Delta Dental helps schools receive water bottle-filling stations

NAPERVILLE - Fifty-five Illinois schools will receive new water bottle-filling stations to encourage students to drink more water as part of H2O On the Go, a grant program started last year by Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation.

Recipients include 20 schools in Cook County and four in suburban Chicago: Homestead Elementary in Aurora, Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center in Woodstock, and Prairie Point Elementary and Thomas Junior High schools in Oswego.

Illinois elementary, middle and high schools selected for this program will have existing water fountains replaced with new water bottle-filling stations. The schools will also receive toothbrushes and reusable water bottles for their students.

H2O On the Go provides greater access to drinking water for Illinois students and encourages them to choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, juice and sports drinks, Delta Dental Foundation said.