Funding Includes $168,000 for Six Organizations in the St. Louis Area
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (September 16, 2025) … Research shows a strong link between protecting smiles and improving oral health and overall well-being. Yet disparities prevent many Missourians from getting vital dental care. To help combat this, Delta Dental of Missouri – a non-profit organization and the state’s leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist – recently awarded more than $565,000 in oral health grants to 22 organizations that align with its mission to improve oral health. This includes $50,000 for Family Care Health Centers, $50,000 for Rural Parish Clinic of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, $39,500 for Oral Health Programs, Inc., $15,000 for A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH), $8,500 for Health Protection and Education Services and $5,000 for The Camp Rainbow Foundation. All six organizations are located in the St. Louis area.
“Through Delta Dental’s generosity, ATSU-MOSDOH’s Smile Forward program will continue making a difference—empowering our Missouri dental students with real-world clinical education while delivering essential oral healthcare to those in greatest need,” said Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president of ATSU’s Missouri campus. ”It’s a win for our dental students and a win for the St. Louis community.”
The oral health grant funding will be used by:
Rural Parish Clinic of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH)
The Camp Rainbow Foundation
Health Protection and Education Services
- Family Care Health Centers to replace dental operatory chairs and equipment, expanding access to care for those in need
- Rural Parish Clinic of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to support its free mobile dental clinic for rural Missourians 16 years of age and older who are uninsured and living below 200% of the federal poverty level.
- Oral Health Programs, Inc. to improve access to dental care services and education among immigrant populations.
- A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) to support its Missouri Smile Forward® program providing dental care to those in need and student learning opportunities.
- Health Protection and Education Services to pilot a program that addresses language barriers using trained community interpreters and bilingual students to reach underserved individuals with critical health service and education messages, including oral care, in order to form and sustain positive dental-related habits.
- The Camp Rainbow Foundation to support Camp Rainbow, a place for kids with cancer and their families to enjoy camp experiences while gaining access to a host of programs that promote oral hygiene and healthy habits within the cabins throughout camp.
Hannah Steele, marketing and communications manager at Camp Rainbow, also expressed her organization’s appreciation for their grant. “Camp Rainbow is incredibly grateful for Delta Dental’s support,” said Steele. “This funding makes it possible for us to provide families affected by childhood cancer with a weekend of connection, joy and togetherness at our Family Camp. Partnerships like this allow us to further our mission of bringing unforgettable camp experiences to children and families navigating some of life’s hardest challenges.”
Oral health grant funding was provided to 22 Missouri organizations to advance educational programming, purchase equipment and supplies, host no-cost mobile dental clinics, and provide preventive, restorative and emergency oral health care services. This will help meet the oral health needs of children and adults across the state, including the uninsured, individuals and children from families with low incomes, older adults, immigrants, rural residents, those with transportation barriers and people with special needs, permanent disabilities, cancer and other chronic health conditions.
“Delta Dental is proud to be leading an oral healthcare movement where our mission is your health,” stated Stacy Harris, community impact program manager at Delta Dental of Missouri. “We’re thrilled to partner with each organization to support life-changing work through our oral health grant program. Together, we can help thousands of children and adults across the state receive vital treatment and services to improve their oral health and overall well-being.”
Delta Dental of Missouri awards grants annually for general operations, programs, projects and capacity-building efforts promoting the oral health of individuals in Missouri. Objectives of its grant program include:
- Reducing oral disease through education, prevention and treatment
- Ensuring access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental care
- Enhancing the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children and individuals in need
- Making a measurable difference in the oral health of Missourians
- Helping to ensure that Missouri is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health.
Delta Dental of Missouri also awarded $127,980 in grants to five organizations in South Carolina, where it also does business. To learn more, visit https://www.deltadentalmo.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program.
About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and the state’s leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist. It provides more than 2.41 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at https://www.deltadentalmo.com/resourceguide. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.
Delta Dental of Missouri, oral health grants, dental care access, Missouri oral health initiatives, health disparities, nonprofit dental programs, improving oral health, community health grants, oral health philanthropy
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