DELTA DENTAL OF MISSOURI DONATES $100,000 TO
GATEWAY TO ORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION’S
MOBILE DENTAL PROGRAM

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Aug 30, 2021) … To help St. Louis-area children get vital dental care, Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a non-profit organization – recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the Gateway to Oral Health Foundation (GTOHF) for its mobile dental program. The GTOHF’s onsite outreach program provides comprehensive dental care for at-risk and underserved children and youth, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. Using two mobile dental vans and portable equipment, the GTOHF dentistry teams treat kids at schools in districts in St. Louis.

Delta Dental of Missouri’s president and CEO, Rob Goren, presented the grant check to GTOHF executives at the Foundation’s St. Louis offices.

Delta Dental of Missouri’s president/CEO, Rob Goren, (left center) presents a $100,000 grant to Gateway to Oral Health Foundation executives, Ollie Fisher, DMD, director of quality control (left); Byron DuVall, DDS, president (right); and Teresa Bell, executive director. The grant will help expand the Foundation’s mobile dental services through its clinic vans to help children and youth in need get vital dental care.

“Eliminating tooth pain for a child, so he could concentrate in class, and fixing the broken, decayed teeth of a 9-year-old, who had been ashamed to smile. We understand those are just two of more than 4,500 local children, whose quality of life has been improved by the Foundation teams since 2020,” said Rob Goren. “It’s our privilege to provide funds for their critical work to help improve the dental health and self-esteem of thousands youngsters in need.”

The grant funding will help the non-profit GTOHF expand the services of its “Miles of Childhood Smiles” project to additional schools, rehire staff idled by the COVID-19 pandemic, purchase educational materials and supplies and continue outreach to underserved communities.

“By treating the children at school, parents don’t have to take off work to keep appointments, family transportation issues are eliminated and time out of the classroom is reduced,” said Byron DuVall, DDS, president of the GTOHF, which he co-founded in 2003. “Their urgent need for dental care continues to grow, especially during the ongoing pandemic. This generous gift from Delta Dental of Missouri will allow us to improve the lives of many more children.”

“So many kids in the metro area suffer with constant tooth pain, and thousands don’t have access to proper dental treatment,” said Ollie Fisher, DMD, director of quality control at the GTOHF. “We’re thrilled to receive this Delta Dental grant, which will help us expand the reach of our Foundation and touch even more lives throughout St. Louis.” 

Through its Oral Health Grant Program, Delta Dental of Missouri awards general operating grants, program/project grants, capacity-building grants and equipment grants twice annually for programs that promote the oral health of individuals in Missouri. Objectives of its 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.

To be eligible for an oral health grant, applicants in Missouri must first complete a letter of inquiry through the online application system at https://www.deltadentalmo.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program, which includes program guidelines and application instructions. Applicants must be considered tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or be a public or governmental entity, such as a public school or health department, and serve the people of Missouri.

Learn more at 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 2.1 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 provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care as well 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.

 

About Gateway to Oral Health Foundation

The Gateway to Oral Health Foundation (GTOHF) is an onsite school-based dental outreach provider. GTOHF has been operating in schools since 1996. Its mission is to bring state-of-the-art quality dental care to students most in need of care. It offers comprehensive dental treatment and preventive care in the most comfortable and effective manner possible. GTOHF is a group of committed, competent and compassionate dentists, hygienists, assistants and auxiliary staff, who promote excellence in oral healthcare by providing dental services to children in non-traditional settings. Using mobile and portable dental equipment, GTOHF provides high-quality dental services in schools, youth care facilities and pre-schools. GTOHF also participates in numerous health fairs and educational programs. To learn more, visit www.gtohfoundation.org.