Organization announces new partnership and clinic at Aurora’s Beacon development
MILWAUKEE (September 17, 2026) — Community Smiles Dental (CSD), a nonprofit dental clinic providing care for underserved children and individuals with special healthcare needs, today announced an $8.2 million capital campaign to support their mission to provide care to as many children as possible in the community.
The nonprofit will open a new 12-chair clinic on the top floor of The Beacon, Aurora Health Care’s transformative new hub for care, wellness, and community services located in the heart of Milwaukee on 27 th and Wisconsin Avenue. The dental clinic plans to open in Spring 2027.
The expansion comes at a critical time. Approximately 84,000 children in the Milwaukee area struggle to access dental care due to the limited number of clinics that accept Medicaid. The new clinic is designed to help close that gap by bringing high-quality, compassionate dental services directly to families who need them most.
As of September, the organization has raised 70% of that goal thanks to the support of local foundations, corporate donors, community members and other partners. CSD would like to give a special recognition to Herb Kohl Philanthropies, the Melitta S. and Joan M. Pick Charitable Trust, the Otto Bremer Trust, the Roots & Wings Foundation, the Patterson Dental Foundation, WE Energies Foundation, First Business Bank and many more, for their support of this project.
Funds raised will be used to:
Build 12 state-of-the-art dental operatories, equipped with modern technology to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care.
Reduce the number of children suffering from dental disease, improving overall health outcomes and quality of life.
Provide long-term stability and ensure consistent access to dental services for Milwaukee families in need.
Located within The Beacon, the new clinic will add its pediatric dental expertise and care to the other health and wellness providers, creating a conveniently located destination for families to access vital services. The clinic’s close proximity to the Marquette University School of Dentistry creates a unique opportunity for dental students to gain hands-on experience in this Milwaukee clinic while helping expand access to care for children in the community. The development is envisioned as a cornerstone for coordinated care and community health on Milwaukee’s Near West Side.
“We hear it all the time — families driving 30, 40 minutes just to get their kid into a dental chair, because there just aren’t enough options out there for parents doing their best for their children who are uninsured or on Medicaid,” said Scott Marshall, CEO of Community Smiles Dental. “This new Milwaukee clinic changes that. It means more kids get care close to home instead of a long drive across town. None of this happens without community support from donors and partners — they’re the reason we can keep growing and keep bringing more smiles to more local families.”
Those interested in learning more and donating to help Community Smiles Dental reach its fundraising goal and support pediatric dental care in Milwaukee should visit www.communitysmiles.org.
About Community Smiles Dental
Founded in 2007, Community Smiles Dental is Southeast Wisconsin’s largest provider of essential dental care for kids with Medicaid or no insurance. CSD currently serves nearly 5,000 patients from 17 different counties, with a large portion of those coming from Milwaukee. Those patients are traveling to CSD’s two clinics located in Waukesha and Menomonee Falls. The new Milwaukee clinic will significantly expand CSD’s reach and impact, allowing the organization to serve more children and families while addressing one of the most pressing gaps in healthcare. For more information on CSD and its mission, visit www.communitysmiles.org.
