Delta Dental awards $21,540 to ECCO to address oral health disparities and help South Carolinians get vital care

East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) announces it has been awarded a $21,540 grant from Delta Dental of South Carolina – a non-profit organization and leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist.

Research shows a strong link between protecting smiles and improving oral health and overall well-being. Yet disparities prevent many South Carolinians from getting vital dental care. To help combat this, Delta Dental of South Carolina recently awarded $121,540 in oral health grants to four organizations that align with its mission to improve oral health. This includes $21,540 for East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) in Mount Pleasant.

ECCO is using the funds to help purchase digital sensors and supplies for its free dental clinic for uninsured, low-income adults.

“The generosity of Delta Dental of South Carolina will allow ECCO to upgrade and replace critical small equipment necessary for the high-quality restorative care provided by our Dental Clinic on Six Mile Road,” stated Stephanie Kelley, Executive Director of ECCO. “The intended impact of the Delta Dental grant is to increase access to oral healthcare for up to 300 underserved individuals annually. This includes uninsured adult men and women living in the Tri-County. We are extremely grateful for Delta Dental’s commitment to promoting oral health equity in our community.”

Oral health grant funding was also provided to Classy Smiles DBA: SC Smiles Dental in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC) in Charleston and Healthy Learners in Columbia. Funds will be used to support dental provider salaries for a school-based dental care program for underserved children, loan repayment programming for dentists in rural and underserved communities, and a high-impact continuum of care dental program for uninsured and underserved children, respectively.

“Delta Dental is proud to be leading an oral healthcare movement where our mission is your health,” stated Stacy Harris, Community Impact Program Manager at Delta Dental of South Carolina. “We’re thrilled to partner with each organization to support life-changing work through our oral health grant program. Together, we can help thousands of children and adults across the state receive vital treatment and services to improve their oral health and overall well-being.”

Delta Dental of South Carolina awards grants annually for general operations, programs, projects and capacity-building efforts promoting the oral health of individuals in South Carolina. Objectives of its grant program include:

• Reducing oral disease through education, prevention and treatment

• Ensuring access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental care

• Enhancing the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children and individuals in need

• Making a measurable difference in the oral health of South Carolinians

• Helping to ensure that South Carolina is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health.

To learn more, visit https://www.deltadentalsc.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program.

About ECCO
Founded as an emergency relief effort in 1989 after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) has since grown into a permanent resource for the community with three main service areas: Assistance, Guidance, and Resources. Thousands of individuals each year receive help through ECCO’s Wellness Food Pantry, Financial Assistance, Dental & Medical Clinics, Prescription Assistance, Clothing Closet, Asset Development Program, and more. Enhanced through personal interactions with staff who provide individualized support and coaching for each client, ECCO meets each client where they are and helps them navigate the challenges they are facing with care and compassion. ECCO is also a place where people who want to help their neighbors in need can find meaningful ways to share their time, talent, and treasure. Each year, over four hundred local neighbors give their time volunteering at ECCO. For more information about how to receive help or provide help, visit www.eccocharleston.org. Follow ECCO on social media @eccocharleston for updates, photos, and more ways to get involved.

About Delta Dental of South Carolina

Delta Dental of South Carolina is a trade name of Delta Dental of Missouri, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist, which operates in South Carolina under that name. It provides more than 411,000 members in South Carolina with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. It also created the South Carolina Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at https://www.deltadentalsc.com/resourceguide. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalSC.com.