CONCORD, NH — The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation awarded $1,335,105 to 62 oral health programs throughout New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont in 2023. The Foundation supports organizations and initiatives in the three states that provide oral health education and dental care to uninsured and underserved communities. In total 71% went to supporting dental clinics/dental care by purchasing equipment and supplies and providing dental care assistance funds; 13% for scholarships and recruitment; 7% for research and dental professional education; 7% for oral health education; 1% for in-school oral health programs; and 1% for oral health themed events.
“Our Foundation’s mission is to increase access to oral health, however, we could not do this alone,” explained Jennifer McGrath, Senior Manager, Corporate Giving, Northeast Delta Dental. “We are deeply grateful to and inspired by these organizations whose commitment to their clients brings us closer to our goal of providing everyone with a healthy smile.”
$559,559 in grants funded New Hampshire community organizations
In support of oral health initiatives, the Foundation provided numerous grants in New Hampshire, including $5,000 to The PLUS Company to offer dental health education to the over 400 adult clients with disabilities. Adults with disabilities often encounter many health challenges, not the least of which is with their oral health. Research has shown that this population encounters more barriers in maintaining recommended oral health routines and tends to have a higher percentage of disparity in meeting their oral health needs. This program reinforces the importance of good oral health.
Maine received $592,660 in donations
One of the many organizations to receive support from the Foundation was New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry. With a $50,000 grant, it was able to return to Machias, Maine, to conduct its fourteenth NYU Dentistry’s Global Student Outreach Program, which provides vital oral health services to children in rural Maine. In particular, Washington County residents who have historically faced profound barriers in gaining access to affordable, quality oral health services. These barriers include poverty, lack of dental insurance, high-cost co-pays and limited access to dentists. Since the inception of this program free dental treatment and preventive care has been provided to more than 2,200 children and emergency care to more than 2,200 adults.
Foundation supports Vermont community organizations with $182,886 in grants
The Foundation provided numerous oral health grants in Vermont, including $5,000 to Battenkill Valley Health Center (BVHC). BVHC is committed to strategically developing programming and collaborations with local partners to meet the growing needs of their community. BVHC has helped to reduce dental fear, provided oral health education, distributed thousands of oral health care kits and connected people with a dental home.
Tri-state and Bi-state grants
The Foundation also granted $85,000 to Autism Speaks for an online Oral Health Dental Toolkit for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; $150,000 to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for a three-year tri-state mentorship program for dental students; $5,000 to HNC Living Foundation to help fund dental care for head and neck cancer patients in all three states; $2,000 to Pathstone Corporation for oral health kits for rural farmworkers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; and $50,000 to North American Family Institute (NFI) for dental services for clients from mental and behavioral health programs in Maine and New Hampshire.
About 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 provide oral health education and dental care to uninsured and underserved people. The mission of the Foundation is to increase access to oral care and to advance the importance of good oral health, underscoring the belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile.
In addition, the company supports numerous organizations, events and initiatives important to the communities through a corporate grant application process and funds loan repayment programs to incentivize dentists to provide dental care in underserved areas and communities.
About Northeast Delta Dental: Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and not-for-profits of all sizes, and individuals and families with no access to employer-sponsored dental benefits. www.nedelta.com.