How PDS Health Is Setting the Standard for Corporate Volunteering and Community Engagement

DSO Spotlight

PDS Health®, a provider of integrated healthcare support services, has once again earned national recognition for its commitment to corporate citizenship and community engagement. For the second consecutive year, PDS Health has been named to The Civic 50 list by Points of Light, a prestigious honor that distinguishes the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.

Recognized for Strategic Volunteering

In addition to securing a place on The Civic 50, PDS Health was awarded the exclusive Strategic Volunteering Award, a distinction reserved for companies that go beyond traditional models of volunteerism. This award recognizes organizations that embed service into the core of their business practices, empowering team members to drive sustained, measurable impact.

Now in its 13th year, The Civic 50 sets the national standard for corporate social responsibility by evaluating applicants across four key dimensions:

Resource Investment
Integration Across Business Functions
Institutionalized Systems
Impact Measurement

PDS Health’s recognition in these areas highlights its deep-rooted dedication to service as a business imperative rather than a standalone initiative.

National and Local Impact Through Strategic Partnerships

At the heart of PDS Health’s community efforts are its partnerships with impactful nonprofit organizations. The company collaborates with three national partners:

Together, these partnerships advance access to comprehensive healthcare, clean water, and inclusive programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

PDS Health team members participate in Stroll for Special Needs event.

PDS Health Raises Over $1.9 Million Through Smile Generation to Support charity: water’s Clean Water Projects

PDS Health®, through its consumer brand Smile Generation®, raised over $1.9 million in its 2025 charity: water campaign—the organization’s most successful to date. The nationwide initiative mobilized PDS Health’s network of dental and medical practices and their patients to fund long-term, community-owned clean water systems in Ethiopia, benefiting more than 48,000 people. Smile Generation leveraged its focus on whole-person health and the Mouth-Body Connection® to emphasize how clean water access directly supports community health, especially for women and girls who often bear the burden of water collection.

“We’ve been continually blown away by the dedication to our mission from our friends at Smile Generation and PDS Health over the last decade and a half,” said Scott Harrison, CEO of charity: water. “This year’s campaign was the single-most successful peer-to-peer fundraiser by a brand partner in the history of charity: water ― raising nearly $2 million to bring clean water to an estimated 48,905 people!”

This campaign reflects a 16-year partnership between PDS Health and charity: water, which has raised over $12.3 million and funded more than 500 water projects across six countries.

“Access to clean water is essential to health. This campaign reflects our broader mission to improve lives through better access to basic needs,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of PDS Health. “Much like PDS Health’s mission to improve the overall health of our patients through better access to quality care, charity: water is similarly committed to making a positive impact on the health of people it serves. We’re proud to continue this partnership that will improve the long-term health of thousands of people around the globe.”

Smile Generation-trusted practices also raised awareness of the fundamental role clean water plays in sustaining health and highlighted the particular benefit it will have on young women and girls, who spend the majority of their time traveling to get clean water for their families.

Beyond these flagship partnerships, PDS Health also works with:

KABOOM! – to build safe, inclusive playgrounds for children in underserved areas
Dental Lifeline Network – to provide critical dental care to those in need
Human-I-T – to help bridge the digital divide by redistributing technology to low-income communities

Measurable Service and Giving in 2024

In 2024 alone, PDS Health team members donated more than 117,000 volunteer hours through a wide range of local and national initiatives. Highlights include:

Smile Generation Serve Day: An annual, company-wide day of service that provided over $16.5 million in donated oral healthcare services to underserved patients across the country.
charity: water Campaign: PDS Health raised and contributed over $1.4 million toward clean water initiatives in Ethiopia.
PDS Health Foundation Contributions: More than $1.2 million was allocated to programs that include:
- Special needs dentistry
- Dental assisting scholarships
- International care through the Clínica Dental in Guatemala
- Advocacy work to expand access to oral healthcare

PDS Health also marked a milestone with its 20th playground build in partnership with KABOOM!, continuing its legacy of fostering safe environments for children in underserved communities.

Service as a Core Business Strategy

PDS Health’s approach to social impact is clear: service is not an add-on—it’s a business imperative. Through strategic volunteering, long-term nonprofit partnerships, and purpose-driven campaigns, the organization continues to demonstrate how DSOs can lead with values and deliver transformative change both locally and globally.