'Ugly Betty' Star America Ferrera's $10 Million Smile Helps Aquafresh(R) White Trays(TM) Raise Money for Smiles for Success

'Ugly Betty' Star America Ferrera's $10 Million Smile Helps Aquafresh(R) White Trays(TM) Raise Money for Smiles for Success

Organization is Presented with Its Largest Single Donation To Date

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- There are a lot more women smiling today! Aquafresh White Trays has contributed $100,000 to Smiles for Success, a nationwide organization that provides free dental care for women transitioning from welfare to work. This is the largest single donation the non-profit organization has ever received.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071114/NYW011 )

In May, Aquafresh White Trays insured America Ferrera's smile for $10 million through Lloyds of London to raise awareness for this worthwhile cause and asked people across the country to support the donation by purchasing the new tooth whitening tray treatment or entering the Aquafresh White Trays' "Beauty that Fits Sweepstakes" for the chance to meet America behind the scenes of "Ugly Betty." For each person that either purchased products or entered the sweepstakes, $1 was contributed to Smiles for Success, up to $100,000. The response was overwhelming and the maximum $100,000 was achieved.

"Smiles for Success works to renew the spirit and self-confidence of these women," said Ms. Ferrera. "I was very pleased to join Aquafresh White Trays in the campaign to raise awareness and money for this cause."

Women having job interviews for the first time with decayed, missing or damaged teeth are often self-conscious and embarrassed. In addition to coping with oral pain, these women may try to hide their smiles making it more difficult for them to put their best foot forward during the job search.

Kari's Story

One woman whose life was dramatically changed as a result of the Aquafresh White Trays donation is Kari Thumlert, who has struggled with dental problems since childhood. Growing up in an economically disadvantaged family, Kari was unable to receive proper dental care. Kari's father died soon after she was born and her mom worked two jobs just to make ends meet. Her dental troubles began at age seven when she chipped her right front tooth after a fall on a school playground. She unfortunately had to go to a dentist who her mother could afford to get the tooth repaired, and a few years later it turned yellow. She grew up with the nickname corn tooth and no longer smiled. By age 14, she often skipped school because she dreaded being teased. Then, she had to have braces and the orthodontist decided the yellowed front tooth had to be pulled. He attached a tooth to a brace so she wouldn't be toothless and Kari acquired new nicknames -- jaws and metal mouth. At age 18, the braces came off and she got a retainer with a tooth on it. Because of her inadequate education, Kari ended up with minimum wage jobs that didn't offer dental insurance. In seeking a more permanent solution, she found a dental office with an in-house payment plan and had a bridge made. However, it was too large and she couldn't afford the additional money the dentist wanted to fix it. Kari lived with the ill-fitting bridge for 18 years; and because it was too big, it shifted to the left and so did her teeth causing an overbite and a big gap in the front of her teeth.

Kari's dental problems made her self-conscious and she constantly covered her mouth when she smiled. Her lifelong dream of becoming a broadcast journalist remained in her heart until one day six years ago, when Kari realized that living paycheck to paycheck was not going to allow her to save for a retirement or buy a home. By relying heavily on financial aid, Kari was able to enroll in college, first taking many remedial classes needed to bring her pre-college education up to standard. She is currently in her senior year and will receive a BA in journalism.

Through her own hard work, Kari was very close to fulfilling her career aspirations. One obstacle still stood in her way -- her smile. However, after extensive dental work and plastic surgery paid for by Smiles for Success and with time donated by her team of Smiles for Success dentists, Kari, for the first time in many years, has a smile of which she can really be proud. Kari is now pursuing a lifelong dream of being a broadcast journalist.

To help Kari celebrate her new look and renewed self-confidence, America Ferrera will welcome her behind-the-scenes of her hit television show, "Ugly Betty." Also joining Kari and America on the set visit is Michael Simmons of Verona, Pa., who contributed to the cause and took home the sweepstakes grand prize.

"On behalf of the Aquafresh White Trays team, I am thrilled that our campaign, in partnership with America Ferrera, helped put a smile on more faces through Smiles for Success," said Michele Klingensmith, senior brand manager for Aquafresh White Trays. "We could not have reached our goal without the help of everyone who purchased Aquafresh White Trays and entered our sweepstakes, so thank you."

About Aquafresh White Trays

Designed by cosmetic dentists, Aquafresh White Trays deliver an easy-to-use whitening experience for anyone looking to get a brighter, whiter smile quickly. Unlike whitening strips and paint-on gels, you only have to use Aquafresh White Trays once a day, with visible results in as little as three days, full results in seven. These pre-filled, ready-to-use disposable trays are soft and thin for a custom fit. Plus their flexible design helps the trays stay put so the whitening gel goes where it's supposed to go.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples, Abreva(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R) and Tums(R), which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies, is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

About Smiles for Success

Smiles for Success was established in 1995 by members from the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD). Smiles for Success offers cost-free dental care to women graduates of accredited job readiness and placement programs, or other community-based agencies, religious institutions or rehabilitative systems. While restoring oral health and a pretty smile, Smiles for Success gives participants a competitive edge in the job market by enhancing their appearance and assurance.

About "Ugly Betty"

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry Rebecca Romijn as Alexis and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Freddy Rodriguez is a recurring guest star as Gio.

Based on "Yo Soy Betty La Fea," the groundbreaking Colombian telenovela that became an international phenomenon, "Ugly Betty" is from ABC Studios. This past season the series was awarded Golden Globe, Peabody, NAACP, ALMA and Imagen Awards, and earned 11 Emmy nominations, the most for any comedy series on any network. Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award winner Salma Hayek is executive producer, along with Silvio Horta ("Urban Legend"), Marco Pennette ("Caroline in the City"), Jose Tamez ("The Maldonado Miracle") and James Hayman ("Joan of Arcadia").

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071114/NYW011
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Aquafresh White Trays

CONTACT: Marissa Festante of Marina Maher Communications Inc. for
Aquafresh White Trays, +1-212-485-6819, mfestante@mahercomm.com; or Lori Lukus
of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, +1-412-200-3543, lori.h.lukus@gsk.com

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Profile: International Entertainment