The Quadrant - Fall 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

Honoring the Legacy of Avalon Mayor Ralph Morrow

Countdown to Long Beach Gives and Helping More Kids

Save the Dates for these 2027 Events

Welcoming Our 26-27 Pediatric Dental Residents

Resident Spotlight - Dr. Margella Elad

Meet Our First EXP Summer Intern

Hands-on Training In Action

Over the summer, we hosted an intimate gathering at our Avalon Clinic to honor the late, multi-term Mayor Ralph Morrow for his contributions to that satellite clinic on the Avalon TK - 12 School campus, supporting the children and families of Avalon.

Our Board President, Dr. John Blake, delivered remarks about all that Ralph did for us and his always-helpful nature before unveiling a custom bench out front and sign in the lobby, which were made possible by an anonymous donor. The new lobby sign welcomes everyone to the Mayor Ralph Morrow Waiting Room, since he was always waiting to welcome us to Avalon!

We were thrilled to have Ralph’s son Nick and daughter-in-law Nan join us for the occasion. The gathering also included special presentations by representatives for Senator Lena A. Gonzalez and Supervisor Janice Hahn, as well as City of Avalon’s current Mayor Anni Marshall, and the festivities were made possible with the generous support of Barbara Lieberman-Jones and Doug Jones.

Click here to read more about the gathering and tributes.

Click here or below to watch highlights from the short program and unveiling.

Long Beach Gives 2026 is fast approaching... early giving opens NEXT Thursday, September 17, and runs through the official giving day on Thursday, September 24!

As we prepare to once again participate in this annual, city-wide celebration of giving, we are thrilled to share that the first $1,000 in donations will be matched by the family of Dr. Katherine White in honor of Dr. Jana Martin!

Dr. Jana Martin is a psychologist who has a long history of contributing her time and talents to numerous organizations serving children and families throughout the Long Beach area. She has supported CDHC for decades, including serving as a board member for many years.

"Katherine was a phenomenal human being - a gifted doctor, a pioneer, a caring and loving person, a force with which to be reckoned, and an inspiring mentor to so many. I was very blessed to have her in my life, so a tribute from 'The family of Dr. Katherine White' honoring me is beyond meaningful," Jana shared. "Then to top it off, it's supporting CDHC, which has been a part of my life for so many years and is such a significant part of my daughter Mackenzie’s life and work - it’s all quite touching and pretty amazing. I’m deeply honored."

Jana also shared that she hopes it will inspire others to support CDHC, especially since good oral health is key to good physical and mental health, and she has seen the difference the clinic has made in the lives of children and young adults, especially those with unique needs!

There are many ways you can support us during Long Beach Gives! In addition to giving a donation, you can engage with our posts and even create your own fundraising page to help us spread the word, reach our goal and help more kids...click here to learn more, and mark your calendar for September 17-24!

Our Annual Open House and Donor Appreciation Reception

Sunday, February 21, 2027 - 1:30 p.m.

In our clinic on the Long Beach Medical Center Campus

Our 95th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser

Saturday, June 5, 2027 - 5:30 p.m.

The Centre at Sycamore Plaza, Weingart Ballroom

More details to follow in the coming months!

Please join us in welcoming our newest USC Pediatric Dental Residents - from left to right - Dr. Amanda Mays, Dr. Calvin Kim and Dr. Margella Elad! 

Share a welcoming message for them on this post on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Just like last year, we'll be sharing more about these residents and their experiences with us throughout the year - starting with this Resident Spotlight.

What inspired you to go into pediatric dentistry?

I've always loved working with kids and really enjoy their energy, honesty, and personalities. What made me fall in love with pediatric dentistry was realizing how much of an impact we can have on the way a child views going to the dentist. I love being able to turn an experience they may be nervous about into something positive and build a relationship with them as they grow. Plus, there is never a boring day working with kids!

Tell us a favorite memory you have from working at the clinic.

One of my favorite things about working in the clinic is seeing the transformation in some of our patients. A child may come in scared, crying, or not wanting anything to do with us, and then a few visits later they're walking in more confident and excited to show us how brave they can be. Those little wins are some of my favorite moments because you really get to see the trust you've built with them.

Click here to continue reading and learn more about Dr. Margella, including what instantly puts her in a good mood!

This summer, we hosted our first high school student through EXP‘s Summer Internship Program! A Southern California native, Payton Funk recently began her senior year at San Pedro High School. She is also taking dual enrollment classes at LA Harbor College, where she is focused on fulfilling the prerequisites for nursing programs. 

Payton says she wants to earn a Bachelor’s degree in nursing because of her deep compassion for others and her strong belief in the healing properties of human connection. She saw this impact first-hand when her baby brother was in the NICU, and she realized what a huge difference she can make!

Over the summer, she had the opportunity to shadow various clinical roles at CDHC, while also using her background in fundraising and marketing to support the Advancement Department. She assisted before, during and after special community events, while honing her relationship building and presentation skills. She also witnessed another first-hand example through her baby brother when they scheduled an appointment with the Early Intervention Program. Payton said her brother truly benefitted from our gentle, compassionate approach, and “it was great that he got that experience because of my internship here!”

You can hear more about her experience with us in the video below featuring her remarks at EXP’s Internship Culmination. Payton was selected as one of five Outstanding Interns this summer thanks to her passion, drive and commitment to her future. We were so proud to watch her share what she learned with her fellow interns, their families and the many organizations that host them as part of our fellow non-profit’s annual program.

Click here or the image above to watch the video!

When she’s not focused on school, Payton says she can often be found at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor getting help as she prepares for college season. She has also gotten help with that from our college intern, Ali, who was in her same shoes not long ago!

Students from the Dental Assisting Program at Cerritos College benefitted from hands-on experience in our clinic earlier this summer as part of the program’s internship component!

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A new school year also means a new group of dental hygiene students are benefitting from hands-on experience in our clinic. We caught a glimpse as Jean Petrillo, RDH, gave these Cerritos College students a tour of the clinic!

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You can see more stories like this and exclusive content when you follow us on social media!

You can learn more about the Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) and how you can join us in making a difference for the children and families in our community at cdhc.org.