Cheshire Nonprofit Scores $100K Grant: A Boost for Community Smiles!

CHESHIRE, CT — Exciting news is making waves in Cheshire as the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut has secured a remarkable $100,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation! This generous funding was announced on Thursday and promises to create a positive impact in our community.

The Delta Dental Foundation, the philanthropic powerhouse behind Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut, has generously allocated a total of $231,400 in grants to six worthy organizations across New Haven County. This is just a slice of a larger $921,383 initiative aimed at uplifting nearly 6,800 individuals and families statewide. The goal? To enhance oral health care for the uninsured and underinsured, while also fostering workforce development programs that prepare students for promising dental careers.

Check out the details from the announcement below:

This funding will bolster initiatives throughout New Haven County and the entire state of Connecticut. With a series of SMILE and SMILE Workforce grants, the foundation aims to ensure that seniors, developmentally disabled adults, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and veterans can all benefit from improved dental health services.

This year, the program has introduced innovative Workforce grants specifically targeting the dental assistant shortage that has plagued the industry in recent times. “Our Foundation is dedicated to tackling oral health care challenges and enhancing access to dental services and education for residents of Connecticut,” stated Dennis G. Wilson, president and CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as vice president of the Delta Dental Foundation. “A bright, healthy smile is not just about aesthetics; it’s vital for our overall health, self-esteem, and relationships. We stand firm in our commitment to our communities and the belief that everyone deserves to showcase a healthy smile.”

Here’s a look at the New Haven County recipients:

• Community Health Center Association of Connecticut in Cheshire received $100,000 to conduct a crucial needs assessment focused on dental assistant vacancies and growth opportunities, while also promoting dental careers in local high schools.
• Yale New Haven Hospital of New Haven was awarded $10,000 to support dentures and partials for veterans, exceeding the benefits of their free care program.
• New England Teaching Institute in North Haven received $76,400 to enhance its dental assisting program, enabling more students to enter the field and help address the workforce shortage in Connecticut.
• Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach in Waterbury has been granted $25,000 to facilitate the MOM event at Wilby High School this November, catering to dental supplies, medications, anesthetics, equipment, and much more.
• Special Olympics in Hamden secured $10,000 for Special Smiles dental screenings, follow-up care, dental education for athletes, and training for dental students on treating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• The University of New Haven in West Haven was awarded $10,000 for its dental hygiene scholarship fund to support aspiring dental professionals.