FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Minnesota Alliance With Youth Contact:

     Sarah Ullmer, sullmer@mnyouth.net, 612.554.6019

  Delta Dental of Minnesota Contact:

  Sarah Leeth, sleeth@deltadentalmn.org, 651.224.3295

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation 

Announces 2015 Serve a Smile Winners

Lester Prairie Schools

March 26, 2015 (Minneapolis, Minn.) -- Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, in collaboration with Minnesota Alliance With Youth and Minnesota FCCLA, has awarded more than $30,000 in annual youth service grants and in-kind dental hygiene supplies to 39 sites in 29 communities. These competitive grants are awarded through Delta Dental’s Serve a Smile grant program to support youth-led service projects that address important oral health and overall health issues. The program provides young people with funds to create healthier schools and communities.

Locally, a $612.82 grant was awarded to Lester Prairie Schools in Lester Prairie, MN which will be used for a project called SMILE. In this Delta Dental Serve a Smile project, youth in Kindergarten received advice on brushing and good dental habits.

“Youth in Minnesota have some of the best ideas to change the world,” said Susan Hammel, Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and Community Affairs. “As we have for 11 years, we are proud to support their creativity and initiative through the Serve a Smile mini grant program.”

“The Alliance is pleased to celebrate our 12^th year of partnering with Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and Minnesota FCCLA on the Serve a Smile program,” said Sarah Dixon, CEO of Minnesota Alliance With Youth. “The opportunity to give back and become involved in the community is critical to the academic and lifelong success of youth.  These grants are a tremendous way to engage young people as contributing members of society, raise awareness of important health issues, and provide much-needed support across our state,” Dixon said.

Please join the Serve a Smile grant recipients at Global Youth Service Day, the largest youth service event in the world.  The Minnesota celebration will be held on April 18^th at the Mall of America. 

###

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is designed to support Delta Dental of Minnesota's mission of improving the oral health of the people in Minnesota and advancing the science and art of oral health in Minnesota. The Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports initiatives that promote access to oral health and, in turn, improve the overall health and vitality of our community. To learn more, visit www.deltadentalmn.org.

Minnesota Alliance With Youth is a leading convener, collaborator, and capacity-builder for youth development. The Alliance seeks to strengthen youth success in school and learning, increase youth engagement in communities, develop and magnify youth voice, and advance collaboration and innovation with entities that share its vision. For more information about Minnesota Alliance With Youth or Global Youth Service Day, visit www.mnyouth.net.