Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation Awards 2014 Grants

The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is pleased to announce the award of more than $455,000 in community grants to 26 organizations promoting oral health and disease prevention programs in Arizona.

Grants range from $6,500 to $25,000 and support a broad array of preventive services, including a $10,000 grant to Flagstaff Medical Center’s program which provides electric toothbrushes, education and instruction to children with chronic and disabling health conditions to a $25,000 grant to provide fluoride varnish applications and oral health education to children participating in Homeward Bound.  Grants are offered annually, with applications typically due each fall and awarded early the next year.

“The Grants Committee and the Foundation Board of Directors are very pleased to be able to award grants to such committed and worthwhile organizations in the oral health field. We are proud that Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is able to contribute to communities throughout Arizona in such an impactful way,” said Sandi Perez, Ph.D., vice president of communications and community benefit for Delta Dental of Arizona.

The grantees were recognized at an award luncheon February 14 at The Phoenix Zoo.

Recognizing the critical importance of developing healthy dental hygiene practices beginning at birth, the Foundation targets its resources on promoting oral health education and instruction in schools, health centers, safety net clinics and community centers across the state.

For a list of 2014 grant recipients, please visit www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation/community-grants/grant-recipients.asp.

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Barb Kozuh
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.