At Delta Dental of Colorado, our commitment to Colorado communities goes beyond providing exceptional dental coverage. We’re here to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors.
This year, we’re proud to share the impactful initiatives, donations, grants, and volunteer efforts that have shaped our contributions in 2024.
Delta Dental of Colorado donations: Making smiles brighter
In 2024, our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team focused on sustainable oral health with more than 32 nonprofits throughout Colorado, including:
- Oral health supplies: 62,600 oral healthcare items, such as children’s and adult bamboo toothbrushes and toothpaste tablets, were distributed to reduce our carbon footprint while helping those in need.
- Community investments: Through partnerships across Metro Denver, we invested $780,250 to support local initiatives.
- Employee-led giving: Through our Dollars for Doers and Matching Gifts programs, the Delta Dental of Colorado team raised $14,097.99 to support local causes.
Donation recipients: This year, Delta Dental of Colorado provided in-kind oral health supplies to a variety of organizations, including:
- Harvest of Hope Pantry
- Growing Home
- Sweet Dream In A Bag
- National Kidney Foundation
- Red Cross
- Servicios de La Raza
- Roundup Fellowship
- KIND
- Marillac Health
- Early Childhood Council
- Vail Veterans Program
- Fort Morgan High School
- CPR & First Aid
- Project Protect Food Systems Workers
- Mission Arvada
- WeeCycle
- Community Ministry of Southwest Denver
- West Middle School
- Discount Dental Services
- Commun
- Galileo Middle School
- Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
- Jewish Family Service
- Garfield County Public Health
Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) events
In 2024, DDCOF conducted three Listening Tours in the spring to connect with grantees, community members, and stakeholders across Colorado. These sessions were vital in helping us understand the experiences and perspectives of our communities.
The listening tours highlighted what we do well and identified opportunities to better partner with communities, playing a key role in shaping our 2025-2029 strategic plan.
Grants: Expanding oral health access and education
Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation awarded $2,537,606 in grants to 30 organizations in 2024. Some of the year’s notable grant-supported achievements include:
- Dental hygiene program expansion: We celebrated ribbon-cuttings at three Colorado colleges—Front Range Community College, Pikes Peak State College, and Colorado Mountain College—for new dental hygiene programs. These new programs, along with an expanded dental hygiene program at the Community College of Denver, will double the available seats in dental hygiene education statewide, helping to address the shortage in the oral health workforce.
- Healthy Universal Preschool Collaborative: This new initiative rolled out in fall of 2024, providing free oral health screenings to more than 4,700 children enrolled in universal preschool settings across the state.
Community benefits: Reaching thousands with critical services
Delta Dental of Colorado’s impact extended to thousands across the state through direct sponsorships and partnerships:
- Colorado Mission of Mercy: We proudly sponsored this event, offering free dental care to underserved individuals statewide.
- Thanksgiving Baskets: In partnership with Mile High United Way, our team provided 400 Thanksgiving baskets to families in the Bridging the Gap program, valued at $75 each.
Community stories: Real lives touched by Delta Dental of Colorado and Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation
We’re deeply inspired by the stories we hear from our community partners. Here are a few highlights that showcase the positive impact our contributions have made:
- Denver Urban Gardens: With Delta Dental of Colorado’s support, Denver Urban Gardens expanded its educational offerings, hiring new instructors and translating materials into Spanish to increase accessibility for more than 445 attendees.
- La Plata County Health Department: For the third consecutive year, DDCOF’s support enabled the “Tooth Fairy” to deliver 500 oral health supply bags to children at the Three Springs Fall Festival.
- River Valley Family Health Centers: Funding from DDCOF allowed them to help individuals like Jim (name has been changed for privacy), a patient in severe pain who found relief, guidance, and support in his oral health journey thanks to the accessible services provided at River Valley.
Volunteer efforts: Giving back to our Colorado community
Delta Dental of Colorado team members have volunteered a remarkable 1,554.5 hours across more than 40 Colorado-based organizations, including:
- Civic Center Conservancy
- VFW Post 9644 Foundation
- Environmental Learning for Kids
- Habitat For Humanity of Metro Denver Inc
- Focus Points Family Resource Center
- Metro Caring
- Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver
- American Red Cross – Mile High Chapter
- Denver Urban Gardens
- Project Worthmore
- Special Olympics Colorado
- Girls On the Run Of The Rockies
- Denver Public Schools Foundation
- Volunteers Of America Inc
- Alzheimer’s Association – Colorado Chapter
- Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association Inc
- Western Golf Association
- Volunteers For Outdoor Colorado Inc
- The Gay Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Co
- Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain
- Mountain Ridge Middle School
- Warren Village Inc
- Colorado Dental Hygienists Association
- U S Naval Sea Cadet Corps
- Phenomenal Women Inc
- Center For African American Health
- South Suburban Park Foundation
- Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado
- Littleton Youth Sports
- Denver Zoological Foundation Inc
- Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda Inc
- Douglas County High Schools Academic and Athletic Association
- Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation
- Mile High United Way Inc
- Deca Foundation
- Commerce City Cultural Council Inc
- Reunion Elementary Parent Group
- Commerce City Youth Athletics
- Mercy Housing
Thank you to our Delta Dental of Colorado and foundation teams for your dedication to uplifting communities and extending our impact beyond dental care.
Delta Dental of Colorado is honored to support our community
With each toothbrush, grant, and volunteer hour, Delta Dental of Colorado and Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation are inspired to continue this journey of support and collaboration in the communities we serve. We’re grateful for the trust and partnerships that enable us to make a difference and look forward to another year of growth, outreach, and community well-being.