Team members from Delta Dental of Missouri gathered at the company’s new Fenton office to present a $30,000 donation to Give Kids a Smile Executive Director Dr. Kourtenay Green. Dr. Mathai, Delta Dental’s Dental Director and a Give Kids a Smile board member, joined the presentation. The funding will help provide free dental care and oral health education to children in need throughout the St. Louis region.
For children suffering from untreated dental disease, a healthy smile can mean finally being able to sleep, eat properly, focus in school and smile with confidence. That was the focus on Oct. 16 and 17 as Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) brought hundreds of dental professionals, volunteers and community partners together to provide free dental care and oral health education to nearly 250 St. Louis-area children in need.
The two-day clinic at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education provided preventive and restorative care for children whose families face financial hardship, lack of insurance, transportation challenges or difficulty finding a dental provider who accepts Medicaid. GKAS also offered education, oral hygiene supplies and resources to help support oral health beyond the clinic.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, confident and free from preventable dental disease,” said Dr. Kourtenay Green, executive director of Give Kids A Smile. “As we celebrate 25 years of bringing the community together to improve children’s oral health, we’re reminded just how life-changing access to care can be.”
Dozens of community partners supported the clinic. Delta Dental of Missouri contributed a $30,000 grant and home-care kits, with additional support from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust, Dr. and Mrs. Marshall S. Manne, American Direct, Evernorth Health Services, Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, Otto Orthodontics, Thousand CPA, Patterson Dental and Henry Schein®. Build-A-Bear Workshop donated bears to clinic patients, while Saturday’s party room featured face painting, balloon art, music and other activities.
“Too many children face financial, geographic and accessibility barriers to dental care,” said Stacy Harris, executive director of community impact at Delta Dental of Missouri. “Supporting Give Kids A Smile is just one more way we can improve oral health and build healthier communities.”
The next GKAS clinic will be held on February 19 and 20, 2027. Visit www.gkas.org for details and information on when registration will open at the end of the year.
About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is a nonprofit dental and vision benefits provider serving 2.1 million members statewide. Through affordable group and individual plans, the company is committed to improving oral and overall health while delivering simpler, better experiences for members, providers, brokers, and employer groups. As part of its nonprofit mission, Delta Dental invests in oral health initiatives, educational programs, and charitable causes that expand access to care and strengthen the communities it serves. Learn more at www.DeltaDentalMO.com.
About Give Kids a Smile
Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) got its start in St. Louis, MO, in 2000 with the help of a few community-oriented dental professionals in response to the need to provide children of families who cannot afford dental care with access to quality care. Learn more at www.gkas.org.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090
kelly@hausergrouppr.com