Foundation Grants More than $700,000 to Support Oral Health Care for the Underserved

The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation will donate more than $700,000 to 19 community organizations and dental clinics throughout New Jersey and Connecticut in 2008. This is the largest year’s donation ever given by the Foundation to help treat the underserved. The money will be used to fund dental clinics and subsidize dental care for underserved children and families, developmentally disabled, and senior citizen populations. 

“Delta Dental is proud that in 2008 we will give back to the community more than ever before,” says Gene F. Napoliello, DDS, president of the Foundation. “Every year we choose the organizations and healthcare facilities that will best use the grants to make dental care accessible to those in need.” 

The Foundation’s mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to enhancing dental health, research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good oral health, and improving dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Foundation awards $1 million to the community in the form of grants. Three-quarters of that budget is allocated to provide access to dental care for the underserved and dental education throughout New Jersey and Connecticut. 

“This is the first time we will be partnering with Head Start programs to deliver dental care to the children in that program,” says Dr. Napoliello. “We chose two programs that best demonstrated their commitment to the oral health of their students.” 

In 2007, Board members and staff visited each new program, as part of an ongoing schedule of site visits to all grantees. 

“I am always impressed with the dignified manner with which the clinic staff treats their patients,” said Diane Belle, Foundation Trustee and Delta Dental of New Jersey Vice President, Corporate Communications. “In addition to the objective outcomes that we evaluate, we visit each program to ensure that the programs are truly up and running and that the clinics exhibit a welcoming environment to their patients.”

Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation 2008 Grant Initiatives:

• East Orange Health Dept. Dental Clinic (East Orange, NJ)

• Eric B. Chandler Health Center (New Brunswick, NJ)

• Eva's Village (Paterson, NJ)

• Henry J. Austin Health Center (Trenton, NJ)

• Hunterdon County Dental Program (Hunterdon County, NJ)

• Jewish Renaissance Medical Center (Quitman Street School-Based Dental Clinic in Newark, NJ)

• JFK Medical Center Dental Clinic (Edison, NJ)

• Kids Corp. (Newark, NJ)

• Matheny Medical and Educational Center Dental Clinic (Peapack, NJ)

• Monmouth County Head Start (Asbury Park, Freehold, Howell, Keyport, Neptune, Red Bank, NJ)

• Monmouth Family Health Center (Long Branch, NJ)

• Morristown Memorial Health Foundation: Senior Smiles and developmentally disabled dental programs (Morristown, NJ)

• New Jersey Foundation of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities (state-wide program)

• Ocean Health Initiatives (Lakewood, NJ)

• Paterson Public Schools Dental Clinic (Paterson, NJ)

• Virtua Health Dental Clinic (Camden, NJ)

• Zufall Health Center (Dover, NJ)

• Hill Health Corp.: K. Brennan School-Based Dental Clinic (New Haven, CT)

• New Britain Head Start (New Britain, CT)