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Police Activities League
Community Leader Honored With 'Bill Daniels Award'
Police Honor Community Leader With ‘Bill Daniels Award’
The Police Activities League and the Denver Police Foundation recently presented the First Annual “Bill Daniels Award” to Dr. Rick A. Kushner of Comfort Dental during the Police Officer’s Ball at the Westin Tabor Center.
The Police Activities League is a non profit charitable organization established in 1969 to provide recreational, educational and athletic sports programs to deserving youth. The Police Officer's Foundation supports and benefits Denver Law Enforcement by providing assistance to Denver Police officers and their families when needs arise due to death, disability, illness, injury, or similar catastrophic circumstances.
“These two organizations show the tremendous heart behind the work of the Denver Police,” said former Denver Bronco Haven Moses, who is the development director for the Police Activities League. “By reaching out to at-risk youth, and providing care and concern to officers and families in need, these organizations benefit countless lives,” he added.
Dr. Kushner has been a practicing dentist in Denver since 1977. He is the President and CEO of Comfort Dental, which operates 30 offices and orthodontic practices, employing 90 owner/partner dentists and over 400 employees.
Hank Brown, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, presented the Bill Daniels Award and pointed out that Dr. Kushner and his associates have given back to the community in extraordinary ways:
In 1981, Dr. Kushner initiated an annual “Free Care Day” to provide dental services for low-income families. To date, Dr. Kushner and the dedicated staff of Comfort Dental have provided more than 20,000 patients with free dental services.
Dr. Kushner and the Comfort Dental Group have promoted and encouraged youth sports activities. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Kushner and his associates have sponsored more than 50,000 kids and have provided more than $250,000 in funding by sponsoring high school teams in Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, and Junior Golf.
Currently Comfort Dental is the sole sponsor for the Metro Wide YMCA basketball program, buying uniforms and providing scholarships through their “Every Kid Plays” program for young people who would otherwise not be able to participate. This program has benefited an amazing 20,000 youth since its inception.
They also sponsor the “Junior Nuggets” program and the Colorado Rockies “Junior Starting Lineup,” which provides junior baseball teams the opportunity to be introduced on the field with Colorado Rockies players and receive and official Colorado Rockies Jersey.
Dr. Kushner’s generosity and community commitment extends far beyond youth activities.
He has endowed the University of Colorado School of Dentistry with a $100,000 scholarship.
He has made more than $50,000 in contributions to the Mount St. Vincent Children’s Home and established a scholarship foundation for area high school seniors funding more than $30,000 in awards to assist students who select health care careers and would otherwise have difficulty affording college.
A professional associate described Dr. Kushner as “the one who is always there for everyone else and never asks for anything in return.” He exemplifies the character and personal commitment to community that distinguished Bill Daniels throughout his life.
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