03 July 2026

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MDS Foundation Awards Over $20,000 in Grants

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The annual Access to Care grants support programs that increase access to oral healthcare and education for underserved communities.

The MDS Foundation, the charitable arm of the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), recently awarded over $20,000 in grants to four organizations serving the oral health needs of Massachusetts residents.

“The Foundation provides grants to champion oral health initiatives throughout the Commonwealth. This year, in addition to our Access to Care grants, we sponsored a Mission of Mercy no-cost dental clinic, which provided free care to over 200 patients,” shared MDS Foundation Chair Janis Moriarty, DMD. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we will continue to fulfill our mission of breaking down barriers to care and improving the oral health of Massachusetts residents.”

The annual Access to Care grants support programs that increase access to oral healthcare and education for underserved communities. The following 2026 grant recipients bring innovative programs and initiatives to those in need.

Actions for Children and Teens for Oral Health in Need, whose mission is to reduce disparities in pediatric oral healthcare by providing sustainable, low-cost dental services to children and adolescents, was awarded over $600. Its grant funding will be used to provide consistent, high-quality oral healthcare to children from underserved communities in the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) system.

Dental Lifeline Network (DLN)—Donated Dental Services (DDS) Massachusetts , which has, since 2005, offered underserved patients in Massachusetts access to pro bono dental care, received a $7,500 grant. This funding will help provide oral healthcare to 30 individuals with disabilities, those with fragile medical conditions, and older adults.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, whose goal is to enhance the health and well-being of young and vulnerable members of the community, was granted $2,000. The funding will be used to maintain the ongoing Healthy Smile program at the Rainbow Child Development Center in Worcester, MA.

Visiting Dental Hygiene , which brings preventive dental care with compassion and comfort to those with limited access to care, received a $10,000 grant. The grant will help fund a mobile dental hygiene program for those who face persistent barriers to care, such as older adults, individuals in recovery, people experiencing homelessness, DCF-involved youth, and teen parents living in group homes.

About the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS)

The Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), a 5,000+-member professional association and a statewide constituent of the American Dental Association, is dedicated to the professional development of its member dentists through initiatives in education, advocacy, the promotion of the highest professional standards, and the championing of oral health in the Commonwealth. The MDS Foundation is the charitable arm of the MDS.

Source: http://massdental.org