ADAF and Wrigley Company Foundation award community service grants

The Wrigley Company Foundation, in partnership with the ADA Foundation (ADAF), has award US$82,000 in grant funding to 13 volunteer organisations across Australia during Dental Health Week 2013.

The Community Service Grants initiatives provide much needed funding to volunteer dentists, dentistry students and teams of dental professionals, to help improve the oral health of some of Australia's most deprived communities. Introduced in collaboration with ADA Inc. in 2011, the program has already awarded USD$95,000 in funds to grant recipients in 2011 and 2012.

This year, the grants program was extended with a new category added, annual funding increased and a three year funding commitment secured.

The new grant category - Principles In Action - supports a large scale project with USD$10,000 and joins the existing Student and Dental categories. The total annual grant funding has also increased by 46 per cent in 2013 compared with 2012.

The grants recognise the ongoing need to improve Australia's dental health. To reflect this, the Wrigley Company Foundation has signed a three year partnership and commitment with the Australian Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) to provide USD$295,000 in funding to help close the gap in access to oral care services and dental education throughout Australia over the next three years.

Andrew Leakey, General Manager, Wrigley Pacific, said: "Our core business is to provide portable, accessible and enjoyable oral care that gives everyone the confidence of a happy, healthy mouth and we are committed to improving Australians' dental health. Effective partnership continues to drive the success of the Community Service Grant program, from the alliance between the Wrigley Company Foundation and the ADAF, to the collaboration with the hard working dentists and dental student grantees on their grassroots programs. We applaud all of our grant applicants this year who have submitted projects to put their Principles into Action and look forward to seeing the project activate over the next three years."

The quality and quantity of this year's grant applications has been outstanding; there has been a 26 per cent increase in 2013 applications compared to 2012.

"The Wrigley Company Foundation ADAF community service grants support dentists and students across Australia who volunteer their time and services to assist some of Australia's most deprived communities," said Wendy Tancred, Chairman Advisory Board, ADA Foundation. "The grants are vitally important, they help dental professionals set-up oral health education and provide treatments free-of-charge to either commence or expand existing community service programs."

It's never too early to start planning for 2014. Applications for the Community Service Grants program will open in April 2014. To keep up-to-date with news about the program and for the full application criteria visit www.adaf.org.au.

2013 Community Service Grant Recipients

Principles in Action Grant (US$10,000 x 1)

• Dental Outreach: Providing high quality dental care to 800 elderly patients in aged care facilities within the Yorke and Mid North LGA region (SA) through a mobile dental clinic.

Dental Student Grant Category (US$6,000 x 4)

• University of Queensland: Facilitating student awareness, engagement and competence in treating patients with mental illness.
• Charles Sturt University/Carevan Foundation: Delivering the Sun Smiles program to over 230 primary school children.
• University of Melbourne/D3: Supporting this new national platform which focuses on reducing the number of children afflicted with developmental dental defects (D3) using an innovative online educational program.
• Hope4Health: Supporting students from Griffith University to provide services, oral care education and dental supplies to remote Aboriginal townships in Queensland.

Dentist Practioner Grant Category (US$6,000 x 8)

• Hobart Special Needs Clinic: Supporting the establishment of Tasmania's first and only dedicated special needs dental clinic.
• North Richmond Community Health: Providing oral health assessment and education to over 40 residents and staff at two aged care facilities in inner city Melbourne.
• Charlie Perkins Trust/Tooth Mob: Enabling teams to visit remote communities in WA.
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Continued support from 2012 CSG to purchase new equipment and continue to develop this specialised surgery in Allambie Heights for individuals suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
• Little Happy Tooth Company: Delivering local workshops in conjunction with Autism SA to address bad oral hygiene in children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder and providing treatment for up to 20 children.
• Filling the Gap: Delivering comprehensive oral health care in conjunction with Danila Dilba Health Services to indigenous communities near Darwin.
• National Dental Foundation WA: Supporting the construction of a volunteer dental clinic at Perth inner city centre.
• Kimberley Dental Team: Continued support to provide remote, community based oral health care and education over a four week period to the local Kimberley Aboriginal population.