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Dental Endowment In 1999 Montcalm County was designated as a dental professional shortage area. Access to dental services for the then 4,500 Medicaid beneficiaries in the county was virtually non-existent. Sadly, in 1998 dentists weren’t accepting any new Medicaid patients and, in the same year, only 468 Medicaid-enrolled individuals in the county received dental care. It was then that the Oral Health Coalition was formed to address the lack of dental care available to Medicaid recipients in Montcalm County. As a result of the Oral Health Coalition’s efforts, the Stanton Dental Care Center opened in September 2000 to serve the oral health needs of Montcalm County’s Medicaid patients. This was possible due to a one-time start-up grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), which covered building renovation, dental equipment, supplies and dental staff salaries for the first six months. Without the Dental Center’s existence, there would be no local comprehensive dental care for these children. In May 2004, the Montcalm Healthy Smiles Endowment Fund (administered by the Greenville Area Community Foundation) was established to ensure the dental center remains a valuable community resource. A fundraiser, a Night at the Theatre, is held each August to benefit the Montcalm Healthy Smiles Endowment Fund. Attendees enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments donated by local restaurants, have an opportunity to bid on silent auction items and see a classic film on the big screen. Contact Leslie for more information at 989-831-3669. Please view our brochure for more information or to make a donation! -Endowment Brochure |
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