Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation announced funding awards for projects working to improve children’s oral health in local communities. Eleven organizations have received awards ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per grant. A total of $100,962 will fund community projects across the state.
This funding is part of Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation’s larger efforts to spur dental health innovation throughout Colorado.
Organizations receiving mini-grant funding include:
- The Grand Beginnings for their Healthy Mouths, Healthy Families project in Hot Sulphur Springs
- Salud Family Health Centers for their Salud School Based Dental Outreach and Education project in Fort Lupton
- Community Dental Clinic and WIC Oral Wellness in Montrose
- Dental Aid for their Let’s Maintain our Oral Health project in Boulder
- Tri-County Health Network for their Improving Oral Health Outcomes in Ouray, Delta and Montrose
- Denver Indian Health Services for their Native Tooth project in Denver
- Cheyenne County Public Health for their Oral Health program in Cheyenne County
- Prowers County for their Little Smiles Project in Lamar
- Pueblo Community College for their PCC Public Awareness and Access to Oral Health Care project in Pueblo
- Aspen to Parachute Dental Health Alliance for their Bright Start Smiles in Pitkin and Eagle County
- Axis Health System for their Improving Oral Health for Underserved Kids project in La Plata County in Durango
“This mini-grant funding empowers local organizations and focuses long-term improvements in children’s oral health in Colorado communities,” says Lisa Konen, the foundation’s communications director.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. Nearly half of Colorado’s 1.2 million children will have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. Untreated cavities cause missed school days, behavioral problems and lower grade point averages. Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation works to eradicate childhood tooth decay – a nearly 100% preventable disease – by supporting projects that increase access to dental care and address the causes of tooth decay.