Notice
Change Healthcare announced a breach of HIPAA privacy and is reaching out to individuals whose personal information may have been compromised. Although this incident does not involve Delta Dental of New Jersey or Connecticut, Change Healthcare is a vendor we used and we are providing this information to help our members who might be affected.
Smiles make a difference
2021 Community Impact Report
Download pdf More about our community impact:
1 Associates chose from more than 40 volunteer activities during Associate Impact Month. They walked for mental health charities, assembled oral health kits for those in need, and more. Associates also collected items such as crayons for the Crayon Initiative and beanie babies for Operation Gratitude care packages for deployed troops.
2 Associates helped combat hunger in our communities. They prepared food at organizations including Community Food Bank of New Jersey and Rise Against Hunger.
3 The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants since 1986. Our SMILE grants support more than a dozen dental care programs in New Jersey and Connecticut. For example:
- Zufall Health Center is expanding access to dental care for children in Somerset, NJ.
- Wheeler Clinic in Hartford, CT, is training dental professionals on treating those with intellectual disabilities, including autism.
- Morristown Medical Center Foundation offers dental programs for children, seniors, and those with developmental disabilities at their state-of-the-art Leonard Szerlip Dental Center.
4 The Foundation’s SMILE Mini grants support educational programs. Examples include:
- Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey’s oral health initiative.
- Rutgers University Foundation’s Oral Healthcare Education & Outreach program.
- CATCH My Breath – CT’s anti-vaping program.
Our Foundation also awarded its first challenge grant to JFK University Medical Center Foundation for its prenatal dental care program for moms and babies. Hackensack Meridian Health Board member Dr. Michael A. Kleiman and his wife, Frayda, matched the grant.
5 Our Foundation’s first Saluting SMILES grant helped provide dental care for 45 veterans at a Veterans Smile Day event in Mays Landing, NJ. Dr. Deryck Pham and his dental practice, Brickworks Dental, hosted the event. The Foundation also awarded a SMILE Mini grant to UCONN Foundation’s Share the Care fund for their Open Wide for Veterans Day pilot program. This program offers dental care for those veterans who would otherwise go without vital dental services. Our annual Smiles for Our Heroes program treated 400 veterans at no cost at Zufall Health Center locations.
6 Our annual Delta Dental of New Jersey Golf Classic has raised more than $1.58 million for Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) over 31 years. SONJ provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to athletes with intellectual disabilities. For this year’s golf classic, Delta Dental and SONJ invested more than $13,000 in New Jersey small businesses. Each golfer received gifts made by or purchased from New Jersey small businesses
7 Our Foundation awarded a two-year SMILE grant totaling $50,000 to support the free dental care of 60 SONJ athletes in 2021, and up to 150 athletes in 2022. This grant will also expand dental care access for those with IDD (Intellectual Developmental Disabilities) by identifying volunteer dentists, hygienists, and assistants, and building a referral network of dentists who can treat Special Olympics athletes and all those with IDD.
8 Associates collected 180 pairs of used shoes for Soles4Souls. In addition to reducing greenhouse gases, reusing the shoes will keep 225 pounds of textiles out of landfills. Soles4Souls distributes the shoes to programs around the world.
9 When we renovated our offices this year, we looked for ways to reduce waste and contribute to our communities. One example of this is our donation of 75 pieces of furniture to Inroads to Opportunities. This nonprofit helps people with disabilities find jobs and develop life skills. We also donated refrigerators, microwaves, and bookshelves to Habitat for Humanity.
10 Our nine Diversity Council programs this year featured inspiring speakers, many with Delta Dental connections. Board member Dr. George McLaughlin shared his experiences during the civil rights movement. Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr., pastor and Delta Dental Foundation trustee, talked about the history of Juneteenth. Check the Diversity Council Calendar to view recordings of the entire series.
11 Our company partners with organizations that support diversity and inclusion efforts, including the Urban League of Morris County, the Urban League of Greater Hartford, and the dFree Foundation. In addition to financial support, we participate in job fairs, mentoring, and other activities.
Delta Dental of New Jersey is a part of Delta Dental Plans Association. Through our national network of Delta Dental companies, we offer dental coverage in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
