Delta Dental Awards Oral Health Grants to 31 Arizona Non-Profits

A DDAZF grant supports the Tooth BUDDS program, which provides dental care in remote areas of Arizona.

In the words of renowned humanitarian Mother Teresa, “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” Understanding how important a healthy smile is, Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation (DDAZF) is proud to announce $600,000 in grants to 31 deserving non-profits around the state who provide access to preventive oral health care and dental education to some of the state’s most underserved populations.

How are the funds used?

The grants fund safety net clinics, community health centers, oral health education, dental health awareness programs and oral health coalitions. In addition, these grants go to advance specialized care utilizing mobile clinics, embedding dental screenings and fluoride varnish treatments into medical well visits and teledentistry while expanding treatment options like silver diamine fluoride.

Who do the grants benefit?

Grants range from $2,500 to $35,000 and support a broad spectrum of preventive services, including silver diamine fluoride treatments through University of Arizona’s First Smiles Program; health care for homeless pregnant women served by Maggie’s Place; a home visiting program assisting at-risk families administered by the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood; an interactive dental health magic show and visits from dentists during Children’s Dental Health Month (February) at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix; Sun Life Family Health Center providing oral health screening and fluoride varnish treatments to 1,500 students in 24 elementary schools in Casa Grande; and teledentristy services through Tooth BUDDS in remote areas of Graham and Greenlee counties.

For a complete list of 2019 grant recipients, please visit www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation/community-grants/index.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.