Rethink Your Drink 2019 Application Open From Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation

Posted on February 21, 2019 in Foundation

Schools across Iowa have the opportunity to receive a new water bottle filling station through the Rethink Your Drink program, funded by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Selected schools will have an old drinking fountain replaced with a new Elkay water fountain/bottle filling station and also receive water bottles and toothbrushes for all students and staff. The new water bottle filling station makes drinking water more accessible for students and staff to stay hydrated with optimally fluoridated drinking water throughout the school day.

New in 2019, all schools that receive a new water bottle filling station will also receive a Rethink Your Drink educational kit, designed to demonstrate the importance of drinking water in an fun and engaging way. The educational kit includes:

• Lesson plans
• Age appropriate activities and worksheets for Kindergarten through 12th grade
• “The Sugar Story” book recommended for Kindergarten-2nd grade
• Interactive Drink Displays
• USB Drive containing all electronic copies of worksheets, letters, games and videos

“More than 50 percent of children and teens in the U.S. are not properly hydrated during the school day, which can impact learning and energy levels,” said Jeff Russell, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “When students drink water, they are more alert and better hydrated. Plus drinking fluoridated water helps protect their teeth from cavities and improved their overall health.”

This is the third round of funding for Rethink Your Drink. Since 2017, the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has donated $430,000 to 115 schools throughout Iowa for the Rethink Your Drink program. In addition to updating or replacing existing water fountains with a water bottle filling station, reusable water bottles and toothbrushes are provided for all students and staff.  Click here to see a complete list of the 115 schools.

Applications for 2019 are now open at www.deltadentalia.com/rethinkyourdrink. All Iowa schools are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to:

• Communities with optimally fluoridated water
• Schools with the highest rates of free and reduced price lunch
• Schools that do not already have a water bottle filling station

2019 applications are due by Monday, April 1. The program, “Rethink Your Drink” is funded by Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and supported by the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Iowa Public Health Association, Iowa Department of Education and In Depth Marketing.

Learn more about the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation.