Foundation awards 16 grants to aid dental care

The Naperville-based Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation has awarded more than $255,000 to 16 nonprofit and community organizations, including ones in Aurora, Elgin and St. Charles, to work to improve children's oral health across the state.

The Center for Healthcare Innovation in Aurora will get $20,000 for Healthy Aurora, which will develop materials in English and Spanish to increase health literacy, education and awareness.

Tri City Health Partnership in St. Charles will get $20,000 to purchase equipment for a new dental operatory that will allow it to increase its number of staff members and volunteers and treat multiple patients simultaneously.

The Well Child Center in Elgin will get $20,000 for its First Tooth Visit Program which offers oral health care for low-income children at low or no cost.