retainers, and one year of post orthodontic retainer supervision. Any other future orthodontic needs will be offered at the current treatment fee at the time they are required. This includes replacement of lost or broken retainers, retreatment of orthodontic relapse, subsequent phase treatment, or follow-up orthodontic needs.

Drs. Klein and Cook are pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in such a worthy cause that will make a lasting positive impact on the lives of all who are involved in the Smiles of Hope Scholarship Program.