Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation has created an endowed scholarship for residents in the School of Dental Medicine’s pediatric dentistry residency program. The initiative aims to support education and training in pediatric dentistry, a field that plays an important role in improving children’s health across Long Island and other regions.
Adventureland, located in Farmingdale, New York, is a family amusement park. The Helping Hands Foundation was established by the Gentile family in 2013 to honor Tony Gentile, Adventureland’s co-founder. Since its founding, the foundation has supported various local health and education efforts as part of its broader mission to benefit families in the community.
Anthony Gentile, who is affiliated with Sachem Dental Group, saw an opportunity to expand the foundation’s impact through participation in two funding matches: the New York State endowment match program and the Simons Infinity Investment Match Challenge. With inspiration from Sachem Dental Group’s history of supporting dental education at Stony Brook University, Anthony Gentile encouraged his brother Steve—president of Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation—to join this effort.
“We are deeply grateful to Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation for this meaningful gift,” said Patrick Lloyd, dean of the School of Dental Medicine. “This scholarship will support our students as they become leaders in pediatric dentistry — wherever they choose to practice — and will leave a lasting imprint on the lives of countless children and families.”
More information can be found at Stony Brook Matters.