Delta Dental of Tennessee Announces $300,000 in Grants to Tennessee Nonprofits in December

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of giving during the holiday season, Delta Dental of Tennessee announces seven grants to local nonprofits totaling $300,000.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111222/DE27042 )

These grants are part of a larger initiative providing grants to organizations that provide oral health care to children and those in need across the state. Throughout 2011, Delta Dental has awarded more than 20 percent of its net revenues to organizations, including both of the state's dental schools, The University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.

"Working to improve oral health in Tennessee is an important piece of the Delta Dental mission," said Tom Perry, SVP and CFO for Delta Dental.

Seven grants totaling $300,000 will be given to a number of organizations across the state. Delta Dental reached out to a number of legislative officials to help identify worthy organizations in their respective districts. The first of these grants was presented Dec. 22 at Remote Area Medical in Knoxville, which was recommended by Representative John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn).

"Delta Dental is a great corporate citizen in our community and we were thrilled to help them in their efforts to help improve the oral health of all Tennesseans, especially those living in East Tennessee," said Representative Duncan. "We are very familiar with the great work RAM has done in our area and we know this grant will be put to good use in their 2012 missions."

"Due to the current economy, we have faced hardships with donations as well as the fact that it is creating more need for our services," said Stan Brock, founder of Remote Area Medical. "This gift from Delta Dental will help us be able to meet those increasing needs with next year's expeditions."

• Remote Area Medical Foundation of Knoxville. The $50,000 grant will be used to provide dental care and supplies. RAM was founded by Stan Brock, a co-host of Wild Kingdom. The organization provides dental services to impoverished U.S. populations. The organization's first medical expedition for 2012 is scheduled for Feb. 4-5 in Knoxville, and more than 50 percent of all 2012 events scheduled to-date will take place in Tennessee.
• Keystone Dental Care, Inc. of Johnson City, Tenn., was recommended by Representative Phil Roe of Johnson City. The clinic's mission is to educate, provide relief of dental pain and infection, to eliminate active disease and stabilize oral health. The clinic, which will receive a $50,000 grant, provides care to the working uninsured.
• HOPE for the Inner City in Chattanooga, a Christian social services organization, will receive a $50,000 grant. For nearly 25 years, its Dr. William Roy Mercy Dental Clinic has served people who are without insurance or without access to basic dental care.
• Erlanger Foundation in Chattanooga will receive a $25,000 grant with funds designated to Children's Hospital at Erlanger.
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville will receive $50,000 to purchase tools and equipment that will help aid in its dental clinic and children's programs.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis will receive $50,000 to purchase tools and equipment that will help aid in its dental clinic and children's programs.
• Children Are People of Hendersonville, Tenn., is located in Representative Diane Black's 6th Congressional District.  Children Are People, which will receive a $25,000 grant, assists at-risk children in Sumner County by developing academic and life skills to produce responsible, self-sufficient adults who contribute to their community.

"Giving back to our community is an essential component of what we do at Delta Dental, and it is especially important at this time. We are privileged to be able to support community programs that help improve the oral health of the areas we serve," Perry said.

About Delta Dental of Tennessee
Delta Dental of Tennessee, along with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Ohio, is among the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. Collectively, in 2010, the enterprise paid out more than $2 billion for dental care for nearly 8 million enrollees. In its latest customer survey, Delta Dental of Tennessee achieved 97.1 and 99.7 percent satisfaction from its members and groups respectively. Offices are located in Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.

SOURCE Delta Dental of Tennessee