Delta Dental of Illinois Invested $7 million, impacting 170,000+ Illinoisans 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report highlights efforts to improve health and wellness in state

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (July 25, 2023) — Delta Dental of Illinois released its 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, providing a comprehensive review of its efforts to expand oral health education and access to care, as well as its overall philanthropic and social impact initiatives. Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to Illinois communities, Delta Dental of Illinois and its 501(c)(3) charitable arm, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, invested nearly $7 million in 2022, positively impacting more than 170,000 Illinoisans as detailed in the report. The efforts in Illinois are part of investments by Delta Dental nationwide. In 2022, Delta Dental, the nation’s leading oral health philanthropist, invested nearly $109 million to support programs, research, and advocacy that positively impacted over 20 million lives.

“At Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, we believe all of our members and every Illinoisan deserve a healthy smile because we know that oral health is essential to overall health and well-being,” said John Maples, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Illinois. “This belief guides us — as does our core values of engaging in and supporting local communities, bettering the environment for a sustainable future, and ensuring we are an inclusive enterprise.”

As a non-profit, Delta Dental of Illinois’ vision is to improve health and well-being for those it serves. It works to fulfill this vision through its own philanthropic initiatives, which include social and environmental initiatives, as well as through the programs of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation to improve oral health in Illinois. Last year, Delta Dental of Illinois and its Foundation continued investing in communities across the state.   

“We are intentional about our commitment to improving oral health literacy, equity, and access,” said Lora Vitek, executive director of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. “This commitment extends to our grantmaking, educational program delivery and training, dental school partnerships, and community support. By expanding access to care, funding facilities and training for dentists, and providing education for local communities, we help build healthier communities.”

Initiatives in 2022 included:

• Expanding access to care. Through its Health Equity Grants and COVID-19 Renewal Grants, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, in partnership with the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, supported 54 organizations statewide with grants to improve health care across the state. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation also awarded nearly $255,000 through its Community Grants Program to 19 nonprofit and community organizations that offered programs and services to improve children's oral health.

• Promoting oral health literacy and education. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation continued its efforts to expand oral health care and education through its Dentist By 1 and Land of Smiles programs, which work to educate both children and caregivers about the importance of oral health care and how to practice healthy habits that set a foundation for a healthier life.

• Broadening opportunities in dentistry. A primary goal of the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is to increase access to care and expand oral health knowledge. And that’s especially important for dental students from historically underrepresented communities and individuals with special health care needs, who may have difficulty with their daily oral health routine or trouble finding a dentist to support them. To help combat these obstacles, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation provided scholarship opportunities and supported programs that increase the number of patients seen each year and train more dentists to provide care.

• Protecting our environment. Delta Dental of Illinois supported programs and created volunteer opportunities for employees that helped support the environment, such as recycling and Adopt-A-Highway events. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation continued its H2O On the Go program, providing water bottle-filling stations to Illinois schools, reducing waste, and helping students choose water over other sugary beverages.

• Engaging in our community. Delta Dental of Illinois supported programs that make a positive impact in our community and provided opportunities for employees to volunteer their time. As part of that effort, Smile It Forward Volunteer Time Off (VTO) Policy was put in place to encourage employees to get involved in their communities. As a result, nearly one-third of employees utilized this new VTO policy, volunteering 239 hours.

The full report is available online: 2022 Delta Dental of Illinois Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

About Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation

Delta Dental is the national dental benefits leader covering 1 in 3 Americans who have dental coverage. Delta Dental of Illinois is one of 39 member companies that make up the national Delta Dental system. Based in Naperville, Illinois, Delta Dental of Illinois provides dental benefit programs to more than 6,500 Illinois companies and covers 2 million individuals, employees and family members nationwide. Delta Dental of Illinois is committed to improving oral health in our community and furthers this commitment through the work of its 501(c)(3) charitable arm, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. In the past decade, combined efforts of Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation have provided more than $20 million to programs and organizations in Illinois that improve the oral health of the state’s residents. For additional information, visit deltadentalil.com/ddilfoundation.