Applications open for oral health community service grants

18 June 2014

Applications now open for oral health community service grants

Wrigley Company Foundation and NZDA open 2014 Community Service Grants to help high risk groups access dental care

New Zealand dental professionals are encouraged to apply for one of 12 Community Service Grants designed to help improve the access to oral care services and education for New Zealand and Pacific’s at risk communities.

The Wrigley Company Foundation in partnership with the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA), has opened applications for its 2014 Community Service Grants Programme, which continues to make a difference to high risk and underserviced groups such as children, elderly, physically disabled, geographically isolated and Maori.

This year, the Wrigley Company Foundation in partnership with the NZDA will provide USD$23,000 in funds via twelve grants:
• 10 x USD $1,000 Community Service Grants
• 1 x USD $8,000 ‘Principles in Action’ Community Service Grant: introduced to help activate a larger scale project
• 1 x USD $5,000 Pacific Region Dental Aid Grant: introduced to promote access to oral health education in the Pacific Islands.

“Wrigley’s core business is providing accessible and portable health care, and we are committed to improving the oral health of New Zealanders,” says Andrew Leakey, General Manager, Wrigley Pacific.

“The success of the Community Service Grant programme depends on partnership, from the alliance between the Wrigley Company Foundation and the NZDA, to the collaboration with the hard working volunteer dentists on their community programmes.

“Oral health remains a widespread problem among New Zealanders with more than 44 per cent of the population receiving no form of dental care 1 which makes the NZDA and Wrigley Company Foundation grants partnership so vital. We have a shared aim, through the grants, to help disadvantaged communities access free oral health services, treatments and education,” he concluded.

Dr David Crum, chief executive officer of the New Zealand Dental Association, says the Wrigley Company Foundation NZDA Community Service Grants support dentists across the country who volunteer their time and services to assist some of New Zealand’s most at risk communities.

“The grants are vitally important to help dental professionals develop new programmes and expand existing community service work.”

In 2013, Wrigley Company Foundation NZDA Community Service Grant recipients recruited 36 volunteer dentists and dental therapists, 95 dental assistants, teachers and parents to treat 294 patients and educate 718 adults and children from some of New Zealand’s most disadvantaged communities.

For the full application criteria and to apply for the Community Service Grants, visit www.healthysmiles.org.nz and download an application form. Applications close 15 September, 2014.

The Wrigley Company Foundation
The Wrigley Company has a rich history of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Established in 1987 to formalise the giving of grants and donations, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation has distributed more than USD$50 million to non-profit organisations around the world. The mission of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation is to improve the health of people and our planet through sustainable initiatives focused in oral health and environmental stewardship as well as local needs that ensure a healthy community. Wrigley provides support not only with financial resources, but with the care and compassion of their 16,000 associates who have a passion for service and are provided opportunities throughout the year to exhibit their generous spirit. www.wrigley.com

New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA)
The New Zealand Dental Association represents registered dentists throughout the country, and is the leading advocate for oral health. The NZDA works to improve the oral health of New Zealanders, through public education, promotion and research. The NZDA has more than 2500 members and is the professional association for all dentists in New Zealand.

www.nzda.org.nz; www.healthysmiles.org.nz

References
New Zealand Oral Health Survey 2009, (accessed from http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/our-oral-health-2010.pdf)

ENDS

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