Giving Back

In 2003, Dr. Michael Mahaffey gathered a few friends and dentists together for a golf tournament he called the Open Wide Open. For 15 years they gathered and he’d ask his colleagues to donate to a specific charity as part of their participation. It was informal, but made the world a better place, one swing at a time.

In 2017, Mahaffey Linkous Orthodontics partnered with Fayette Care Clinic to make the Open Wide Open an even better community-oriented activity.

“We believe in giving back as a part of who we are at Mahaffey Linkous Orthodontics,” said Dr. Michael Mahaffey. “Underwriting the Open Wide Open for Fayette Care Clinic as Presenting Sponsor made perfect sense to us. Supporting healthcare in our community for struggling families is a perfect way for a health related practice like ours to make a difference.”

From a few friends on the golf course to a full-fledged golf tournament, the Open Wide Open has become a huge financial success for Fayette Care Clinic.

Fayette Care Clinic Executive Director Deb Presley-Christiansen says, “The proceeds from the Mahaffey Linkous Open Wide Open Golf Tournament are instrumental to Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic in continuing to provide healthcare to Fayette County’s uninsured neighbors in need. It is more important than ever that the uninsured have a medical home for primary and specialty care and labs and testing to make sure Fayette County is its healthiest.”

She continued, “Each of the past 3 years, the golf tournament has increased over 20% to the year prior totaling more than $90,000! Through its network of volunteers and partners, Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic provides $8 in healthcare services for every $1 donated, therefore; Mahaffey Linkous Orthodontics contributed more than $700,000 in services to our Fayette County community.”