Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Awards 15 Grants Totaling Nearly $460,000 to Improve Health Through Oral Health in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (November 6, 2015) - Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $457,500 to programming that supports Delta Dental of Minnesota’s mission of improving health though oral health in Minnesota.

The funded organizations support causes to help address access to oral health services in Minnesota through preventive and educational services, workforce strategies and by optimizing the capacity of the safety net oral health system to help the underserved. Complete list of grants included below:

Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, Central Minnesota,$10,000
Promote a comprehensive nutrition program to improve dental hygiene and life habits of the community's youth.
C.A.R.E. Clinic, Greater Minnesota, $15,000
Increase access and efficiency in dental clinics through expanding services and increasing office hours.
Community Dental Care, Twins Cities Metro, $50,000
Provide clinical training for dental professionals and nursing students in their community clinics.
Hammer Residences, Twin Cities Metro, $25,000
Implement an innovative and focused oral health program to address the on-going and increasing dental needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Healthfinders Collaborative Inc., SE Minnesota, $30,000
Expand operations to provide uninsured individuals with quality dental care and hygiene services.
Hennepin Health Foundation, Twin Cities Metro, $49,000
Provide oral health education and services for children up to three years of age and pregnant women.
Initiative Foundation, Central Minnesota, $45,000
Support for the Early Childhood Dental Network to respond to oral health challenges.
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Twin Cities Metro, $43,000
Partner with providers to address risk factors that impact not only oral health, but also heart health, specifically tobacco-use and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Minnesota Alliance with Youth, Statewide Minnesota, $30,000
Deliver in-kind dental hygiene supplies to youth-led sites.
Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc., Twin Cities Metro, $28,000
Provide dental services and oral health education to underserved children and pregnant women ages 0-5 in North Minneapolis.
Operation Grace Minnesota, Twin Cities Metro, $22,500
Provide mobile dental services at People Serving People's homeless shelter to increase access to dental care utilizing dental professionals as volunteers.
Portico Healthnet, Twin Cities Metro, $40,000
Expand access to oral health care for underserved, low-income Twin Cities residents through screening and referrals, insurance enrollment assistance and additional support.
Ready Set Smile, Twin Cities Metro, $25,000
Support the implementation of certified Community Health Workers.
Special Olympics Minnesota, Minnesota Statewide, $20,000
Provide free dental screenings, oral health education and mouth guards to Special Olympics of Minnesota athletes as part of the Healthy Athletes initiative.
United Family Medicine, Twin Cities Metro, $25,000
Increase dental clinic staffing in order to expand hours and serve more patients.

For more information on the grantees, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation or Delta Dental of Minnesota, visit www.deltadentalmn.org.

About the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation:

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is designed to support Delta Dental of Minnesota's mission of improving the oral health of the people in Minnesota and advancing the science and art of oral health in Minnesota. The Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports initiatives that promote access to oral health and, in turn, improve the overall health and vitality of our community.

About Delta Dental of Minnesota:

Delta Dental of Minnesota 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 an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Illinois. To learn more, go to www.deltadentalmn.org.