Heraeus' Venus White® Brand Named the Official Whitening Fundraising Partner of Give Back a Smile

Number one whitening brand sold through dealers joins the effort to restore smiles to victims of intimate partner violence

News provided by

Heraeus Kulzer, LLC

Apr 16, 2012, 04:55 ET

SOUTH BEND, Ind., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide leader in dental esthetics, announced today that its Venus White Teeth Whitening Systems brand has been named the new Official Whitening Fundraising Partner of Give Back a Smile (GBAS). GBAS was founded by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) Charitable Foundation to restore the damaged smiles of adult survivors of intimate partner violence.

Since the launch of GBAS in 1999, AACD dentists, laboratory technicians and other dental professionals have volunteered their time and expertise on a pro bono basis to restore the smiles of more than 1,200 domestic abuse survivors for a total dollar value of almost $12 million. There are currently around 300 applicants who are being treated throughout the United States and Canada.

Heraeus will donate Venus White teeth whitening systems to participating dental practices that pledge to donate proceeds directly to GBAS when they perform whitening treatments for their patients.

In addition, approximately 20% of the program's annual expenses are financed by the Give Back a Smile Whitening Fundraiser, which raises money through walks and other money-raising events conducted by participating dental practices and dental labs. In 2011, these efforts raised nearly $20,000, which helped restore the damaged smiles of approximately 100 survivors of intimate partner violence.

Heraeus' support of GBAS will be formally acknowledged at the AACD Annual Meeting May 2-5 in Washington, D.C.

"We are extremely proud to be associated with such a worthwhile cause," said Christopher Holden, Heraeus President. "Our company has a long tradition of helping dental practices and laboratories transform the lives of their patients, and there is no more important way to pursue that goal than to care for victims of intimate partner violence."

Those wanting to make a donation to GBAS can do so online, or mail a check to Give Back a Smile, 402 West Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703.

For more information on Heraeus or its products, call (800) 431-1785 or visit www.heraeusdentalusa.com.

About Heraeus

Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company with 160 years of tradition. Our fields of competence include precious metals, materials, and technologies, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as dental products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources. With product revenues of euro 4.1 billion and precious metal trading revenues of euro 17.9 billion, as well as more than 12,900 employees in over 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets.

SOURCE Heraeus Kulzer, LLC