01 February 2022

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DDCOF funds $7M to 38 orgs

Katherine E. Pfaff

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Community partnership organization, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, has gifted more than 38 organizations with funding for projects. The funding, which was granted based on a 2021 directive to make oral health equitable and accessible, totals more than $7 million. DDCOF is a 501(c)(3) that receives funding from Delta Dental of Colorado. The current funding adds to a prior gifting of $4.4 million to 37 organizations over a 3-year period. 

“We believe every person deserves a healthy mouth regardless of life circumstances,” said Adeeb Khan, executive director, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation. “Each of these organizations will support increased access to oral health care, which demonstrates that together we can address community needs, implement activities to improve oral health, focus on preventive health care, and influence long-term change.”

Specific goals of DDCOF include increasing access to preventive oral care for young children, increasing access to oral health care in San Luis Valley and East Metro Denver, and expanding the diversity among oral healthcare professionals.  The organization has also made $2.7 million available in low-interest loans to three organizations that service communities with low access: Project Worthmore, Kids First Health Care, and Tepeyac Community Health Center. With the loans, the organizations will expand access to community-based oral health clinics. 

Also as part of the monies awarded, 19 organizations or clinics will be able to provide preventive oral health care to patients in their respective communities. An additional area of focus, the dentistry workforce, will receive attention through funding of four projects or groups that will research or address challenges in recruiting dental professional from diverse backgrounds. 

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delta-dental-of-colorado-foundation-awards-more-than-7-million-to-expand-access-to-dental-care-301465444.html