Sun Media - Index

Sun Media - diference - Index

making a difference
Doctors Barry Hoffman and Ron Wolk
have been giving back to their community
for the past three decades.
They’ve supported a variety of causes
through the years, including the Cancer
Society, breast cancer research, the Cal-
gary Women’s Shelter, the Food Bank
and the Calgary Urban Projects Society.
They were instrumental in founding the
Burns Memorial Fund, which helps low-
income families receive the orthodontic
work they need.
They perform a significant amount of
pro bono work each year, to give well-
aligned jaws and beautiful smiles to those
who normally couldn’t afford them.
Thank-you letters from past patients are
a testament to the life-changing
work the doctors do.
“I wish to express my gratitude to you
for your dedication to perfection
and your time,” one says.
“(Before this) it was impossible to find
a picture of me smiling. I always covered
my mouth when I spoke to
people or laughed.
“I’ll never forget what you have done
for me, every time I look in the mirror or
someone says ‘Cheese.’ ”
“We’ve been very fortunate,”
says Dr. Wolk, “and this is our
way of giving back and helping
people less fortunate.”
Dr. Hoffman notes it’s about
“professionalism and ethics
and how you
were brought up,” as well.
“We feel very lucky that we’ve picked
a great profession and it’s
rewarded us,” he says.
“Giving back is easier to do when
you’ve been rewarded.”
22