Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota receives $20,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota to provide Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids program in St. Cloud Area
St. Cloud, Minn.— Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota recently received a $20,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota to provide the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids program at the Roosevelt, Southside and Eastside units for two consecutive years, from 2019 – 2020.
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 communication – 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!”
“A healthy smile is a good indicator of overall health, and that’s why it’s so important to build solid oral health habits with kids,” said Joe Lally, Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. “The Foundation is happy to provide our fifteenth year of support to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota and recognize its commitment to teaching kids important oral health lessons.”
This grant is part of approximately $475,000 in grants made annually by Delta Dental of Minnesota to a range of organizations around the state – all of which promote improved oral health and related overall health.
Delta Dental of Minnesota’s philanthropic giving 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 10th 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 learning activities.
Activities and community organizations partnering with the Boys & Girls Club for this event include dental hygiene activities, a tooth fairy photo booth, fitness challenges and more great activities provided by partnering community organizations:
- Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center
- Anna Marie’s
- Cloud Technical & Community College dental assisting program
- Energy Blend
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Scouts
- Children’s Dental Services
- A healthy smiles pledge rally
- And many more activities!
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.
In 2009, Delta Dental of Minnesota’s parent sold a company and used 100 percent of the proceeds to establish and fund Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. Since then, the foundation has worked to expand access to dental care for Minnesota’s underserved populations by primarily investing in programs and organizations that provide dental care to people in need. Since 2011, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation has invested more than $24 million in grants to nearly 83 programs and organizations that promote oral health. It is the largest endowed foundation in Minnesota with a mission to support oral health.
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