Start a Smile Foundation

Introducing Fry Orthodontic Specialists, Start a Smile Foundation

Since 2009, Fry Orthodontic Specialists has been providing free braces to deserving young people through the Start a Smile Foundation, formerly known as Smile for a Lifetime-KC. Starting with 2 scholarships per quarter, we have grown and now awarding 80 scholarships per year! We are honored to have provided over $2,500,000 worth of smiles to deserving kids throughout Kansas City! At Fry Orthodontics, we use the phrase: “Your Smile is Just the Start.” This tag line represents the countless opportunities a smile can provide someone, and we believe this is our professional and social mission as we evolve and grow as a business. The name Start a Smile derives from our tagline “your smile is just the start”. It is our core belief that a beautiful smile can truly change someone’s life by providing hope for a better future.

Start your Application Today

At Fry Orthodontics, we believe:

“Your Smile is Just the Start”.

This represents the countless opportunities that a smile can provide someone, and we believe that this is our professional and social mission as we evolve and grow as a business.

The Gift of Start a Smile Foundation

If you or someone you know, in the Kansas City area, could benefit from the gift of a smile, please fill out or encourage them to fill out the application. This is open to all surrounding Kansas City cities and towns.

A few notes about the application process:

Children ages 17 or younger are eligible to apply for a braces scholarship.
Letters of recommendation are needed. Please submit no more than two letters, no more than one page in length. Be sure that the letters are either typed or neatly written in black ink. The letters of recommendation should be written by a non-family member such as a school counselor, pastor, or neighbor.
Please submit clear, high-quality pictures of your teeth. As this is a need-based scholarship, we must be able to accurately assess your orthodontic need in order for consideration.
Once submitted, the application, pictures, and letters of recommendation become the sole property of the Start a Smile Foundation and will not be returned. Please keep copies of all items submitted for your records.
We ask that you be a resident of the Kansas City area.

Incomplete applications and applicants that do not meet the above requirements will not be voted upon by the Board of Directors. The Board shall meet quarterly to determine and distribute awards and award notifications. Questions regarding the Start a Smile program? Email us or call 913-298-2734.

Start a Smile

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START A SMILE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

You must submit a series of two photos:

A head-shot photo of the applicant with a full smile and teeth showing.
An up close photo of the applicant’s mouth wide open and teeth showing.
You must have two letters of reference (these letters cannot be from a family member, they must be from a family friend, neighbor, teacher, etc.)

The four items above must be included with this completed application and Supplemental Questionnaire sheets.

APPLICANT AGE MUST BE 17 YEARS OR YOUNGER.

Application Due Dates:

January - March 31 (April Selection)
February - June 30 (July Selection)
July 1 - September 30 (October Selection)
October 1 - December 31 (January Selection)

Applicant Information

Full Name(Required)

Application Date(Required)

Applicant Age(Required)

Date of Birth(Required)

Grade Level(Required)

Gender(Required)

Male

Female

Address(Required)

City(Required)

State(Required)

Zip(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Number in Household(Required)

Parent/Guardian Information

Parent/Guardian Name(Required)

Street Address (if different than applicant)(Required)

City(Required)

State(Required)

Zip(Required)

Relationship to Applicant(Required)

Phone (Home)(Required)

Phone (Cell)(Required)

Parent/Guardian Email(Required)

Applicant Email(Required)

Annual Household Income(Required)

Does the Applicant qualify for KanCare or Missouri Healthnet for Kids?(Required)

Yes

Is applicant covered by dental and/or orthodontic insurance?(Required)

Yes

If Yes, please specify company and policy ID#

Has applicant applied for Start a Smile (or Smile for a Lifetime) in the last 12 months?(Required)

Yes

Reference Letter #1(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Reference Letter #2(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Close Up Photo(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Headshot Photo(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

*All applicants, pictures and supporting documents will not be returned; thus becoming the property of the Start a Smile Foundation. Notification of the scholarships will be made immediately following a quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors (as the schedule indicates below). If you are not selected, the letters of reference and photos will be kept for one year, but a new application will need to be submitted. We encourage you to reapply.

Application Questionnaire

Applicant Questionnaire must be hand written and answered by applicant only.

Questionnaires that are submitted and completed by someone other than the applicant will be disqualified.

What would it mean to you if you received orthodontic treatment through Start a Smile? Why do you feel you are a deserving candidate for Start a Smile?(Required)

Tell us about yourself. What do you like to do? What extracurricular activities do you participate in? Do you do any community service or volunteer work? What are your goals and aspirations?(Required)

Tell us about your family. How many people live with you and who are they?(Required)

Why do you want braces? What prevents you from getting braces now? How do you feel about your smile now? How do you think braces will improve your life now and in the future.(Required)

If you had a chance to do a favor for another person/organization, without any expectation of being paid back, what would you do and why?(Required)