Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation has dulled out nearly $500,000 in grants to oral health education and preventative dental care groups focused on care for children and expectant mothers.

The Foundation sent out these grants in the first quarter of 2017, with the nearly $500,000 distributed to 29 Arizona community groups serving high-risk children and families, pregnant mothers, dental health awareness programs and regional oral health coalitions. 

“With so much change and uncertainty in the healthcare right now, it is more important than ever for Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation to be a consistent resource to nonprofit organizations providing oral healthcare and educational resources to those who need it most,” said Sandi Perez, executive director, Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. “Increased attention on how a healthy mouth is directly correlated to overall health makes this work and the 29 organizations receiving funding of great importance as they make a significant impact for the oral care they need and deserve.” 

Grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 support a broad array of preventive services, including dental services for children, families and expectant mothers through Southwest Human Development’s Oral Health Program, which will serve over 8,000 individuals; a full-time dental hygienist embedded at Chiricahua Community Health Center for pediatric cases involving children who are uninsured or their families living at or below the poverty level in Douglas and Sierra Vista; a mobile health clinic providing cleanings and fluoride treatments for uninsured children in Tucson; and numerous programs servicing the underserved Native American population throughout the state.

The following organizations received grant money from the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation:

  • Adelante Health Care — $20,000
  • Arizona Oral Health Coalition — $15,000
  • Boys/Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix — $20,000
  • Children’s Museum of Phoenix — $10,000
  • Chiricahua Community Health Center — $20,000
  • Desert Senita Community Health Center — $20,000
  • Dignity Health East Valley — $20,000
  • El Rio Community Health Center — $20,000
  • Esperanca — $15,000
  • Flagstaff Medical Center — $10,000
  • Lapaz Mohave Oral Health Coalition — $15,000
  • Legacy Foundation Chris-Town YMCA Dental Clinic — $15,000
  • Maggie’s Place — $20,000
  • Marana Healthcare — $20,000
  • Maricopa County Oral health Leaders, Advocates & Resources (MOLAR Coalition) –$12,500
  • Mariposa Community Health Center — $18,758
  • Navajo-Apache-Gila County Oral Health Coalition (NAG Coalition) — $15,000
  • Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH) — $20,000
  • Society of St. Vincent De Paul — $18,550
  • Southern Arizona Oral Health Coalition (SAZOHC) — $19,260
  • Southwest Human Development — $20,000
  • St. Elizabeth’s Health Center — $20,000
  • Sun Life Family Health Center — $18,000
  • Sunset Community Health Center — $20,000
  • UOFA Mobile Clinic — $20,000