Delta Dental Foundation Awards UConn $35K To Boost Vets Program

STORRS, CT — The Delta Dental Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut, Friday announced that the University of Connecticut Foundation has been awarded a $35,000 grant for a veterans program.

The funds, part of $921,383 in contributions statewide designed to benefit almost 6,800 individuals and families in uninsured and underinsured populations, and support workforce development programs assisting students entering dental careers.

The funding will provide support throughout Tolland County, as well as the state of Connecticut, through a range of SMILE and SMILE Workforce grants to help maintain the dental health of seniors, developmentally disabled adults and children, disadvantaged children, and veterans.

This year, a special series of Workforce grants was funded to renew or start programs addressing the dental workforce pipeline, specifically relating to dental assistants, which has experienced a severe shortage during recent years, Delta Dental officials said.

"Our Foundation focuses on supporting programs that address oral health care challenges, which help improve access to dental care and education for Connecticut residents," said Dennis G. Wilson, president and CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut and vice president of the Delta Dental Foundation. "A healthy smile is invaluable to our overall health, our self-esteem, and our relationships. We remain committed to our communities and our belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile."

The $35,000 awarded to the University of Connecticut Foundation will be used to expand the Open Wide for Veterans program. In 2024, the University has committed to expanding participation to all Stand Down sites, which necessitates a two-fold increase in the purchase of oral hygiene products. Funding also will cover costs associated with fabrication and delivery of complete denture prosthesis for veterans missing teeth.

In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a licensed insurer that writes dental and vision coverage on an insured basis, administering coverage to more than 2 million people through contracts with groups and individuals in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Offering dental benefits since 1969, Delta Dental's mission is to promote oral health to the greatest number of people by providing accessible dental benefit programs of the highest quality, service, and value. We are a not-for-profit service corporation and, as a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, we're part of a network that provides national dental coverage to more than 90 million people.