Providing You with More than Just Braces

A little over seven years, I received a Facebook message from a community member congratulating me on my appointment to the principalship of John Champe High School and encouraging me to reach out to him if there was anything I needed.

At the time, I couldn’t understand why an orthodontist would be messaging me or what he could possibly do for me, so I kindly thanked Dr. Kravitz for his warm wishes and left it at that. Thankfully, he reached out to me again shortly after and reiterated his initial offer. Even then, I still didn’t comprehend what was occurring, but I explained that I would certainly like to meet with him.

Again, this was 2011, and while there was the ubiquitous advertisement for Kravitz Orthodontics in the Stone Ridge Harris Teeter, he was not as well as known throughout the county at that point. And being new to working in Dulles, I didn’t know about him either. But I soon learned what the rest of Dulles South (and now the county) knew about Dr. Kravitz: he is a generous, humble soul who cares about people and his community.

And so seven years later, I found myself in a similar situation: opening a new school and in need of financial assistance. This time around, I approached him and asked if he could help Independence High School like he did for Champe, and his immediate response was, “Absolutely—anything you need.” And that is why Dr. Kravitz is regarded around the county as the staunchest supporter of our schools: he unhesitatingly offers support to so many and in so many ways. He loves children and is passionate about his work, and his infectious smile instantly conveys that to anyone who interacts with him.

Of course this is why it was no surprise when he received the Loudoun County School-Business Partnership Make a Difference Award in 2015. He is committed to helping our schools thrive; to the best of my knowledge, his support of our schools and education is probably unparalleled. For example, aside from things like sponsorship, Dr. Kravitz subsidizes student agendas, instructional materials, teacher supplies, luncheons, clubs, and numerous after school activities.  He also contributes to athletics, Fun Runs, charity fundraisers at the school, festivals, parent nights, the PTSA, book clubs, holiday events, dances, Teacher Appreciation Week, and academic scholarships. And he does this by following up by asking, “What else can I do to help?”

If it were only the schools he helped, that would be impressive enough, but Dr. Kravitz supports the entire community. He sponsors Dulles Youth Sports, Loudoun South Eagles Baseball, South Riding Little League, South Riding Challenge Soccer, Loudoun South Soccer, Old Dominion Football Clubs, South Riding Stingrays, Froggers Swim Club, Stone Ridge Sharks Swim Club, Pleasant Valley Piranhas, Dulles Storm Lacrosse, CYA, SYA, South Riding Dance, middle school basketball and iBots programs, and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and the State Troopers. He also goes beyond that by attending school plays, athletic events, fundraisers, awards ceremonies, and even hosting events at his office.

And that is just what I know of. I suspect that if you were to start asking around to different schools across the county, they would echo this as well as give you numerous other examples of his generosity and assistance.

My point is, I am appreciative and grateful when community generosity finds its way to our schools; as I wrote earlier in the month, I intend to highlight some of this generosity in my blog. And so, I am thankful to Dr. Kravitz for supporting Independence High School and am glad that he will be a part of this journey with us.

I guess the other point is that I also learned a valuable lesson: when you receive an email from an orthodontist, take him/her at their initial word!

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