American Dental Association Foundation Hosts Awards Gala

Sen. Grassley, Rep. Dingell honored; Give Kids A Smile grants awarded

CHICAGO, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation held its third annual Give Kids A Smile Awards Gala in Washington, DC, April 13, honoring two members of Congress and awarding several grants to programs that benefit underserved children.

The Gala celebrates the Give Kids A Smile program and provides a forum for America's dentists to recognize Members of Congress who have supported dentistry's oral health advocacy agenda.  This year, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) both were awarded the ADA's Leadership in Oral Health Advocacy Award.

The ADA commended Grassley's efforts to pass an ADA-proposed Medicaid amendment to the health care reform bill, which would have fixed Medicaid system flaws largely by improving reimbursement for dental procedures under that program.  Grassley also was instrumental in expanding the student loan interest deduction tax credit that is used by many dental school graduates.

Dingell's support of Medicaid and work on the Patient's Bill of Rights were cited as examples of his efforts to advance issues important to the dental profession and America's oral health.

Programs receiving $15,000 grants

Grants to programs that care for underserved children also are announced at the event, held during the ADA's Washington Leadership Conference.

Programs receiving $15,000 grants from the ADA Foundation's Give Kids A Smile Fund include:  America's Dentists Care Foundation, the Hispanic Dental Association, the National Dental Association, Oral Health America and Team Smile.

Now in its eighth year, Give Kids A Smile is dentistry's signature charitable program, delivering free oral health care to underserved children and calling attention to national unmet oral health needs.  Since its inception, Give Kids A Smile has served millions of children through the efforts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers.  Free services were delivered at more than 2,000 sites in 2010 on Give Kids A Smile Day.

About the ADA Foundation

The ADA Foundation is a catalyst for uniting people and organizations to make a difference through better oral health. Since 1991, the ADA Foundation has disbursed nearly $31 million dollars to support such charitable activities. In addition to funding grants for dental research, education, scholarships and access to care, the Foundation supports Charitable Assistance Programs such as relief grants to dentists and their dependents that are unable to support themselves due to injury, a medical condition or advanced age; and grants and loans to those who are victims of disasters. http://www.adafoundation.org

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

SOURCE American Dental Association