Foundation Awards $112,800 for Oral Health Projects

Posted on August 16, 2017 in Foundation

The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has awarded $112,800 to four Iowa organizations to improve the oral health and overall of Iowans. The grants are part of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s large mini-grant program that awards organizations funding to support oral health projects.

“The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation supports programs that directly impact Iowa’s underserved populations and improve access to oral health care,” said Jeff Russell, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “Collaborative efforts like these allow us to support and grow existing programs across the state while improving the overall health of Iowans.”

The organizations awarded grants by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation include:

• Iowa Dental Foundation (Johnston) received a $25,000 grant to help support the Iowa Mission of Mercy, a two-day free dental clinic where dental and medical professionals provide oral health care to individuals who face challenges receiving dental care. The 2017 Iowa Mission of Mercy will be held September 29-30 at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
• Iowa Primary Care Association (Des Moines) received a grant for $30,000 to support educational opportunities at the National Oral Health Leadership Institute for an Iowa Federally Qualified Health Center dentist and Executive Director.
• Marion County Public Health Department (Knoxville) received $5,000 to support oral health outreach and education during 24 summer food service program open feeding sites across ten counties in southern Iowa.
• The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics (Iowa City) received a combined $52,800 to help support oral health research projects for children and aging Iowans, inter-professional practice partnerships and dental public health education opportunities.

Grant applications from Iowa agencies are reviewed twice a year and applications are due on May 1st and October 1st. The Delta Dental mini-grant program is intended to support oral health projects, such as workshops or conferences, or short-term projects up to one year in duration, such as a survey, data collection or research study. These grants are also used to stimulate long-term oral health projects and may be combined with funds from other sources.

Since 2002, Delta Dental of Iowa has provided more than $30 million to fund oral health projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and Public Benefit Program. For more information, visit deltadentalia.com and select Giving Back. 

About Delta Dental of Iowa

About Delta Dental of Iowa Delta Dental of Iowa is the largest and most experienced provider of dental benefits in the state. As a not-for-profit insurance company, Delta Dental of Iowa invests in oral health and wellness projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research. Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mission is to support and improve the oral health of Iowans.

Delta Dental of Iowa is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the leading national network of independent dental service corporations. The Delta Dental member companies provide dental benefits to more than 70 million Americans in more than 120,000 employee groups throughout the country. For more information, visit our website at www.deltadentalia.com.