At Delta Dental of Virginia, we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile. That’s why we’ve launched the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation to help improve the oral health and, subsequently, overall body health of all Virginians. Our mission with the Foundation is to make a positive impact on the oral health of all Virginians.
With growing evidence linking oral health to overall health, the need for greater access to care is significant, as more than 3.8 million Virginians are without dental insurance, according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation.
A dental exam may also be important to early detection of serious health issues. More than 90 percent of all systemic diseases, including diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease, have oral characteristics that can be detected during an oral exam according to the Academy of General Dentistry. And a dentist may be the first to spot warning signs of potential disease during a regular checkup, making access to a dentist more essential than ever.
So, to help champion our cause, The Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation will award grants to programs that will have a significant impact on improving oral health with sustainable solutions through improved access to oral care, oral health education or oral health research.
Organizations eligible to receive grants include: governmental agencies or educational institutions, entities holding a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption, or organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt fiscal sponsor.
If your organization is eligible, please apply and help us improve the oral health of Virginia. But hurry! The grant cycle ends on Sept. 30, 2012 and applications received after that date will not be considered.