CONCORD, NH, November 21 -- The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation recently awarded more than $174,500 to oral health programs throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The Foundation supports organizations and initiatives in the tri-state area that provide oral health education and dental care to uninsured and underserved communities

Maine

In Maine, the Foundation awarded $47,500 to six oral health programs. In support of dental clinics and care, the Foundation grants included: $12,500 to the Dental Lifeline for their statewide Donated Dental Services Program for underserved patients; $10,000 to Mainly Teeth to provide dental care to patients on their waiting list; $5,000 to Maine Dental Health Out-Reach for a school-based oral health program offering preventive dental services to students from pre-K through 12^th grade; and $5,000 to Oasis Free Dental Clinic to purchase dental supplies.

The Foundation also granted $10,000 to the Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine for their Medical Dental Integration Initiative. With the funds, the team will create a series of educational videos on oral health to be integrated into well-child visits in pediatrician offices, with the goal of increasing parent/caregiver oral health literacy beginning at birth.

In addition, a $5,000 grant was awarded to the Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine for their Healthy Halloween exhibit.

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the Foundation awarded more than $91,000 to 12 oral health programs. In support of dental clinics and care, it provided numerous grants including: $5,000 to the Friends of NH Drug Courts towards a dental care fund for program participants; $10,000 to Greater Seacoast Community Health for dental centers, a mobile health clinic and school-based oral health programs; $3,000 to Lakes Region Community Developers for their Adult Dental Care program; $38,300 to the Mid-State Health Center for a mobile dental van; and $5,000 to the Tri County Oral Health Care Initiative to support patients of a non-profit community dental center.

Grants awarded for in-school oral health programs included: $1,500 to Greater Derry Oral Health Collaborative for a preventive oral health care program; $5,000 to Concord Dental Sealant Coalition for a school-based dental sealant program; $5,000 to the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health for preventive dental health care and education; and $5,000 to Milford School Dental Clinic for students’ restorative care.

The Foundation also awarded $1,000 to NH Children’s Trust for their Strengthening Families Summit; $5,000 to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire for their Children’s Dental Health Month exhibit; and $7,500 to the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability for their NH Leadership Series – Increasing Access to Oral Health for Disabled Individuals.

Vermont

In Vermont, the Foundation awarded more than $35,000 to three Vermont oral health programs. In support of dental clinics and care, the Foundation granted $15,000 to the Open Door Clinic for their Open Wide oral health care initiative offering free dental care to those in need. 

Grants awarded for research and education initiatives included $5,754 for dental assistant training support at the Red Logan Dental Clinic and a $15,000 grant for the general practice dental residency program at University of Vermont Medical Center.

“We are grateful to these organizations for promoting good oral health through dental care and educational programs,” explained Jennifer McGrath, Manager, Foundation & Marketing Initiatives, Northeast Delta Dental. “They enable the Foundation to put into practice its belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile.”

 

About the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation:

Since 1995, the philanthropic arm of Northeast Delta Dental, the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation has supported organizations and initiatives in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that improve the oral health of the people in our communities. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the access to and the quality of dental health and education for the public and the dental communities we serve. Underscoring the belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile, in 2021, the Foundation donated more than $470,000 for oral health programs throughout the tri-state area.

About Northeast Delta Dental: Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes, and individuals and families with no access to employer-sponsored dental benefits. www.nedelta.com.