Industry and legislation policies

Water fluoridation: What it is, why it’s important, how we’re involved

2006 community contributions

Community events

Our enterprise companies and staff members frequently participate in community events that provide oral health services and education to underserved populations. We work in concert with our partner dentists, health care agencies and service providers in several states to reach those with the greatest dental needs. For example, Delta Dental has donated funds to help sponsor the “Texas Missions of Mercy” program, which delivers health care services to needy Texans. The program, founded in 2001 by the Texas Dentists for Healthy Smiles (the philanthropic outreach branch of the Texas Dental Association), has provided $1.37 million in free dental services to nearly 3,900 people in Texas over the past few years. In our other states, we have also sponsored smoking cessation and “spit tobacco” cessation programs, clinics to provide sealants to needy schoolchildren and dozens of local health projects that target rural health care clinics, children of migrant and seasonal farm workers, fishing and forestry workers and Native Americans.

In addition to directly sponsoring these programs, Delta Dental has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate contributions, matching funds and community service grants to nonprofit groups such as the United Way, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Operation Teddy Bear, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and local nonprofit organizations.