The VNA Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Dental Lifeline Network • Illinois to help vulnerable individuals in the state get critical dental care through the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program. The grant will help a total of 241 Chicago residents receive $670,000 in comprehensive dental care.
The funds will support the coordination of services provided through 490 dentists who volunteer for DDS in Chicago, as well as 174 dental laboratories who volunteer for DDS across the state of Illinois. DDS volunteers donate comprehensive treatment to people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile.
“The VNA Foundation has been a key resource for reaching Chicago’s medically underserved individuals and communities,” said Dr. Perlman, President of the Dental Lifeline Network • Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to have the Foundation’s support. With this $10,000 grant, we will continue to connect volunteer dentists and labs with those most in need. We look forward to partnering with the VNA Foundation to improve Chicago residents’ oral health.”
The Chicago DDS program has provided over $16.4 million in donated services to over 4,434 patients since it began in 2002. The Chicago DDS program is part of a larger Illinois DDS program, including an additional 297 dentists statewide, that has provided over $9.6 million in donated treatment to an additional 3,312 patients. The VNA Foundation’s grant is a significant contribution to the cumulative celebration happening for the DDS program nationally. For over 35 years, DLN has partnered with volunteer dentists, laboratories, and strategic corporate partners across the country and connected people with special needs to comprehensive dentistry.
