Northlake Dentist Gives $5K to Lakeside Capital Campaign

On Jan. 10, Northlake dentist Dr. Peter Vanstrom and Artistic Dentistry of Atlanta presented a gift of $5,000 to Lakeside High School, establishing his practice as a top tier community donor to the school’s $1.5 million Valhalla Project capital funding campaign.

Vanstrom presented the check to Lakeside Principal Joe Reed along with Mike Brooks, the highest bidder for Artistic Dentistry’s smile makeover contest. The auctioned dental service was valued at over $11,000, representing the Roswell resident’s in-kind donation. The smile contest is the second such promotion by Artistic Dentistry for the school’s nonprofit capital raise.

Vanstrom acquired Dr. Pete Jensen’s Northlake practice in 1994 after graduating from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1988. In 2011, he relocated to his present self-designed office at the corner of Henderson Mill Road and Northlake Parkway. An avid community booster, the one-time Chairman of Northlake Community Alliance, feels that schools have a unique relationship with living standards in what he views as “the Northeast Atlanta and Tucker” community. He intends to continue supporting them, and "watch for the start of a fundraiser for Henderson Mill Elementary School’s STEM program," he said.

Brooks the smile contest winner is an Oak Grove resident with two daughters, one at Lakeside, is also the high school’s Parent Council Vice Chairman. He said he bid for the work to help the local community focus on continuing the campus improvement program work that has recently been finished by DeKalb County School District (recently renamed from “System”). The Vice President of Sales for Cleveland Ohio based TOMAX, Inc. said being in the dental chair at Artistic Dentistry was “an unbelievably positive experience and (Vanstrom’s practice) is obviously driven to perfection.”

The Valhalla Project is partnered by 501-c-3 Lakeside High School Foundation, Inc. to benefit Viking teams, physical education and the community-at-large with several campus construction projects outside of the scope of the DeKalb school system’s recently completed renovation and expansion work. The campaign has raised approximately $165,000 to date and will pay for concrete and aluminum stadium seating for 1,000 spectators as its next project. The menu of facilities will eventually include an artificial turf soccer field, rubberized track surface and a concession stand for all outdoor school team sports.

Lakeside Foundation, as an independent corporation has expanded student opportunities and community involvement at the highly respected DeKalb County high school since 2006. The fundraiser is considered the nonprofit group’s most ambitious project to date.

In appreciation for Dr. Vanstrom’s partnership, Tara Stamps, Lakeside Foundation’s President, said, “The Lakeside Foundation and the Valhalla Project committee members are extremely thankful for the support and efforts from Peter Vanstrom. It is a great example of how our community business owners are dedicated to supporting… strong schools.”