MetLife Foundation to Support Oral Health Programs for Kids in the U.S. with $1.1 Million in Funding
October 25 2011 - 2:30PM
Business Wire
In an effort to promote the importance of oral health care and
the importance of teaching children and their families proper
tooth-brushing techniques, MetLife Foundation announced it is
awarding $1.1 million to two organizations focused on children and
children’s health. Tooth decay is among the most common chronic
childhood diseases and can impact a child’s ability to eat, speak,
foster self-esteem and affect their ability to learn, as it can
lead to school absenteeism. And in the most extreme cases, can
cause infections, hospitalizations and other long-term health
issues.
“Developing good oral health and hygiene habits is a vital part
of a comprehensive approach to ensuring overall health care,” said
Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “The earlier
children and families begin to learn about dental hygiene and
receive preventive care, the better equipped they will be to
develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.”
MetLife Foundation will provide $500,000 to Children’s Health
Fund (CHF) to support CHF’s national oral health initiative,
Healthy Kids, Healthy Smiles. With the funding, CHF programs will
provide oral health care to low-income and homeless children and
families primarily via mobile dental clinics in New York City, Los
Angeles, Dallas and Washington, D.C. The donation will increase
CHF’s mobile dental clinic services in these cities by 65 percent
over the previous year.
“Many children living in poverty lack access to oral health care
services due to transportation, insurance and other barriers,” said
CHF Executive Director Karen Redlener. “MetLife Foundation’s
generous gift allows CHF to bring comprehensive and quality dental
services directly to children, helping to prevent painful and
potentially dangerous oral health conditions.”
MetLife Foundation will provide an additional $600,000 to Sesame
Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame
Street, to develop Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me, a bilingual
(English/Spanish) multimedia outreach initiative which leverages
the power of the beloved Sesame Street characters to motivate
children 2 to 5 years of age, their parents, and caregivers to care
for children’s oral health…early. This initiative will emphasize
the easy everyday routines and habits to keep your teeth, mouth,
and therefore, bodies healthy and strong. The outreach kit, which
will launch early next year, will include an original Sesame Street
DVD, a guide for families, public service messages, community
health providers guide and online games and resources.
The grant will also support the development, production and
dissemination of booklets aimed at parents, caregivers and adults
to help them support and maintain their children’s oral health.
“This is an opportunity for Sesame Street to continue to use its
influence to help families and their children make healthy
decisions about oral health at a time when nurturing children’s
overall development is so critical and the subsequent positive
effects can last a lifetime,” said H. Melvin Ming, President and
CEO of Sesame Workshop. “We are excited to partner with MetLife
Foundation, bringing these much needed resources to families with
young children.”
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to carry on MetLife’s
longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community
involvement. The Foundation is committed to building a secure
future for individuals and communities worldwide. Through programs
focusing on empowering older adults, preparing young people and
building livable communities, MetLife Foundation increases access
and opportunities for people of all ages. Since it was established,
MetLife Foundation has made more than $500 million in grants and
$75 million in program related investments. For more information
visit www.metlife.org
About Children’s Health Fund
Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and
pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, Children’s Health Fund
(CHF) is the nation’s leading pediatric provider of mobile-based
health care for homeless and low-income children and their
families. CHF’s mission is to bring health care directly to those
in need through the development and support of innovative medical
programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of
guaranteed access to health care for all children. CHF currently
has 50 mobile clinics serving hundreds of locations across the
country. Over the past 24 years, the organization has supported
more than two million health care visits for disadvantaged
children, often in places where doctors and health care providers
are in short supply. For more information about CHF, visit
www.childrenshealthfund.org.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that
revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark
Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs,
seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help
bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond
television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media
platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and
military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young
children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy
habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong
learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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