O
ften times, one thinks
that medical researchers
and scientists are the ones
changing the world with their
new medical discoveries and technologies.
Although that may be true, Pensacola’s
own Dr. Ben Fishbein has made a mark
in changing the world, starting in his
own clinics in his own town. Fishbein
Orthodontics has always been charitable
with time and financial resources for many
causes. However, Dr. Fishbein has found a
way to do even more charitably by creating
the Fishbein Foundation.
The Fisbein Foundation still assists
many of the local causes that Dr.
Fishbein has supported in the past but
the foundation has a goal to do more to
combat the enormously high statistics
related to school-age bullying. Bullying is a
nationwide epidemic that over 3.2 million
students report being victims of each year.
The Fishbein Foundation’s EmBraces
campaign aims to facilitate that goal. Their
anti-bullying initiative aims to build a
network of young ambassadors that spread
positivity and educate the importance of
embracing others. Throughout the school
year, EmBraces will award full orthodontic
treatment to three chosen applicants
who shared their story of overcoming
a bullying-related struggle and made a
positive impact for themselves or others.
These students will receive treatment free
of cost from Fishbein Orthodontics and
become the start of a team of young do-
gooders in the community that will go on
to help their peers learn more about why
it’s important for people to embrace each
other. In 2018, six students began free
treatment through the EmBraces initiative.
The Fishbein Foundation believes
everyone should have access to quality
orthodontic care and a beautiful healthy
smile to be proud of. For these reasons,
they have committed to providing $1M
in free orthodontic card over the next 5
years to children, teens, and adults in
the community. Aliza Ray, director of
markeing for Fisbein Orthodontics stated,
“Our business is making people smile. Not
only by watching people gain confidence
through their ortho journey but also by
helping an abandoned puppy find a home,
by giving a student the self-assurance to
stand up to bullying and assisting with
financial support for those in need is why
we created the Fishbein Foundation – our
non-profit organization that allows us to
accomplish these things and more.”
story by
Greg Alexander
|
photos provided by
Fishbein Foundation
64 | VIPPensacola.com
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