Smokey Robinson Emerges Victorious In Lawsuit Brought On By Former Manager
Smokey Robinson‘s former manager has lost his lawsuit against the Motown legend.
According to Billboard, a federal jury found that Eric Podwall, who claimed that the “Tears of a Clown” singer owed him nearly $1 million in touring profits, did not prove his case against the legendary performer. The verdict closes a case that dragged on for more than six years.
In a written statement, Robinson’s attorney, Sasha Frid, said, “This is a great result and victory for Smokey. The jury did its job and got it right. Smokey is not only a great artist, but he is also a man of integrity who honors his contracts. Here, he didn’t owe millions, as Podwall claimed; and refused to be taken advantage of by his former manager. We are honored to represent him.”
The lawsuit against the singer was initiated in 2016, with Podwall alleging that Robinson signed a “binding written agreement” with him in 2012 for management services. The former manager said Robinson agreed to give him 10 percent of everything Robinson had gotten for services rendered during the contract term.
Podwall claimed he helped Robinson through several business deals and more than 100 of his performances, but that Robinson later reneged on the agreement.
Robinson denied the claim, saying their deal was meant to cover a subset of his income, such as film and television fees.
Jurors heard directly from Robinson during the three-day trial last week.
Podwall did not leave empty-handed, however: The jury awarded him $2,000, agreeing that he was owed that amount from a record advance Robinson had received. In a statement to Billboard, Podwall’s attorney, Jesse Kaplan, stated that while the jurors had agreed with his client on specific issues, Robinson “still found a way to not pay his manager.”
Robinson, 83, is best known for his work with The Miracles as well as a raft of solo hits.
‘Founders Factory Africa’ Raises $114M To Grow Tech Ecosystem On The Continent
Founders Factory Africa (FFA), an early-stage South Africa-based investment firm, has raised $114 million “to scale its model to better serve founders across the African tech ecosystem.”
The accelerator led by Mastercard Foundation and Johnson & Johnson will further strengthen FFA’s ability to provide seed funding and equity capital to promising tech startups.
According to AfroTech, Roo Rogers and Alina Truhina co-founded the investment firm. Bongani Sithole serves as CEO.
FFA sets itself apart from other investment firms through a different structure that allows for long-term commitment to the companies they help to fund. “Typical fund structures mean that when investors raise a fund, they’ll have to deliver on it, close it, and start a new one,” Sithole told TechCrunch.
“How we’ve structured FFA and our partnerships with our LPs is one of a continuous relationship,” Sithole added. “And the reason for that is twofold. The integration of corporates and startups is very critical to the African continent. So, from that perspective, that gives us two things. One is access to capital to further our mission, and second, our startups can continue to integrate and leverage the assets held by corporates in the African continent.”
The recent financial windfall will also help FFA create a more robust system in-house, as it plans to hire new talent and continue building its IP.
“As we figure out how to deploy this capital, catalytic in this context also means you can invest $1, and the startup can deliver $2 worth of value,” Truhina said. “That’s what we’re looking to do, seeking ways to help these founders access different types of capital to provide double, triple, and quadruple that value.”
Since FFA’s inception in 2018, the firm has backed and helped scale 55 startups across 11 African countries. The startups are broken across three programs and receive anywhere from $40,000 to $250,000 cash in exchange for varying equity stakes.
Witnesses to Buffalo Mass Shooting Sue Social Media and Gun Companies
Sixteen people who witnessed a white supremacist kill 10 Black victims in a shooting last year at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store have sued social media and firearms-related companies to hold them liable for causing emotional trauma.
Their complaint, filed on August 15 in a state court in Buffalo, names as defendants YouTube and Reddit, where the gunman, Payton Gendron, was allegedly radicalized through exposure to harmful content and gained information that helped him carry out his attack.
Also sued were three retailers—Mean Arms, Vintage Firearms and RMA Armament—that allegedly sold the firearm equipment and body armor Gendron used to kill 10 Black people at the Tops grocery store on May 14, 2022.
Alphabet and Google, which own YouTube, are also defendants, as are Gendron’s parents. The civil lawsuit was filed by the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety. Due to the defendants’ negligence, Gendron “gained the racist motivation, tools and knowledge necessary for him to commit the mass shooting,” according to the complaint.
A YouTube spokesman on Wednesday said the company had “deepest sympathies” for the victims and families and has been invested for years in finding and removing extremist content.
The lawyer for RMA Armament said he looked forward to vindicating his client in court, while also calling the attack “reprehensible” and saying RMA “condemns everything the shooter stood for.”
A lawyer for Mean Arms declined to comment. The other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This latest lawsuit is different, as the plaintiffs did not suffer serious physical injuries, nor were they related to anyone who did. They include store employees and customers who said the shooting left them with long-lasting emotional distress as well as depression, insomnia, lethargy, and nightmares.
One plaintiff, Fragrance Harris Stanfield, said she was unable to return to work at Tops or as a substitute teacher in Buffalo schools, and has had panic attacks at stores in which she could not locate an exit.
Another, DennisJanee Brown, said she feels uneasy at work in the presence of white people, while Rose Marie Wysocki said she has felt “enormous guilt and anger” believing she survived because she was white.
Gendron, who was 18 years old when he carried out the murders, was sentenced in February 2023 to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to charges including murder and terrorism motivated by hate. There is no death penalty in the state of New York.
‘The Give Back’ Memphis Teens Give Free Haircuts To Homeless
Memphis teenagers Darnell Wells and Zac Sherrod linked up to provide free haircuts and hot meals to the homeless population in their city. WREG reported that the pair organized an effort to feed the homeless after Wells posed a question on his Facebook account. Wells asked if anyone wanted to help him feed the homeless and Sherrod didn’t just respond with his words.
According to Wells, they gave out at least 30 hamburgers to Memphis homeless. They initially were not going to post their good deed, but Wells says he was moved by God to put it out, as he told WREG: “We weren’t going to post it and publicize it at all, but God put it on my heart to post it. I hope it inspires somebody to go out and help somebody else.”
Wells usually works at The Shop, located in Frayser but he wanted to do something positive to benefit his community. Wells grabbed his clippers, and some collapsible outdoor chairs, and scooped up Sherrod, then set out to cut the hair of local homeless people.
The pair found a few people waiting when they got to the location, as Wells told WREG, “It was only two people when we got there. I ended up cutting nine heads and had five more waiting. We ended up giving out at least 30 burgers.”
Darnell Wells cutting a homeless man’s hair. His post on Facebook has gone viral, amassing 10 thousand shares and thousands of comments. Photo Credit: Darnell Wells
Wells is not looking to end his positive contributions to his city anytime soon, saying that he wants to do something to help out local children. “I’m trying to get to kids, so they know it’s people doing the right thing, and you can do something positive and help other people.”
Wells also reflected on his conversations with homeless people as he was providing haircare. “We learned so much from them. They were giving us their life stories, and how they got into the predicament they’re in — giving us lessons.”
Gabrielle Union And Dwyane Wade Announce EWG VERIFIED Mark For PROUDLY Baby Care Brand
PROUDLY, the baby care line created for the needs of melanin-rich skin tones co-founded by Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, announced the brand has received the EWG VERIFIED® mark by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for all their skin are formulas and baby wipes within the brand’s portfolio. By becoming EWG VERIFIED, PROUDLY is recognized to meet EWG’s strictest health standards, meaning the products contain none of EWG’s chemicals of concern and provide full ingredient transparency. As the first product line made specifically for melanated baby skin, PROUDLY is a first in category for EWG verification.
“Many decades-old, leading baby care brands that have been marketed to Black and Brown families are often made with lower quality ingredients and are not always transparent with what’s in the bottle. With PROUDLY, we are proud to have created a brand that is both affordable and meets the highest level of health standards set by EWG,” says co-founder Union.
“Black and Brown children deserve to have their needs centered—and the numbers show that significant health disparities exist as seen in the prevalence of various skin conditions and the lack of healthcare access,” adds co-founder Wade. “Together PROUDLY and EWG look forward to longer-term opportunities in research to expand our knowledge of the needs of darker, sensitive skin and how to formulate clean, affordable products that are functional for these needs.”
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization that empowers and encourages consumers to make informed choices regarding their health, the environment and product purchases by offering research, advocacy and educational tools. EWG VERIFIED is considered the gold standard in the health and wellness space. The mark symbolizes that a product has gone above and beyond to disclose all ingredients, including those used in fragrance mixtures, in product formulations to the manufacturing process in order to earn the seal of approval.
“PROUDLY represents a first-of-its-kind brand that is authentically focused on an underserved consumer. Their product development approach, led by their chemist, dermatologist, and pediatrician is admirable,” says Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group. “With PROUDLY, we look forward to future research to help define what is both the highest health standard and functional for the darkest skin tones, which have unique needs. We’re proud to have PROUDLY as an EWG VERIFIED partner and look forward to future collaboration.”
Black Pepper Food & Wine Fest Makes Its Return To Overtown To Celebrate Black-Owned Restaurants
South Florida’s Black Pepper Food & Wine Festival is returning to Overtown in August 2023, honoring local Black-owned restaurants.
According to Florida Insider, Alexis Brown and Joel Franklin founded the festival in 2019 to bring the community together and celebrate Black-owned restaurants and merchants around South Florida. “I think being able to provide an event where there’s such a wide range of generations, from children to millennials to older people, is really important,” the festival’s cofounder Alexis Brown told MiamiNew Times. “This is a true community event, and food is certainly one thing that brings people together no matter your age or race.”
Attendees at this year’s festival will sample some of the tastiest Black cuisines in the region and enjoy eventful moments, including live entertainment, music, wine education, and tastings hosted by the Hue Society. Black mixologists have been invited to present cooking demos and mixology demonstrations.
Kids can participate in free cooking courses offered by the nonprofit Black Girls Cook.
The day before the festival begins, chefs will compete in the festival’s debut cook-off in collaboration with Florida-based nonprofit EatWell Exchange. “People often feel like they have to stop eating their cultural norm foods to eat healthy,” Brown said. “EatWell Exchange works to debunk that myth, so we decided to partner with them to offer their services during our festival weekend.” The food masters will whip up an edible creation from mystery ingredients. Participating chefs include Lo Taylor (Jamaica), Sunni (Ecuador), and Patrick Thezan (Haiti).
This year’s festival is predicated on having over 25 vendors, including Lil Greenhouse Grill, Phuse Cream, Perry Wings, and Rejoice African Restaurant and Bar. The event is sponsored by Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, and the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT).
The Black Pepper Festival will take place on August 26 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Urban, 1000 NW Second Ave., Miami. Festival entry is free to the community. The debut cook-off, held on August 25, from 8 p.m. to midnight, will require attendees to purchase $50 tickets to taste food.
13-Year-Old Soccer Player Da’vian Kimbrough To Join Sacramento Republic FC First Team On Professional Contract
The Sacramento Republic FC recently announced that Da’vian Kimbrough, a member of the soccer club’s youth development academy, signed his first professional contract, making him eligible to compete for the club’s first team. In signing his first professional contract, Kimbrough is the youngest professional athlete in American team sports history, at 13 years, 5 months, 13 days old.
As he begins his third year with Sacramento Republic, Kimbrough will be added to the club’s first-team roster pending league and federation approval, and continue his development as one of the team’s high-potential players in the academy. Per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“Da’vian’s journey with Republic FC is just beginning. He is a remarkable talent who has committed to his dream of becoming an elite player, from competing with players in older age groups and thriving at top competitions, to stepping on to the first team training grounds,” said Sacramento Republic President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “We are honored that the Kimbrough family and Da’vian have chosen Republic FC to support his professional pathway, and we look forward to taking the next steps together.”
“A young player’s path is never the same as the person seated next to them. Da’vian has shown tremendous focus, commitment and dedication, as well as a willingness to embrace the challenging road ahead of him,” said Mark Briggs, Sacramento Republic’s head coach. “Over the last two years he has demonstrated his tremendous potential, and our goal is to continue to support and help him grow as a player and person.”
“With each player that comes through our academy, our approach is unique and tailored to help the individual find their best journey,” said academy director Eder Quintanilla. “Da’vian is a special player who has thrived in difficult and challenging environments. We’re excited to be a part of the next step in his development, and to continue to support his professional dream.”
Kimbrough joined Sacramento Republic FC’s Academy in 2021 at age 11, playing up one age division. In his first season he scored a team-leading 27 goals over 31 matches, helping Sacramento’s U13 side to the best record of any team in their age group nationwide with 30 wins and just one loss in league play, including 27 consecutive victories to open the season. In his second season, Kimbrough and the U14 squad finished first in MLS NEXT division play with a 26-5-3 record, outscoring opponents 148-22. As part of the high potential training program, he would join the U15 team for select matches against older competition. In two seasons of MLS NEXT league play, he scored 61 goals in 81 appearances.
After a successful MLS NEXT Flex tournament, Kimbrough was recruited to serve as a guest player at the Bassevelde U13 Cup, one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world. Up against some of the top clubs, including Juventus and Benfica, Kimbrough scored six goals and was named the tournament MVP, leading New York Red Bulls Academy as the first MLS club to lift the championship trophy. Other notable footballers that got their start in the tournament include 2022 Premier League MVP Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.
Before joining Sacramento Republic’s academy, Da’vian’s development began with the coaching staff at North Bay Elite Futbol Club in Solano County and Woodland Soccer Club of Yolo County. During his time with Republic FC in October 2022, Kimbrough was selected to participate in his first U.S. Youth National Team ID Center. As his development progressed, he would join older age groups, Republic FC’s high potential training programs, and eventually first team training sessions in preparation for the next step.
Kimbrough will now be eligible to compete for Republic FC in USL Championship matches. His training schedule will be modified and monitored with the club’s sports medicine staff, in consultation with his family and USL safeguarding guidelines. He will continue a mixed training regimen that provides him the benefits of competing with professional players on the first team, as well as the unique development opportunities that happen in academy competition. He will continue his studies and will be able to join Elk Grove Charter School, Republic FC’s education partner, in the future.
Kimbrough is now the sixth Republic FC Academy player to sign a professional contract with the club and the 25th to sign a professional contract overall. Since its inception in 2015, the club’s youth academy has offered the region’s only professional pathway to support the development of the region’s best players. The program has created a pipeline for 34 players to earn first-team opportunities through USL Academy contracts, with eight players joining MLS-affiliated clubs.
Kimbrough will be eligible for selection ahead of Saturday’s match against Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App,Antenna 40.2, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC’s next home match is on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at historic Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.
Nene Leakes Sued For Allegedly Owing Nearly $23,000 In Unpaid Rent
Nene Leakes, the former cast member of Real Housewives Of Atlanta, is being sued for alleged unpaid rent for her now-defunct store, Swagg Boutique in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, GA.
According to the court documents obtained by TMZ , Simon Property claims Leakes vacated the premises when the lease ended in January 2022 owing a balance of $22,900. The plaintiff also claims a letter was sent to Leakes last month attempting to collect the remaining balance.
The reality show superstar opened the boutique located Sugarloaf Mills mall in 2017. Leakes opened two other locations in Miami and Oxon Hill, Maryland. The three stores were permanently closed in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Leakes closed her other business, the Lennethia Lounge, in 2023 after her son Brentt, who managed the lounge, suffered a heart attack and stroke.
The Bravo alumna is no stranger to lawsuits. Leakes was sued by her former boyfriend’s estranged wife Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh for having an alleged affair with her then husband Nyonisela Sioh. According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Tehmeh-Sioh sued Leakes for “alienation of affections” and “criminal conversation.”
Temeh-Sioh’s lawsuit also claimed that Leakes and Sioh engaged in an “ongoing romantic, uninhibited, and adulterous affair without [her] knowledge or consent.” Leakes denied the allegations, stating her then-boyfriend and his wife were separated when she started dating him.
In 2022, Leakes was sued by Photography by Ace for failing to pay for services. According to the lawsuit, the company claimed it took photos at the Lennethia Lounge on multiple dates but invoices went unpaid. After Leakes failed to respond to the lawsuit, the court ruled in the plaintiff’s favor. Leakes was ordered to pay $1,150 in damages.
The RHOA alumna sued her former employers—Bravo, NBC Universal, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original and producer Andy Cohen—over claims of racial discrimination. Although she stands by her claims, Leakes dropped the lawsuit.
Leakes discussed the fallout on the Reality With The King podcast and told Carlos King that she would consider returning to the Real Housewives of Atlanta “for the sake of the ans.”
BRUJA & BUSINESS: Your August Horoscope Invites You To Put Your Best Self Forward
When the great Toni Morrison wrote the words “you are your best thing,” she was speaking about loving, knowing, and believing in ourselves and our worth. As we usher into August, the month ruled by the sun, we are invited to tap deep down into the core of who we are and shine our brightest light.
Knowing your worth, means believing you have value—that you are worth it. This month gives us a warm invitation to bring our best selves forward—for the sake of our business and for the honoring of ourselves and our magic. This summer has had the hottest temperature our planet has ever experienced! August is a hot time for you to remember your self value and the value of your business
Let this month’s horoscopes be your guide on how we can love and believe in ourselves more. Take time this month to reflect on the following: Do you actually know how wonderful you are AND do you actually believe in yourself and the success of your business?
Aries (March 21-April 20)
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Do you have time for yourself, sweet Aries? You’ve been outside, you’ve been mingling, and you’ve been mixing with everyone. BUT!…Have you created space this summer for deeply connecting with yourself ALONE? You have been around a lot of opinions and ideas that aren’t yours. This time alone will help you reset your heart and help you move forward with decisions for your business.
(April 20-May 21)
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Take a deep breath in! Let it out. Then take another inhale and imagine everything that’s on your mind will sort itself out. Hold your breath for three seconds then exhale for as long as you can. Push the air out of your body. Push the stress away from you. Repeat as needed. You are feeling overwhelmed, Taurus, and you need to remember you are POWERFUL. Let this breath practice relax your nerves and mind. Remember, things will work and sort out in ways that support you.
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
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Watch the way you speak to people. All communication ain’t good communication. Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury, which rules the way in which we communicate. Whatever has been bothering you is impacting your mood and ability to communicate with care. You might not have meant harm when you said that to that person, but your delivery came across as if you were. Have you said some mirror affirmations lately? Have you reminded yourself how wonderful you are? You are in deep need of a reset.
Cancer (June 21-July 23)
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Let it go. If it is not aligned with you, don’t keep it attached to you. You have to start believing in yourself again! But are you willing to let go of what’s blocking you from shining your light? What could it be that is holding you back? Maybe it’s a person or maybe it’s a bad habit you can’t give up. Regardless of what it is, you have to be willing to let it go. You have to be willing to step out in your truth.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)
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You can stop to rest, but now is not the time to take a break. Do you understand the difference? Yes, you can drink some water and get some sleep, but do not walk away from the path you are currently on. This is leading you toward where you need to be, Dear Leo. It is as if you’re taking a hike up a mountain and you’re almost at the top. Don’t put that project down and don’t abandon any self-care projects! Keep hiking!
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 23)
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Let things fall apart, sweet Virgo. By doing this, you are creating space for change. You need things to change. It might feel like things ain’t working out for you BUT things will work out for you if you let go. Let’s be honest! That business you are carrying is not yours. What you are holding on to is not yours to keep. Don’t resist what you need to let go of.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)
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Stop spending time thinking of what should have happened. You are living in the past and not moving forward. That situation does not dictate your abundance, but it could if you don’t stop overanalyzing the past. What lessons did this past situation teach you? What type of strategy can you build to protect yourself moving forward? Find a way to stop being stuck in the past.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)
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Are you ignoring all the signs around you? You should pay attention to what the universe has been trying to tell you. You may have noticed the same things keep happening and the same message keeps finding you. Do you have to continue hearing things over and over and over again to believe them?
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
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Success is your birthright. This month may be a good time to check in on your capacity. Do you have the structures in place to support your growth? Now is an ideal time to collect the supplies you need before your personal expansion. The success of your growth depends on having the right structures in place. Is the team built the way you want it? Have you upgraded that certification? Before you continue pushing forward, stop and make sure you have all that you need.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)
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Stop brainstorming. You can have a 1000-and-one ideas but are you ever going to act on them? Everyone loves your creativity and thoughtfulness, sweet Capricorn. We would also love it if you move forward with an idea out of the brainstorming phase. What is stopping you from taking the initiative to see a project through? Are you afraid that it won’t be successful? Or are you not able to plan time to take things to the next level? You don’t need to think of another thing! You just need to do it.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
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You have been going against your inner wisdom. This is self -sabotage. Why don’t you trust yourself? Have you noticed how things don’t go well when you go against what you feel is right? You’ve felt defeated lately because you have not been listening to yourself. Stop listening to others on this subject. It always takes you down the wrong route. Bet on yourself. Believe in yourself.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 21)
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Make space in your life for a miracle to come in. You’ve been stalling on making a decision and it’s for a good reason. Maybe the choice you need to make is something completely different than what you expected. The answer to your situation could be something you never imagined. Are you making space in your life for something unexpected? Get ready for it to come in. It is something that you need.
Meet The Black-Owned Family Dental Practices Serving The Underserved In South Florida
Phanord & Associates, P.A., a leading black-owned family dental practice, has been providing exceptional oral care for over three decades. Established in June 1988, this trusted dental practice is led by Dr. Roger Phanord, a University of Florida College of Dentistry doctoral graduate. The practice has expanded to include his twin sons, Dr. Kevin and Dr. Kyle Phanord, who are also UF College of Dentistry graduates.
Devoted to serving the community, Phanord & Associates, P.A., prioritizes fostering healthy smiles that last a lifetime in a caring and clean environment, ensuring everyone feels safe during their dental visits. The practice offers a wide range of general dentistry services, including comprehensive exams, implants, cosmetics, fillings, and more, utilizing cutting-edge technology such as 3-D X-rays and digital scans to ensure precise diagnostics and treatment. Moreover, stringent sanitation protocols are in place, adhering to COVID-19 safety measures. The practice welcomes all patients from different backgrounds and their staff speaks several languages, including Spanish, Creole, and French.
“At Phanord & Associates, P.A., we are committed to providing the community with the exceptional oral care they deserve,” said Dr. Kevin Phanord. ” We encourage everyone to prioritize their dental health and visit Phanord& Associates for all their dental care needs,” added Dr. Kyle Phanord.
The Phanord family’s commitment to providing oral health care to the underserved expands beyond South Florida. Each year, the family takes a missionary trip outside the United States. This beloved and unique family dentistry business, Phanord & Associates, P.A., is committed to changing lives one smile at a time.
For more information, visit www.phanord.com or call 305-685-7863. To connect with Drs. Kevin and Kyle Phanord, be sure to follow them on their TikTok @DentistDuo. In addition, to stay connected with news and information about their dental practice, follow Phanord & Associates, P.A. on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @Phanorddental and subscribe to its newsletter, The Real Tooth, at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/PlfiVBw.
