DentaQuest, a subsidiary of Sun Life U.S., has announced a $45,000 donation to support two nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving oral health and hygiene education for children in underserved areas of Greater Los Angeles.
The company contributed $30,000 to the GeriSmiles Dental Health Foundation to help expand its mobile dental hygiene clinics. These clinics deliver essential dental services, along with oral health and nutrition education, to low-income and largely uninsured communities. In the past year, GeriSmiles served more than 60,000 students across the Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino school districts. Other high-need areas such as Blythe, Trona, and Needles are also included in their outreach.
An additional $15,000 was granted to the Los Angeles Children’s Health Trust (LA Trust). The funding will be used to enhance educational programming for parents and guardians by incorporating vital information about nutrition and diabetes. LA Trust plans to pilot an updated curriculum across eight Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools located in underserved communities, primarily in South Los Angeles.
The initiative includes bilingual (Spanish and English) courses designed to dispel common myths about oral health. The aim is to make reliable, easy-to-understand information accessible to all families, particularly those in LAUSD’s large Spanish-speaking population.
“By supporting trusted local organizations, DentaQuest can help extend oral health services to those outside of our membership base,” said David Healy, President of Sun Life U.S. Dental. “These community partnerships align with our broader mission to improve oral health for all by addressing key barriers such as transportation and language.”
This latest funding follows an earlier $80,000 donation made by DentaQuest this year to support grassroots initiatives throughout California aimed at advancing oral health education, access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Additionally, LA Trust received a separate $5,000 donation from DentaQuest in honor of its Executive Director, Maryjane Puffer, who was recognized as a 2024 DentaQuest Health Access Hero.
DentaQuest’s ongoing support also includes investments in strengthening the healthcare workforce. This includes backing programs like the safety-net externship at Western University of Health Sciences’ School of Dental Medicine.
When new dental managed care contracts are implemented in Los Angeles and Sacramento, Sun Life U.S. companies will be providing services to nearly 500,000 residents in California.
Through education, outreach, and strategic partnerships, DentaQuest continues its long-standing commitment to expanding access to quality oral care and addressing the complex needs of diverse communities.
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