The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation has awarded grants to 37 non-profit organizations that work with underserved populations of all ages through oral health and nutritional programs. A total of $838,372 were awarded to support projects and services promoting good oral health practices and increasing access to dental care among underserved children, pregnant women, seniors and adults, as well as nutritional access programs such as food banks, after-school and weekend food programs for children, and senior delivery programs.
“Delta Dental of Arizona believes that oral health is foundational to overall health and that everyone deserves access to care, regardless of age, income, or circumstance,” said Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona and chair of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. “These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to whole-person health by supporting evidence-based programs that improve oral health, expand access to care, and address related challenges such as nutrition and chronic disease. By investing in trusted community partners across Arizona, we are using data, science, and local expertise to remove barriers, strengthen health outcomes, and help create healthier lives for individuals, families, and communities statewide.”
For the first time, the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation distributed an Innovation Grant, a two-year, $100,000 grant focused on funding projects by non-profit organizations that are unique and original in nature resulting in real-world impact. The Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation is the inaugural recipient, utilizing the funds to support the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program.
“In 2020, the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation launched ECHO as a virtual, collaborative tele-mentoring program that provides critical training in dementia care for local health care professionals through video conferencing and day-long workshops with dementia specialists,” said Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. “Through this grant, the program will expand to include dental professionals, empowering dental providers to offer the best possible care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”
Additionally, community grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, as well as dental supplies as needed, were presented to 36 Arizona nonprofits.
The grant program is one of many investments Delta Dental of Arizona has made to support access to health and wellness statewide. Delta Dental of Arizona is also focused on several key programs and initiatives to increase education around and access to health and wellness across Arizona.
“This includes a partnership with Arizona PBS to educate children on good oral health, the Delta Dental of Arizona Oral Health Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul, critical work with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the Banner Health Foundation Hospital Oral Care and Periodontal Disease Education (HOPE) program protocol,” said Kozuh. “We also provide a free Dental Care Resource Guide on our website, which features a comprehensive directory of low-cost dental clinics across Arizona for individuals and families who are uninsured or underinsured.”
