Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota recently received a $10,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota to provide the Healthy Smiles/Healthy Kids program at the Roosevelt, Southside and Eastside units.
With this funding, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota will provide a comprehensive nutrition program called Project Healthy Smiles/Healthy Kids, designed to bring excellent dental hygiene and life habits to our community’s youth. The program has five primary components:
- Cavity Free Zone – to teach kids the importance of healthy dental hygiene habits
- Daily Meal Program – to teach kids the importance of proper nutrition and its connection to healthy dental hygiene
- Health & Life Skills programs – to prevent the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and poor dietary choices, which also affect oral health
- Parental Involvement – to encourage parents to reinforce healthy habits at home
- Incentives – to recognize kids for their participation and application of learned healthy habits
“This week is National Boys & Girls Club Week when we are celebrating the many wonderful programs and services we provide to young people,” said Aimee Minnerath, Boys & Girls Club’s Marketing Manager. “This is a great time to highlight important prevention programs we provide to young people. Tooth decay is the No. 1 chronic childhood illness in America, and we are doing our best to combat this issue by teaching kids how to take care of their teeth, lead healthy lifestyles and provide resources for dental care. We appreciate Delta Dental of Minnesota’s support of this important initiative!”
“Our vision is to improve the health of our communities through oral health, and there’s no better way to do that than to support our community organizations,” said Delta Dental of Minnesota CEO and President Rod Young. “The Boys & Girls Club is among the most effective community organizations in Central Minnesota. We are happy to support this important work, and look forward to seeing the grant in action.”
Delta Dental of Minnesota focuses on choosing grant recipients that show innovative strategies to expand oral health access for Minnesota’s underserved populations; demonstrate significant opportunity to promote and expand preventive and education services; and show an ability to measure results.
During National Boys & Girls Club Week, the Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club is hosting Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Day on April 12th from 3:30 – 5 p.m. This is a health fair focusing on oral health, and a number of community organizations will join the Boys & Girls Club to help kids learn how to take care of their teeth and bodies with fun, engaging, hands-on activities.
Activities and community organizations partnering with the Boys & Girls Club for this event include:
- Dental Hygiene activities
- Tooth Fairy Photo Booth
- Fitness Challenges
- And more great activities provided by
partnering community organizations: - Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center
- Anna Marie’s
- SCSU Pre-Dental Club
- Energy Blend
- Boy Scouts- First aid activity
- Girl Scouts
- Health Partners Dental
- Children’s Dental Services
The families and the general community are invited to attend this event. For more information about Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Day, please contact the Boys & Girls Club at 320-252-7616.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota
Since 1974, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota has provided hope and opportunity to tens of thousands of young people. Our programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.
About Delta Dental of Minnesota:
Delta Dental of Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit health services company that serves the oral health needs of Minnesota and North Dakota residents. Since 1969, Delta Dental of Minnesota has accomplished this mission by providing the best access across the state to oral health care through affordable dental plans. Delta Dental of Minnesota is an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Illinois. To learn more, visit deltadentalmn.org.