Can you imagine…
Having a throbbing abscessed tooth and being unable to afford to go the dentist?
Having a child in pain and being unable to locate a dentist in your area?
Being unable to secure a good job because you have no front teeth?
Being so desperate for dentures that you resort to wearing some you found in a dumpster?
Many Oklahomans don’t have to imagine. It's reality.
Ideally, every Oklahoman would have dental insurance and we at Delta Dental strive to make it available and affordable. But many Oklahomans are still uninsured, and unable to afford necessary prevention and care. Many live in underserved rural areas without dental services nearby. And many are unaware of the actions they can take to help avoid dental disease.
As a not-for-profit corporation, Delta Dental of Oklahoma is committed to significant, ongoing contributions to Oklahoma communities. Dental insurance is our business, but dental care access is our mission. That’s why we created the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Charitable Foundation.
The Foundation performs a variety of functions that advance dental care access and education throughout the state, such as:
- Providing grants to numerous free and low-cost inner-city and rural dental clinics and services to help provide vital care to those less fortunate
- Publishing the Resource for Dental Care guide and newsletter to help connect dental care resources to each other and to those in need
- Supporting the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and its numerous outreach and educational programs
- Awarding scholarships to Oklahoma dental students who intend to practice here in Oklahoma upon graduation, increasing the number of dentists in our state
- Educating thousands of elementary age children each year about good oral hygiene and dental disease prevention through our Captain Supertooth program
Foundation Funding Tripled for 2009
From its inception in 1998 through 2007 the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Charitable Foundation contributed over $1.5 million to dozens of dental health and education related projects and initiatives. In 2008 the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Charitable Foundation gave awards totaling nearly $500,000, making it the state’s single largest contributor to the cause. “The Journal Record” recognized those efforts by selecting Delta Dental as the recipient of its inaugural Beacon Award for philanthropic impact.
But Delta Dental’s board of directors agreed there was so much more that could be achieved with additional money. That led to a major decision to increase funding to the Foundation to nearly $1.5 million for 2009 – an increase of more than 300 percent over the previous year.
"There is so much need in Oklahoma and we are in a unique position to dramatically improve the availability of more care and education," said John Gladden, president and CEO. “Our hope is to be able to take this increased funding to provide further support to dental professionals volunteering their time and make the Foundation the center of benevolent dental care for all Oklahomans. We believe it's our responsibility to do so."
2009 Grant Recipients
Clinics & Programs (details can be found in our Resource for Dental Care Guide):
Bristow Free Dental Clinic (Bristow)
City Rescue Mission Indigent Care Fund (Oklahoma City)
Crossings Community Clinic (Oklahoma City)
D-DENT (Dentists for the Disabled and Elderly in Need of Treatment) (Statewide)
Eastern Okla. Donated Dental Services (EODDS) (Northeastern Oklahoma)
Good Shepherd Clinic (Oklahoma City)
Good Shepherd Clinic (Ardmore)
Ministries of Jesus Free Dental Clinic (Edmond)
NSO (Neighborhood Services Organization) Dental Clinic (Oklahoma City)
Neighbor for Neighbor (Tulsa)
Oklahoma Dental Foundation Mobile Dental Care Unit (Statewide)
OU/Southern Oklahoma Technology Center Dental Hygiene Clinic (Ardmore)
OU/Tri-County Technology Center Dental Hygiene Clinic (Bartlesville)
OU College of Dentistry Indigent Care Fund
Special Projects/Funds:
Oklahoma Mission of Mercy - OkMOM (Tulsa)
Alliance to the Oklahoma Dental Association “Give Kids a Smile Project” (Tulsa)
Norman Regional Foundation "Give Kids a Smile" Project
OU College of Dentistry Scholarship Fund
OU College of Dentistry Software Upgrade Project
Special Olympics “Special Smiles Program”
Western Oklahoma “Give Kids a Smile Project”
Delta Dental of Oklahoma’s Captain Supertooth statewide education program
How to Apply for a Grant
from the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Charitable Foundation is to facilitate dental health and education in the state of Oklahoma by funding programs and services that promote oral health. Based on that mission, we award grants to organizations that make dental care accessible or advance dental education.
Guidelines:
Click here to download the Grant Application (Requires Microsoft Word. If you do not have Word, contact us for assistance.)
Applications for the 2010 grant program must be received by August 31, 2009 (Grants are awarded in November and funded during 2010)
The grant application must include measurable goals and a method for measuring success
We fund only dental health and education related projects and initiatives
We do not fund programs that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, or religion
For more information or for help with your application please contact:
Terrisa Singleton
Charitable Foundation Specialist
Phone: 405-607-4771
Email: foundation@deltadentalok.org
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