United Way of Southeast Louisiana has awarded a $25,000 grant to Dental Lifeline Network • Louisiana to help vulnerable individuals in New Orleans get critical dental care through the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program. The funds will support the coordination of services provided through 390 dentists and 78 dental laboratories who volunteer for DDS across the state of Louisiana. DDS volunteers donate comprehensive treatment to people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile.
“Through United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s $25,000 grant, we will continue to reach New Orleans residents most in need of dental treatment,” said Dr. Kristopher Rappold, President of the Dental Lifeline Network • Louisiana Board of Directors. “Thanks to the generous contributions of our volunteers, we can greatly expand the impact of this grant, resulting in $150,000 in donated dental treatment. We are grateful to United Way of Southeast Louisiana for making this possible, and look forward to applying these funds to support those most in need.”
The Louisiana DDS program has provided nearly $12 million in donated services to 5,498 patients since it began in 1987. United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s grant is a significant contribution to the ongoing impact made by 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. Since its inception in 1985, the DDS program has provided almost $520 million in donated treatment to over 167,000 patients across the country.