ADHA, Wrigley honor hygienists for community service

The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Institute for Oral Health partnered with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation to award 12 grants to dental hygienists and dental hygiene organizations for community oral health outreach. Each recipient received $5,000 to start or continue an existing community oral health project.

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation Community Service Grant Program was established in conjunction with the ADHA's 2010 National Dental Hygiene Month, in an effort to encourage dental hygienists to design and implement oral health programs in their community, and increase public awareness about the importance of preventive health services and developing a daily oral health routine to maintain good oral hygiene.

Participating contestants had to be licensed dental hygienists and active members of ADHA, and were required to submit a proposal of a community service project that demonstrates its capacity to improve the public's oral health and provide oral health education to underserved populations throughout the U.S. The winning projects were selected based on their significance in the communities they will serve, creative approach, sustainability, feasibility, and their ongoing quantitative and qualitative evaluation system.

Below are the recipients of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation Community Service Grants:

• Vermont Dental Hygienists' Association -- Free Dental Care Day
• Baker Victory Dental Center -- Healthy Oral Habits
• Old Dominion University Research Foundation -- Lake Taylor Oral Health Initiative
• Emerald Coast Dental Hygienists' Association -- Okaloosa Sealant Program
• Smiles on Wheels -- Access to Dental Hygiene Care for Underserved Children
• Arkansas State DHA, Central District -- Future Smiles Dental Sealant Project
• North Dakota Veteran's Home -- North Dakota Veterans Smile
• Kathryn Trilli -- Oral Health Parent Education for Children/Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Carl Wunsche Sr. High School Dental Program -- Project IMPACT: Increasing Measures and Preventive Approaches for Children's Teeth
• Montana Dental Hygienists' Association - Golden Oldies (includes PACE program)
• California Dental Hygienists' Association -- Adopt a SNF Home
• Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association -- Better Health Through Oral Health