Dr. Jacqueline Johnson-Curl, a Richmond dentist, believes in helping children achieve their dreams. She is the honorary chair of the 7th Annual Jazz InsideOut, a night of jazz, comedy and good food to benefit scholarships and emergency student aid provided by the Virginia Higher Education Fund. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2010 by Rose Giles, a former public school speech and language pathologist, and has awarded nearly $100,000 to students since its inception. It expects to help more than a dozen students this year.

The organization is dedicated to helping “at risk” students from Richmond, Petersburg, Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield, as well as students from low- and middle-income families. That includes first-generation college students, students living in public housing, students who have been homeless, students with medical challenges or disabilities, students who may have a parent in prison or jail or their family is facing financial challenges or other adverse circumstances, Dr. Johnson-Curl explains.

The VHEF awards Momentum Scholarships of $1,000 each, helping students with emergency aid to purchase books and supplies, and providing mentoring opportunities to help students over the hurdles to complete college and workshops for high school seniors on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. “We have to play a part in lifting all of our children up,” Dr. Johnson-Curl says. “Sometimes we have to take the place of or be the parents as well as their cheering squad because these children need our help to be the leaders of tomorrow.

“We can’t turn our backs on them as if it is not our responsibility,” she continues. “Yes, they are our responsibility. They are our children. Each of us should do something and should play a part in helping young people achieve their goals. No matter how big or how small, we all can do something.”

Dr. Johnson-Curl recalls her own quandary as a Hampton University freshman. After taking a psychology course, she wasn’t sure that was the direction she wanted for her life and career. She knew she wanted to go into a medical field, but didn’t want to have to do a residency that is required of physicians. During a routine visit to her eye doctor, the late Dr. Philmore Howlette, she talked with him about her concerns. “He said, ‘Jackie, why don’t you think about dentistry?’ ” she recalls. “A light bulb came on and I said, “Wow!’ I never thought about dentistry. Maybe I should consider that.’ ” The rest, as they say, is history.

“I tell people that story all the time because you never know how one person can alter someone’s direction and trajectory,” Dr. Johnson-Curl said. “Dr. Howlette did that for me. My only regret is I didn’t have a chance to tell him or his wife (who have since died) what he did for me. He really did change the trajectory of my life.” Similarly, Dr. Johnson-Curl sees the VHEF as possibly changing the trajectory of students’ lives. “What (the VHEF does) is really instrumental in children’s lives,” she says.

Dr. Johnson-Curl says she also learned about giving back to the community from her late mother, Myrtle Johnson, owner of the former Johnson’s Grill in Shockoe Bottom.

“I think about all of those years she worked in the restaurant,” Dr. Johnson-Curl says. “People would come in and sometimes someone just didn’t have any money. She would give them meals.

“When Mom was at the point when she couldn’t work anymore, she would still be at home cooking and she would walk to a neighbor’s home — someone who was homebound and couldn’t get out — and take them food.” As honorary chair of this year’s benefit, Dr. Johnson-Curl hopes her efforts can help change students’ lives and help them with whatever dreams they have for the future.

“The more people who come out to the benefit,” she says, “the more students can be helped.” Meet this week’s Personality and a dentist with a giving heart and spirit, Dr. Jacqueline Johnson-Curl: Occupation: Dentist.

Volunteer position: 2018 Honorary Chair, Virginia Higher Education Fund Jazz InsideOut benefit.

Date and place of birth: March 17 in Richmond.

Current residence: Hobby Hills area of Richmond.

Alma maters: Hampton University, B.A.; Temple University School of Dentistry, D.D.S

Family: Husband, Dr. Sherman J. Curl; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher M. Curl and Dr. Emily Stuppi-Curl; and daughter, Stephanie R. Curl.

Virginia Higher Education Fund’s mission: To increase scholarship opportunities for students, especially “at risk” and B students. We also want to save parents and students time and money with our scholarship search platforms. To view the current top 17 scholarship search platforms or to take a virtual tour of Virginia’s two- and four-year colleges, visit the VHEF website at www.vahigheredfund.org.

How I find time to support VHEF: Time is a valuable commodity for most of us. Fulfilling the role of wife, mother, caretaker and business owner can be demanding. However, I support VHEF because I know what a major difference a college education can make in one’s life.

Why I do it: Simple answer, it’s important to me. I’ve benefited from a lifetime of excellent role models who shared their advice, time and encouragement and without whom I may not have become a dentist. I want to help impact people in the same way.

Why this organization is important: VHEF recognizes how economic disparity adversely affects low- and middle-income students. By offering scholarships to these students, they are closer to achieving their dream of earning a college degree.

Foremost objective of Jazz InsideOut event: The foremost objective of the Jazz lnsideOut benefit is to raise funds for VHEF’s Momentum Scholarships that benefits students in Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield and Petersburg. Richmond and Eastern Henrico alone have more than 10,000 families in public housing. Therefore, the need for scholarship support is immense. A secondary goal is to have a good time for a good cause.

Total raised in 2017: We raised nearly $25,000 last year and hope to increase that number this year with an increase in sponsors and an increase in ticket sales.

VHEF’s 2018 goal: We plan to raise $35,000 this year. Also, this year we will provide greater support to low-income families. To that end, we have a wonderful new partner that will provide dorm packs for VHEF scholarship recipients from low-income families. The dorm packs include comforters, sheets, towels, pillows and basically everything a student needs for his or her dorm room.

Biggest challenge: Often, the biggest challenge for African-American led charities is a lack of access to corporate executives and their resources, as well as a lack of access to major philanthropic circles. Without access, it is difficult to create important partnerships with the private sector and difficult to raise large sums of money for students who are most in need of financial aid. However, Richmond is fortunate to have strong corporate stewards. That is clearly evident in the 25-plus corporate sponsors for Jazz lnsideOut who share our vision to educate our youths and help them achieve academic success.

Why I am a dentist: Dentistry enables me to be a practitioner, an educator, an artist and sometimes a therapist! I love how transforming a smile can be life changing.

Advice to aspiring dentists: Most importantly, persevere! Find a mentor and connect with a local dental society such as the Peter B. Ramsey Dental Society in Richmond, which has an outstanding mentorship program.

How I start the day: In quiet devotion and gratitude for God’s blessings.

A perfect day for me is: Hitting the gym in the morning with my daughter, providing a small act of service to my 96-year-old godmother later in the day, calling my son in Charleston to chat in the afternoon, then having a glass of sauvignon blanc with my husband in the screened porch in the evening.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I love coloring books.

A quote that I am inspired by: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33.

The three words that best describe me: Gregarious, responsible, tenacious.

If I had more time, I would: Learn how to play the piano or maybe learn a foreign language.

My hero or heroine: Undoubtedly, my mother Myrtle Johnson. She was the owner of Johnson’s Grill in Shockoe Bottom. She exemplified strength, pride and generosity and, although her life wasn’t always easy, she never lost her faith. That’s the woman I strive to emulate each day.

Favorite jazz musician: My current favorite is Marion Meadows.

How I unwind: A girls’ night out with my favorite sister girls.

Book that influenced me the most: “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. DuBois.

Book I’m reading now: “A Higher Loyalty” by James Comey.

If I’ve learned one thing in life, it is: Don’t underestimate your God-given talents.

Next goal: Retirement.