SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation said today that it gave nearly $3.2 million last year – a more than 400 percent increase from $580,000 in 2016 – to improve oral health and access to dental care in California, focusing on underserved areas where many families and individuals have trouble accessing affordable dental care.
The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California, which covers nearly 25.5 million people.
The funds went to 58 California community dental clinics and several major educational and research institutions, as well as to aid California communities struck by natural disasters.
“As the state’s largest dental plan, we take our commitment to oral health very seriously and work hard to increase access to care for as many people as possible,” said John Yamamoto, DDS, MPH, vice president of professional services for Delta Dental of California. “We’re proud to be able to support the advancement of oral health as well as many communities in need in the state and hope to build upon this in the future.”
Along with support for the community dental clinics, last year’s funding in California included a two-year, $1.5 million grant to the UCLA School of Dentistry to support a collaborative care initiative and major gifts to the University of the Pacific and Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. It also included a gift of $200,000 to the American Red Cross to help communities devastated by major wildfires in the state.
Most dental clinic grants ranged between $10,000 and $50,000.
Overall, funding by the foundation last year totaled $9.6 million in 15 states and the District of Columbia, an increase from the prior year.
About the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies including Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., and Delta Dental of Pennsylvania. Together with our affiliate companies, Delta Dental of California covers more than 35.4 million enrollees. All of our companies are members, or affiliates of members, of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a network of 39 Delta Dental companies that provides dental coverage to 75 million people in the U.S. The foundation’s mission is to increase access to quality dental care by providing funding and support to advance research, education and access to dental care across our 15-state service area plus the District of Columbia.
