‘Serve a Smile’ grant
Delta Dental of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Minnesota Alliance With Youth (the Alliance) and Minnesota FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), announces that the company has awarded more than $30,000 in annual youth service mini grants and in-kind donations. The competitive-based grants are awarded through Delta Dental’s Serve a Smile program, which promotes youth volunteer activities coinciding with Global Youth Service Day on April 14-22.
Two local projects were funded:
* A $1,000 grant awarded to Kimball Community Education in Kimball will be used for a project called Kids on the Block Program on Healthy Eating and Dental Care. In this Delta Dental Serve a Smile project, fifth-and sixth-grade students in the Leo Club will perform puppet shows to youth in pre-K-third grades about the importance of healthy eating habits.
* A $960 grant awarded to Litchfield FCCLA in Litchfield will be used for a project called Project W.A.T.E.R.-In this Delta Dental Serve a Smile project, students will educate the school community about fluoride in tap water, and the positive effects of drinking water versus drinking pop by promoting hydration stations and providing water bottles to students.
“This year many of the Serve a Smile projects continue to incorporate oral health education and awareness, in addition to nutrition and exercise,” said Ann Johnson, director of Community Affairs at Delta Dental of Minnesota. “These Serve a Smile projects support our mission of improving health and increasing health literacy.”
“Serve a Smile is based on the belief that when creative and resourceful youth volunteers are given an opportunity to participate in public service initiatives with their family, friends, school and community leaders, they can contribute in meaningful ways to help solve community issues,” continued Johnson.
Global Youth Service Day is the most high-profile event in service learning, involving more than
3 million youth in community projects. While it’s celebrated in more than 100 countries in every region of the world, Minnesota is recognized as having the largest Global Youth Service Day program in the nation and in the world.
“Once again, we are very excited to partner with Delta Dental of Minnesota and FCCLA in co-sponsoring this important initiative,” said Sarah Dixon, CEO, Minnesota Alliance With Youth. “Through our work across Minnesota, we know that when young people are actively engaged and contributing members of their communities, the possibilities are endless and produce amazing results such as increased high school graduation, higher college enrollment, and reduction of risk taking behaviors.” Dixon said.
“We’re pleased to partner with Minnesota Alliance With Youth and FCCLA for the ninth year,” said Johnson. “Minnesota is fortunate to have such outstanding youth organizations with a deep understanding of the needs of children, families and community and strong track records in providing programs and services that make a difference. Delta Dental of Minnesota is pleased to be able to help these organizations carry out their vital work.”
In-kind donations include items such as children’s toothbrushes, adult toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and oral health educational materials geared toward specific populations.
About Delta Dental of Minnesota
Delta Dental of Minnesota’s oral health initiatives are part of its non-profit mission to provide educational information and support community programs that help enhance the oral health of all Minnesotans. An independent, non-profit health services company, we take seriously our mission to serve Minnesotans’ oral health needs. Since 1969, we’ve accomplished this mission by providing the best access across the state to oral health care through affordable dental plans. For more information, visit www.delta
dentalmn.org. Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association. Delta Dental of Minnesota is an independent nonprofit dental services company and is an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Ill.
About the Minnesota Alliance With Youth
Founded in 1997, the Alliance is Minnesota’s leading convener, collaborator and capacity-builder for youth development. The Alliance seeks to strengthen youth success in school and learning, increase youth engagement in communities, develop and magnify youth voice, and advance collaboration and innovation with entities that share our vision. The Alliance is the Minnesota affiliate of the America’s Promise Alliance and contributes resources to schools, communities and partner organizations across the state in the form of 116 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows.
For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth or Global Youth Service Day, visit www.mnyouth.net.
Kimball receives Delta Dental of Minnesota 2012
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