The MDS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), recently awarded more than $100,000 in grants to nine organizations serving the oral health needs of Massachusetts residents.
“The Foundation awards grants each year to support oral health programs throughout the state. This year, we are especially proud of the MDS Foundation’s work in providing funding to diverse communities across the state,” said Janis Moriarty, DDS, president of the MDS Foundation. “We will continue to break down barriers to care and improve the oral health of Massachusetts residents through the Foundation’s ongoing efforts and the generosity of our donors.”
The annual Access to Care grants are designed to support projects that provide greater access to oral health care and education in underserved communities. The following 2025 grant recipients will bring innovative projects and initiatives to those in need.
Recipients of Care Grants:
The Boston Homeless Health Care Program (BHCHP), whose mission is to ensure that all individuals and families experiencing homelessness have unconditional, equal, and dignified access to the highest quality health care, was awarded $12,500 to help expand its coverage.
The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD), a provider of accessible preventive oral health services to underserved adolescents and young adults in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $7,000 grant. The funds will be used to provide regular dental exams, oral health education, and resources to students at Cambridge Teen Health Center during the school year.
The Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) – Massachusetts Donated Dental Services (DDS), which has been providing pro bono dental care to underserved patients in Massachusetts since 2005, has been awarded a $15,000 grant. The funds will provide oral health care services to 30 disabled, infirm, and elderly individuals.
The Harvard Aquinnah Wampanoag Outreach Group (AWOG), a partnership between the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Guyhead (WTGH) and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), has been awarded a $6,000 grant to help establish a portable dental chair and teledentistry services for community members.
Hillcrest Dental Clinic received a $15,000 grant to fund a mobile dental clinic in the Berkshires. For more than 40 years, Hillcrest has provided oral health care to patients in need in the greater Berkshires, serving more than 15,000 patients annually.
NeighborHealth Corporation , dedicated to promoting and maintaining healthy communities and families by providing comprehensive primary and preventive services, received a grant of more than $5,500. The grant will be used to continue providing oral health care services to students through the on-campus health center at East Boston High School.
Smiles Made For Success Foundation received a $10,000 grant to expand its reach in Massachusetts. For 30 years, Smiles Made For Success Foundation has provided free dental care to women transitioning to employment from job readiness or reentry programs.
Tufts University Veterans Care program aims to improve access to oral health care for veterans in Massachusetts with housing insecurity and train health care providers to understand their role in community settings. Veterans Care (formerly Smile Services) received a $15,000 grant to expand its programs to provide more veterans with oral health education, oral health and cancer screenings, and long-term care linkages to dental clinics.
Volunteers in Medicine of the Berkshires (ViM), which works to break down systemic barriers to health equity by providing free health care services to income-qualified individuals who are not eligible for Medicare, received a $20,000 grant to support its second clinic in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The clinic provides dental and general health services.
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