Preds Foundation, SmileDirectClub Award SuperGrant to Oasis Center

Nashville, Tenn. (April 12, 2022) - The Nashville Predators Foundation and SmileDirectClub announced that Oasis Center will be presented with a SuperGrant totaling $50,740 as the Predators host their Seventh Annual Pride Night tonight at Bridgestone Arena during the game against the San Jose Sharks. The funding will support Oasis Center's Just Us program, the only intentional positive youth development programming with full-time staff focusing exclusively on LGBTQI+ youth in the state of Tennessee.
"We are proud to partner with SmileDirectClub and present a SuperGrant to Oasis Center's Just Us Program," Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said. "The Preds Foundation has been committed to supporting deserving organizations in the Middle Tennessee community for over 20 years, and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide funding for resources at Oasis Center."

The SuperGrant will cover salary costs, including benefits, for one full-time clinical therapist for a year. A clinical therapist provides mental health support via telehealth, so that, regardless of the circumstances, LGBTQI+ youth have access to open and affirming spaces and support where they feel safe, valued and empowered. Counseling is always free and specialized specifically for LGBTQI+ youth and their families, aligning with Oasis Center's dedication to providing equitable and accessible services for every young person they serve.
"At SmileDirectClub, we believe everyone should be able to feel confident in their own skin and that they belong," said SmileDirectClub Chief Marketing Officer John Sheldon. "As a telehealth pioneer, we see the life-changing transformations that occur when everyone can access the care they need. We're proud to present the Oasis Center with a SuperGrant to aid in offering mental health support via telehealth to the deserving individuals they serve."
"The Nashville Predators Foundation and SmileDirectClub's commitment to stand with Just Us at Oasis Center, will provide Middle Tennessee's LGBTQ youth with the mental health support they need to help them explore and celebrate their identities," Oasis Center Just Us Manager Joseph Clark said. "We are extremely grateful, especially in these difficult times, as isolation and uncertainty have added to the overwhelming stressors our LGBTQ youth face on a daily basis. Thanks to the Nashville Predators Foundation and SmileDirectClub's SuperGrant, we have hope that every young person who comes through our door, can express themselves wholly and authentically."
Introduced during the 2019-20 season as part of the groundbreaking partnership between the Predators Foundation and Nashville-based SmileDirectClub, multiple SuperGrants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 will be awarded each season to Middle Tennessee community organizations. Funding will be allocated to support programming or the completion of large-scale projects that empower people during times of life transitions. Including the funds awarded to Home Street Home Ministries, Monroe Harding, Retrieving Independence and Maple Built, $200,000 in financial support was distributed by the SuperGrant program last season.
ABOUT THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS FOUNDATION EMPOWERED BY SMILEDIRECTCLUB
The Preds Foundation has partnered with Nashville-based SmileDirectClub in an ongoing effort to meet educational, social, health and cultural needs throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The Preds Foundation is devoted to using its platform and influence from its affiliation with professional sports to serve the needs of the community by offering unique resources and financial support to local youth-oriented organizations. Since its inception in 1998, the Predators Foundation has awarded over $8 million in grants to the greater Nashville community. During the 2020-21 season, the Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena, Ford Ice Centers and Predators Foundation contributed over $4 million in cash and in-kind gifts throughout the Nashville community and surrounding areas. To learn more about the Nashville Predators Foundation empowered by SmileDirectClub and to see a list of upcoming events, visit NashvillePredators.com/Foundation.
ABOUT SMILEDIRECTCLUB
SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC) ("SmileDirectClub") is an oral care company and creator of the first medtech platform for teeth straightening. Through its cutting-edge telehealth technology and vertically integrated model, SmileDirectClub is revolutionizing the oral care industry. SmileDirectClub's mission is to democratize access to a smile each and every person loves by making it affordable and convenient for everyone. SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. For more information, please visit SmileDirectClub.com.
ABOUT OASIS CENTER AND THE JUST US PROGRAM
Founded in 1969 as the "Rap House," a community center for runaway teens and youth struggling with addictions, Oasis Center has evolved to aid nearly 4,000 youth and families every year. Oasis Center provides a wide range of opportunities that reflect the diverse needs of youth and their families, from crisis intervention to youth leadership and community engagement to college and career access. Launched by Oasis Center in 2011, the Just Us program works to create an empowering and supportive environment for LGBTQI+ youth. The program's goal is to help youth build confidence, celebrate their identity, and use their voices to create a culture of acceptance in our communities.