We are thrilled to continue our Wall of Fame again this year, recognizing some of our outstanding volunteers! Year after year, we continue to be incredibly humbled by the hundreds of selfless, generous, loving and gracious individuals that we are fortunate to partner with at our annual AZ Mission of Mercy event…we truly work alongside some of the very best out there!
It is a joy to place these individuals in the spotlight, and highlight the recognition they deserve, for going above and beyond in donating their time and talents. This month we are featuring Beth Wiand, shown below! We are deep in the planning stages for our 2017 annual event being held December 8th & 9th, so keep an eye out for more spotlights each month, as well as event details and registration coming soon.
THANK YOU to ALL of our volunteers for ALL that you do to help make AZMOM such a success, and we look forward to seeing everyone again this December 8th and 9th, 2017!!! #azmomcares
Beth Wiand
1- How many years have you been in dentistry? Formally 10, although my husband Tom has owned Wiand Dental Lab for 25 years so I have been involved in the background since we married in 1999.
2- Who do you currently work for, and what is your title? I currently work at Wiand Dental Lab, Inc. as the Director of Marketing and Sales. I would also say I am technically the Business Manager. You wear many hats running a small business.
3- How many AZMOM events have you worked? 5
4- Why is AZMOM important to you? It is important to me because I know that dental health affects a person’s overall health. When you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. And, I can’t imagine being in the pain we see some of these people in. Pain prevents people from functioning and having a normal life. Everyone deserves a normal, healthy life and the opportunity to live it to the fullest. For us personally, we make teeth. When someone is missing anterior teeth, it impacts so many areas of their life including their ability to get a job and their overall self-esteem. AZMOM allows us to provide teeth for those who could never afford them.
5- Is there a significant memory/patient, from any of the AZMOM events you have participated in, that stands out to you? What always stands out to me each year is when a patient feels compelled to visit with our lab technicians to personally say thank you to them. A volunteer escorts them to the lab area to connect with us. Sometimes they cry and tell their story, sometimes they shout thank you to everyone, sometimes they raise their hands and praise the Lord! Our amazing staff really cares and steps up for this event. While our staff is very talented, they are also really good people. It is rare that they get to see actual patients with their work in their mouths. They get this opportunity at AZMOM. There is no better feeling and I get full of pride for my technicians as I watch. It brings me joy!
6- What keeps you coming back to volunteer at AZMOM each year? I think what keeps me coming back is that I truly feel that one small act of kindness can transform someone’s life. Sometimes it just takes one thing to change the dynamics of someone’s circumstance and/or their outlook to be able to move forward and better themselves. In business, it is easy to get worn down from the negative things we deal with on a daily basis. But, when I see an entire industry ban together and give so much of their time and talent, I am restored. What happens at AZMOM every year is nothing short of miraculous. We want to be a part of that, because in the end, helping others is what matters most.
