Dental foundation accepting applications for community grants
Nonprofit and public organizations may begin applying for grants to fund programs and services that improve the oral health of Illinois children. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, the 501 (c)(3) philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, will accept applications for its annual Community Grants Program from Aug. 1 until Sept. 9.
The foundation focuses its funding on programs and/or organizations targeting children's access to oral health care and overall oral health education and awareness. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. This year, a total of $150,000 in grants will be awarded.
As part of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation's commitment to improve children's oral health in Illinois, the Foundation awarded nearly $150,000 to 16 organizations in 2015 through the Community Grants Program. Some examples are: the Asian Human Services Family Health Center Inc. in Chicago, which used the grant money to add a fourth operatory room to its dental clinic; the Douglas County Health Department in Tuscola, which used the grant money to provide oral health awareness and education to Amish populations in three counties; and the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation in Springfield, which used the grant money to help support Mission of Mercy, a two-day dental clinic that provides free dental care to Illinois residents.
"Too many children in Illinois suffer from preventable dental disease and face significant barriers to access the oral health care they need," said Lora Vitek, director of philanthropy and community relations for Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. "Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation developed its Community Grants Program in 2013 to help organizations focused on improving children's oral health in Illinois build upon their programs. We are honored to have partnered with more than 40 organizations across Illinois to improve oral health and advance oral health education in the state. The need is great and we look forward to working with more organizations and programs that share our mission and work tirelessly to improve children's oral health in Illinois," she said.
Grant applicants must have a physical presence in the state of Illinois; be a public charity classified as exempt from federal income taxes under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; or be a public or governmental entity such as a public school or health department. The application and complete list of criteria are available at ddilfoundation.org/grantreq.aspx.
To learn more about the Delta Dental of Illinois Community Grants Program or to support the Foundation, please visit deltadentalil.com/ddilfoundation.
<h3 class="leadin">About Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation</h3>
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation was formed in March, 2008, by Delta Dental of Illinois, a not-for-profit dental service corporation with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois and works to support and improve the oral health of people in Illinois. In the past decade, combined efforts of Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation have provided more than $3 million to programs and organizations in Illinois that improve the oral health of the residents of Illinois