Delta Dental awards $40,000 grant to West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Morgantown, W. Va (PRWEB) November 06, 2017 -- The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation has the West Virginia University School of Dentistry grinning from ear to ear with its contribution of $40,000, which will be used to supplement the school’s educational programs.
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of West Virginia and its affiliated companies, which provide dental insurance to nearly 36.5 million people including university students in West Virginia. The dental school promotes diversity and encourages hands-on learning by treating patients in the school’s faculty and graduate dental clinic.
“Delta Dental understands the importance of extending the opportunity of dental care to those in need and who otherwise might go without due to financial barriers," said Kenneth Yale, DDS, JD, senior vice president and chief clinical officer of Delta Dental. “We are delighted to contribute toward such a worthy cause that helps so many people.”
“West Virginia University is a land grant institution. One of our goals is to improve the oral health of the population,” said Dr. Richard Meckstroth, DDS, chair of the Department of Dental Practice and Rural Health at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. “The resources Delta Dental provided will help make it possible to provide dental care for more people in need.”
Added Meckstroth, “We will be able to expand our efforts to provide dental care for the working poor improving their quality of life. We hope to raise awareness of oral health issues and motivate change in communities across West Virginia. Healthy smiles lead to a brighter future.”
According to the University, West Virginia leads the nation in children’s cavities, adult tooth loss, and gum disease. The West Virginia University School of Dentistry is the only dental school in the state, so the school embraces the challenge of improving the oral health of its citizens. For more information, visit the University’s website at http://dentistry.hsc.wvu.edu/home/.
About the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation and Delta Dental
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation provides approximately $4 million in annual grants to nonprofit community clinics and health care programs, striving to improve oral health for underserved children and adults through treatment and education. It is the philanthropic branch of Delta Dental of West Virginia and its affiliates, which together provide dental benefits to nearly 36.5 million people in 15 states plus the District of Columbia. The affiliated companies, which also include Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., and Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, are part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, whose member companies collectively cover more than 75 million people nationwide.
About the West Virginia School of Dentistry
It is the mission of the West Virginia School of Dentistry to promote a diverse and dynamic learning environment that addresses the present and future oral health needs of the citizens of West Virginia and beyond by providing an oral health center committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, patient care, service and technology.
Elizabeth Risberg, Delta Dental of West Virginia, http://www.deltadentalins.com, +1 415-972-8423, [email protected]
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