Meet the Founders
The Giving A Smile Foundation began with a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves access to quality dental care- regardless of their background. Founded by brothers Dr. Rodney Raanan and Dr. Justin Raanan, the foundation was inspired by their own upbringing. As the sons of immigrant parents, they grew up understanding what it means to go without. They saw how hard their parents worked and how difficult it was for others to access even basic care. Those early experiences shaped their commitment to serve others.
Since launching, the foundation has provided care to more than 3,000 children- and we’re just getting started. The need is great, but so is the potential. We're inviting volunteers, supporters, and community partners to help us expand this work. Together, we can create a future where every child has a reason to smile.
“ Drs. Rodney and Justin Raanan don’t measure their success by how much they earn but rather by the number of young lives they are able to touch. They demonstrate this by volunteering and dedicating their money, time, and talent to help improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations in our community. ”
-Kuliema Blueford, Board of Directors
Creating Smiles Through Community
Giving A Smile Foundation brings together young people, community partners, and dedicated dental professionals to make quality dental care more accessible. Our clinics provide children and young adults with comprehensive dental services at no cost while creating a welcoming, supportive experience centered on education, prevention, and healthy smiles.
Together, our patients, volunteers, partners, and dental professionals are building healthier smiles and brighter futures throughout Los Angeles County.
HSDM Alumni Advancing the Giving A Smile Mission
Dr. Rodney Raanan and Dr. Justin Raanan recently returned to Harvard School of Dental Medicine to reconnect with the HSDM community and share updates on the continued work and growth of Giving A Smile Foundation.
The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the Harvard Dental community, discuss GASF’s vision for the future, and explore opportunities for continued engagement and collaboration.