The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is committed to oral health education and providing preventive dental care to children. As such, the foundation has invested in Sun Life Family Health Center through the Community Dental Program. With a donation of $18,000, the Community Dental Program will provide oral hygiene instruction, dental screenings and fluoride varnish […]
The Team
Barb Kozuh
Contributor
Barb Kozuh is the executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. She and her team work to make a positive impact to improve the health and wellness of the underserved and under-represented people across Arizona. The foundation focuses on funding oral health and food insecurity programs through medical-dental integration programs, screening/fluoride varnish programs, oral health education programs, plus a variety of food banks, after-school and weekend programs that provide food to those in need.
Barb was inspired by the dedication, patience and kind-heartedness of her childhood family dentist in Joliet, IL and wanted to make others feel good about their smiles by becoming a dentist. However, after graduating from Arizona State University with a business degree, she was lured into the non-profit sports industry where she was able to both fulfill her need to help others and satisfy her love of sports. Barb has served as executive director of Chicago White Sox Charities, the Frank Thomas Charitable Foundation and Phoenix Coyotes Charities. In addition, Barb has worked in marketing, advertising and public relations for a number of firms in Chicago. Barb serves on the Delta Dental Institute advisory council, board of the Corporate Volunteer Council and is a member of the Arizona Oral Health Coalition.
Recent blog posts written by Barb Kozuh
Delta Dental of Arizona Donates Nearly $500,000 to Statewide Nonprofits
Delta Dental of Arizona, through the charitable Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, has been committed to expanding access to oral health education and preventive dental care, especially for children and expectant mothers. In 2017, we will provide nearly $500,000 in grants to 29 Arizona community groups serving high-risk children and families, pregnant mothers, dental health awareness programs […]
Grantee Spotlight: Esperanca Helps At-risk Children Learn with a Smile
Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is a 501(c)3 private foundation embedded in Delta Dental of Arizona, the leading dental benefits company in the state. We have a staff of 3 and a large group of volunteer board members and event volunteers who dedicate themselves to executing the mission of the Foundation, which is to support […]
Get Screened & Raise Funds at the AZ Oral Cancer Walk
Our mouth is used to eat, drink, smile, speak, laugh and kiss. But when cancer affects our mouths, it does more than take away these everyday functions. It takes lives. In fact, close to 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,650 deaths, killing roughly 1 […]
Mouth Healthy Recipe: Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
Ingredients 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1 cup buttermilk 3 large egg whites ¼ cup canned pumpkin 2 tbsp sugar-free maple-flavor syrup 1 tsp vanilla 2 tsp oil Nuts such as walnuts or pecans (optional) Cooking spray Directions Mix the […]
2 Fun Treats to Make With Your Kids For a Healthy Halloween
I love Halloween! I hate Halloween! I love decorating the house, discussing and planning costume options with my 7-year old daughter, carving pumpkins together and planning what we can hand out to the little neighborhood trick-or-treaters. After Halloween, I hate fussing with my daughter over limiting her Halloween candy. It’s not punitive; it’s about what’s […]
5 Tips for Aging Gracefully
What do you, a fine wine and George Clooney all have in common? These are all things that get better with age! While many of us loathe blowing out birthday candles each year, it’s time to change that way of thinking and embrace your age. Start with these 5 simple ways to age gracefully and […]
7 Reasons Smiling & Laughing are Good for You
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine was right! Researchers at the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland found that “people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations” when compared to those of a similar age without heart disease. In addition to “eating right […]
Secondhand Smoke May Be Linked to Cavities in Kids
Researchers have long known there is a connection between tobacco use and gum disease, as well as oral cancers. What’s not well understood is the connection between secondhand smoke and the development of cavities in young children. A 2011 systemic review of 15 studies published between 1990 and 2010 found a “possible causal relationship” between […]
9th Annual Golf4Smiles Tournament Raises Funds, Friends and Flags
During the early morning hours on Friday, May 16, workers raised new, crisp golf flags in the holes around both courses of Grayhawk Golf Club. The flags carried the logos of the many companies that support the efforts of Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. It was a beautiful, calm 77 degrees, the sun was just […]