Something to smile about at Niagara

Published June 27, 2014
By Peter Borys
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Everyone at the base here has something to smile about because of Operation Whiter-Brighter. Now in its seventh year, the program at Advanced Dental of Niagara Falls, New York, offers professional whitening at a greatly reduced cost to all patients and 100 percent of the proceeds from the program are donated to the base Family Readiness Center.

This year's campaign raised more than $3,600.00 for various programs to benefit local military members and their families.

"I'm grateful to our team and our patients who helped this year's campaign be so successful," said Dr. Stuart Weinstein, owner of the Advanced Dental Center.

Capt. Gina Pizziconi Cupples, the president of Friends of Family Support Association, gives a lot of credit to Mary Grace Scarpelli, a member of Dr. Weinstein's team at Advanced Dental.

"She is the engine behind Operation Whiter-Brighter and is a proud family member of Air Force reservists," said Pizziconi Cupples. Her husband, Anthony, was previously a loadmaster assigned to the 328th Airlift Squadron and currently has a son, Francesco, who is a nurse assigned to the 914th Aeromedical Staging Squadron.

"Reservists and her passion to support those who serve is evident through her superior leadership and management of this fantastic program," added Pizziconi Cupples.

The annual Operation Whiter-Brighter donation to FFSA allows the organization to meet the immediate financial needs of Airmen in an emergency situation as a step towards a lasting solution. FFSA purchases and provides food cards to the Airmen & Family Readiness Offices assigned to the 914th and 107th Airlift Wings. Airmen in need of immediate assistance are able to visit the offices to receive food cards for grocery establishments. A&FR works with Airmen to ensure they receive financial counseling and financial planning assistance. This extra measure assists with the development of a long term solution for the immediate financial emergency.

Pizziconi Cupples stressed, "The goal of Friends of Family Support Association is to build healthy, resilient military families." In 2013 FFSA provided $4,000 in food cards to more than150 Airmen at this base.

Operation Whiter-Brighter provided FFSA the most significant, single, annual donation.

FFSA actively seek to expand their team; volunteers are welcome. Their volunteer opportunities also provide a vehicle to obtain community service credit for high school students.

Contact Friends of Family Support Association at 716-236-6339 or 716-236-2097 for more information or to sign up for a volunteer opportunity.