Palmer Changing Lives through Birdies 4 Brighter Smiles

It's amazing changing lives through Birdies 4 Brighter Smiles. Thank you for all our partners who support this program and the Foundation! Check out this story. 

Growing up as one of five children with a gypsy father, Jason Hopkins has lived in twenty-three states in his short 19 years of life. Jason said that his childhood was difficult: moving often and struggling to feel any self-worth due to the verbal and emotional abuse received from his drug-addicted father. When Jason was twelve, his world stopped when his father was put in prison for drug abuse. Jason bounced back and forth between feelings of sadness, anger, and betrayal, often leaving his role of child to assume the role of man. Jason said that five children raised by a single mother leaving room for only necessities. Jason began channeling his emotions into a passion... football. As a football star in his senior year of high school in Panhandle, TX, Jason has chosen a different path for his life.

In January 2012, Jason's life took a lovely, unexpected twist. Jason's girlfriend was under the orthodontic care of Dr. Kyle Sparkman. After conversations, Dr. Sparkman became interested in Jason's story. Knowing that braces were nothing but a hope for the poverty-stricken Jason Hopkins, Dr. Sparkman's office staff scheduled a consultation with him. After meeting Jason, Dr. Sparkman and told him of Birdies 4 Brighter Smiles, a program set in place by professional golfer, Ryan Palmer. As part of the Ryan Palmer Foundation, Birdies 4 Brighter Smiles helps those less fortunate have access to dental care that, otherwise, would not be financially possible.  

Jason said that in January 2012, two weeks after his consultation while receiving a mouth full of braces, all he could think was the number of opportunities this opened. Jason said that he had always been self-conscious about his crooked teeth, never wanting to smile. And with hopes of speaking in front of crowds of students one day, Jason internally struggled with the desire to present himself as someone that any person would be proud to associate with. Straight teeth were just the confidence that Jason needed. Jason said he was so blessed by the realization that there are still great people like Ryan Palmer and Dr. Sparkman who want to help others. Jason said that unless someone has been in the position of being embarrassed to smile, it's tough to understand that full benefit of his dental treatment. But given that Jason had dreamed of one day improving his confidence through orthodontic treatment, he said that he has not only been given braces, but confidence and a new perspective. Jason said, "Birdies 4 Brighter Smiles is the most amazing program I have ever seen. It's changed my life!" Jason Hopkins is an intelligent young man with a bright future whose life's path has been full of twists and turns. Upon graduating, Jason will attend Wayland Baptist University on a football scholarship where he plans to major in Youth Ministry and Communications. Jason is a passionate Christian who hopes to share the news of what Jesus has done in his life with others as a Youth Pastor. Jason said that he is thankful for his life and whom it has made him. He now has a wonderful relationship with his father; a prisoner turned recovering addict, a confident smile in progress, and a new understanding of generosity!

Links to where the story can be found:

1. On the Facebook page under Notes.