Delta Dental of Minnesota Announces 2014 Serve a Smile™ Award Recipients
Delta Dental of Minnesota

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March 7th, 2014

Delta Dental of Minnesota Announces 2014 Serve a Smile™ Award Recipients

March 7, 2014 (Minneapolis, Minn.) -- Delta Dental of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth and Minnesota FCCLA, has awarded more than $30,000 in annual youth service grants and in-kind dental hygiene supplies to 48 sites in 32 communities.

These competitive grants are awarded through Delta Dental’s Serve a Smile grant program to support youth-led service projects that address an important oral health or overall health issue. Awarded grants offer young people the start-up funds to create healthier schools and communities. Grantees, their family, friends, school and community leaders as well as the general public are invited to come together in celebration of the impact made by these grantees on Global Youth Service Day. The celebration will take place at the Mall of America April 12.

“We are thrilled to empower Minnesota youth to create solutions to improve the oral health and overall health for those in our local communities,” said Susan Hammel, executive director of Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and director of community affairs at Delta Dental of Minnesota. “We know that access to oral and overall health extends beyond affecting just an individual, but can also impact families, schools and the greater community.”

"Serve a Smile is based on the belief that when creative and resourceful youth volunteers are given an opportunity to participate in public service initiatives with their family, friends, school and community leaders, they can contribute in meaningful ways to help solve important issues,” continued Hammel.

"Delta Dental of Minnesota and FCCLA have been exceptional partners over the past 11 years on this important initiative,” said Sarah Dixon, chief executive officer, Minnesota Alliance With Youth. “Through our work across Minnesota, we know that when young people are engaged as contributing members of their communities, they increase the likelihood of their high school graduation and continue service to their communities.” Dixon said.

Please join the Serve A Smile grant recipients at Global Youth Service Day, April 12, at the Mall of America. The largest youth service event in the world, it involves more than three million youth in service projects in more than 100 countries in every region of the globe.

Delta Dental of Minnesota Announces 2014 Serve a Smile Winners

About Delta Dental of Minnesota

Delta Dental of Minnesota (www.deltadentalmn.org) is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit health services company that serves the oral health needs of Minnesota and North Dakota residents. Since 1969, Delta Dental of Minnesota has accomplished this mission by providing the best access across the state to oral health care through affordable dental plans. Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association. Delta Dental of Minnesota is an independent tax-exempt dental services company and is an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Illinois.

About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Founded in 1997, the Alliance is Minnesota’s leading convener, collaborator, and capacity-builder for youth development. The Alliance seeks to strengthen youth success in school and learning, increase youth engagement in communities, develop and magnify youth voice, and advance collaboration and innovation with entities that share its vision. The Alliance is the Minnesota affiliate of the America’s Promise Alliance and contributes resources to schools, communities, and partner organizations across through support and placement of more than 200 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows.

For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth or Global Youth Service Day, visit www.mnyouth.net.