Delta Dental Employees Devote Day of Work to Community Service in Support of Mission to Improve the Oral Health of All

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Dental of Massachusetts employees participated in a day of service on September 25, 2012. They spent the afternoon volunteering, either in Lawrence, MA at the Leonard Middle School or in Marlborough, MA, at the Marlborough Community Cupboard through the United Way.

“Our ‘Recommitment to our Mission Day’ was used to help support our local communities so more children have places to play and learn, more families have food to eat and a roof over their heads. And that’s the backbone of our mission”

“Our ‘Recommitment to our Mission Day’ was used to help support our local communities so more children have places to play and learn, more families have food to eat and a roof over their heads. And that’s the backbone of our mission,” said Fay Donohue, Delta Dental of Massachusetts CEO.

A large number of Delta Dental employees volunteered at the Leonard Middle School, a school where students have great promise but minimal outside support, including volunteers. The concept of 200+ volunteers arriving to paint 18 classrooms and help with landscaping -- something common to many schools across Massachusetts – doesn’t happen here very often. The team in Marlborough was eager to be able to support the Community Cupboard’s work to nourish hungry people in communities where Delta Dental employees live and work. There is a strong connection between healthy communities and healthy people.

“At the heart of it all, is our commitment to improve the oral health of all,” said Fay Donohue. “And it really matters. If you care about education, oral health matters. How can children be successful in school when their mouths are in pain? If you care about jobs, oral health matters. How can you get a job when you are missing front teeth? If you care about defense, oral health matters. The number one reason recruits are rejected from military service is bad oral health. We are making a difference.”

Nobody talks about dental disease – but it is a serious, chronic, infectious illness – and it is preventable.

• Dental disease (cavities) is the most common chronic disease in children, more common than asthma.
• Every year across the United States, children miss 52 million school hours due to dental disease, and adults lose close to 164 million work hours.
• In 2010, Americans spent $106 billion dollars on oral care.
• More than 30 million people could not get treatment, including 1 out of 5 children.

“I’m grateful to this organization, all the beautiful people that are here making Lawrence a better place. As a state representative on behalf of the city of Lawrence, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are grateful to the people and organizations that are willing to serve the community, to give something back to the community. That’s wonderful,” said Representative Marcos Devers, Lawrence, MA.

As part of their commitment, CEO Fay Donohue declared Tuesday, September 25 as a day of service for Delta Dental of Massachusetts employees. Their actions demonstrate that Delta Dental of Massachusetts is more than just an insurance company. It is a company that works each day to make a difference in lives of those it serves.

Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, is a national leader in innovative programs that enhance the overall health of our members and reduce health care costs for our business subscribers. Headquartered in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Delta Dental of Massachusetts covers over 2 million members.

For more information or to schedule an interview please contact Tricia Raynard at [phone] or cell [phone].