Author

Emma George-Griffin

Emma George-Griffin is a multimedia journalist who has covered breaking news for the Detroit Free Press and produced news for Lansing and Detroit’s public radio stations. With a passion for investigative reporting and education, George-Griffin works with the non-profit watchdog group Eye On Michigan to facilitate large-scale investigations and train future journalists. George-Griffin is a graduate of Michigan State University where she studied journalism and documentary film-making. When she isn’t writing or reporting, George-Griffin enjoys exploring Michigan’s different communities and trying new cuisine.

Emma's Latest Articles

“Share a SMILE!” hat initiative helps fund free dental care through community collaboration

By Emma George-Griffin

●

Healthy Communities

●

November 11, 2025

Sometimes, giving back starts with something as simple as a hat. Mt. Pleasant’s Dr. Ray Ribitch of Mid Michigan Smiles launched the “Share a SMILE!” initiative to fund free dental care for patients who can’t afford treatment. Each embroidered SMILE hat supports lab and material costs for those transformations—and the community’s response has been contagious—proving that a smile can ripple far beyond one person.