MLB team gives ATSU pediatric dental suite $50K

A $50,000 Grand Slam Award from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation is helping to support the new Arizona Diamondbacks Pediatric Dental Suite at A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) dental clinic in Mesa.

The dental suite consists of two child-friendly rooms that offer a warm environment for children to receive care, according to the university. The pediatric dental suite will allow an increase in the existing clinic's capacity by 20% from current levels and help ATSU-ASDOH students gain knowledge about pediatric dentistry.

A portion of the funds from the award will go toward providing uncompensated oral care for children from low-income families. Children ages birth to 12 from low-income, working-poor families receive care at ASDOH's pediatric clinic. Most of them (94%) are uninsured or have parents who are either unemployed or are struggling to pay their bills.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation established the Grand Slam Awards in 2002 to make a larger impact on community organizations by providing a grant for up to $100,000. The grants are made possible by fundraising efforts by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

In addition to A.T. Still, the Diamondbacks will award four other local organizations with Grand Slam Awards in 2012:

• Make-A-Wish Foundation -- $50,000
• Kitchen on the Street -- $100,000
• Florence Crittenton -- $100,000
• Children's Museum of Phoenix -- $100,000