DELTA DENTAL OF MISSOURI AWARDS $5,000 GRANT TO PONY BIRD TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILTIES GET VITAL DENTAL CARE
HERCULANEUM, Mo. (May 13, 2024) … To help meet the dental health needs of children and adults, Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a non-profit organization – recently awarded a $5,000 oral health grant to Pony Bird, a not-for-profit organization with locations in Jefferson County, dedicated to enriching the lives of people with disabilities. The funds will provide much-needed dental care with special sedation for individuals with developmental disabilities and financial constraints.
The funding is part of Delta Dental of Missouri’s 2024 mission giving initiatives, which included awarding nearly $350,000 in oral health grants to eight organizations to support oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes across the state.
“We are so grateful for Delta Dental’s support of our Oral Healthcare initiative,” said Andrea Wolf, vice president of programs for Pony Bird. This grant will have a huge impact by helping us to provide the best possible dental care to the individuals we serve in our Community Living Program who are developmentally disabled, non-ambulatory and medically fragile. Improving their oral healthcare has proven to be vital to upgrading their overall health and wellbeing.”
“Through our oral health grant program, we strive to help people live better lives through improved dental health,” said Stacy Harris, community outreach supervisor at Delta Dental of Missouri. “By providing grants to a variety of organizations—like Pony Bird—together, we can help thousands get essential dental care to enhance their overall health and quality of life.”
The company awards grants for general operations, programs, projects and capacity-building efforts promoting the oral health of individuals in Missouri. Objectives of its grant program include:
• Reducing oral disease through education, prevention and treatment
• Ensuring access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental care
• Enhancing the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children and individuals in need
• Making a measurable difference in the oral health of Missourians
• Helping to ensure that Missouri is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health.
Delta Dental of Missouri also awarded more than $132,000 in grants to three organizations in South Carolina, where it also does business. To learn more, visit https://www.deltadentalmo.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program.
About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.19 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.