MDS Foundation Awards More Than $80,000 in Grants
To Support Massachusetts Residents in Need of Oral Health Care
SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. – March 9, 2022 – The MDS Foundation, the charitable arm of the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), recently awarded more than $80,000 in grants to eight organizations serving the oral health needs of Massachusetts residents. The Foundation’s mission is to improve oral health across the Commonwealth through the distribution of charitable resources. “Each year, the Foundation provides grants to fund initiatives that champion its mission. This year we are especially proud of the grantee partner’s work in providing care to diverse communities across the state,” shared MDS Foundation Chair Robert Lewando, DDS. “With the Foundation’s continued efforts and the generosity of our donors, together we will continue breaking down barriers to care and improving the oral health of Massachusetts residents.”
The MDS Foundation offers two types of grants, Access to Care and Targeted Grants. Access to Care Grants, distributed once a year, support programs that provide increased access to oral health care and education for underserved communities. Targeted Grants, distributed on an ongoing basis, finance a specific need for an organization or program that serves vulnerable populations. The following 2022 grant recipients are providing innovative programs and initiatives to those in need.
- Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA): $15,000 for Somerville High School’s Oral Health Access Program serving high school students with significant barriers to oral health care
- Dental Life Network (DNL)—Massachusetts Donated Dental Services Program (DDS): $12,500 to provide oral health care for 40 individuals with disabilities, fragile medical conditions, and the elderly
- Forsyth Institute—ForsythKids Program: $15,000 for a mobile dental program serving middle schools in the city of Lynn, MA
- Franciscan Children’s: $6,700 to purchase a hand-held x-ray machine for their Pediatric Dentistry Program
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene—Neighborhood SMILES and EYES Program Worcester: $15,000 for weekly oral health and vision education, transportation, assessments, and treatment for underserved populations in Worcester
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM)—Service with a Smile Project: $15,000 to address the need for additional dental services for veterans in the greater Boston area
- Holyoke Health Center (HHC): $2,000 to purchase equipment needed to increase the dental clinic’s capacity and shorten patient visit times
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM)—Autism Smile Project: $2,000 for sensory toolkit items for 30 families participating in the Autism Smile Project
“We are thrilled by the MDS Foundation’s continued support for our mission. This generous grant will allow us to expand our capacity, enabling volunteer dentists in Massachusetts to provide critical treatment for those in need,” shared Dr. Sean Rayment, Chair of grant recipient Dental Lifeline Network—Massachusetts. The Foundation is eager to see the positive outcomes that these grants will create.