Neighbor News
Special Olympics Connecticut Receives Grant from Delta Dental
Funding will Support Special Smiles program
Special Olympics Connecticut was awarded a $10,000 S.M.I.L.E. mini-grant through the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation in support of its Healthy Athletes Special Smiles program.
The grant is supporting the organization’s 2023/2024 Special Smiles program, a dental screening, education and referral program with a mission to increase access to dental care for Special Olympics athletes.
Special Smiles is a vital element of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program. Athletes are provided comprehensive oral healthcare information during their Special Olympics events, including free dental screenings and instructions on daily oral hygiene care such as flossing and brushing. For many athletes, a Special Smiles oral health screening will be the first time they have seen a dentist.
By connecting patients with dentists, Special Smiles is able to break down existing healthcare barriers for individuals with intellectual disabilities and not only give them access to quality dental care, but the opportunity to take charge of their oral health.
About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for close to 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 190 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)
Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., the Connecticut Elks Association, Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney, Webster Bank and WWE.
Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Bozzuto's Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, Pepperidge Farm, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service, WORX, Heart Connecticut Media Group, iHeart Radio Connecticut and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut.
