Delta Dental of Rhode Island Announces More Than $30,000 in Grants to RI Donated Dental Services
PROVIDENCE – Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) announced that it has awarded
a grant of $25,000 to Rhode Island Donated Dental Services (DDS) through its annual
challenge grant program in collaboration with the Rhode Island Dental Association.
The grant matched 100 percent of dentists’ donations for 2015, up to $25,000. In
addition, DDRI donated an additional $6,000 in support of 12 new volunteer dentists
with Rhode Island DDS.
Volunteer dentists in the program provide dental care to disabled and elderly Rhode
Islanders, as well as to those who are suffering from severe dental problems because
they cannot afford treatment. In FY 2015, Rhode Island DDS provided more than
$341,000 in treatment to 98 patients.
«As a company, we continue to look for ways we can help eliminate barriers to good
oral health care, particularly the barriers of access and affordability,» said Joe
Nagle, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Rhode Island. «Our matching grant
partnership with the Rhode Island Dental Association leverages the generosity of the
association’s dentists who donate to the program.»
The grants were made through the company’s charitable arm, the Delta Dental of Rhode
Island Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.
«We’re grateful to Delta Dental of Rhode Island for its support of our efforts to
make sure that people with disabilities, and those who are medically fragile, get
the critical dental care they need,» said Martin Nager, DMD, president of RI DDS.
«Every dollar donated generates $10 in care through Donated Dental Services. Through
this matching grant, we’re able to provide free, comprehensive dental treatment to
an increasing number of Rhode Islanders.»
«Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s challenge grant will help Rhode Island Donated
Dental Services expand its reach in providing oral health care to our state’s most
vulnerable citizens,» said Lisa Wood, executive director of the Rhode Island Dental
Association. «Working together, we can make sure that access and affordability don’t
stand in the way of good oral health.»
In 2015, Delta Dental’s community support to improve oral health for all Rhode
Islanders included its awarding of more than $1 million in major gifts to support
programs, clinics and professionals working to provide critical oral health care to
those most in need across the state, as well as its premier sponsorship of the
successful Rhode Island Mission of Mercy free dental clinic, the Rhode Island
Department of Health’s Loan Forgiveness Program for dental professionals, and
donations of funds, toothbrushes and other oral health materials to various
community organizations.
About Delta Dental of Rhode Island
Delta Dental of Rhode Island is the state’s largest dental insurer. The Company and
its wholly owned subsidiaries administer dental benefits for more than 738,000
members. The mission of Delta Dental is to improve the dental health of the people
of Rhode Island by providing well-managed, high quality and affordable dental care
products that are both financially viable and responsive to marketplace needs.
www.deltadentalri.com