Family Health Care Family Health Care receives grant to provide children with electric toothbrushes
BALDWIN, Michigan – Family Health Care has received a $4,000 grant from the Lake County Community
Foundation to purchase electric toothbrush kits to distribute to students who use dental services at the school-based health center at Baldwin Community Schools.
Amie Fenton, a dental hygienist at Family Health Care, said the funds were used to purchase 160 kits, which will be distributed to the students to motivate them to improve their oral health.
“Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition among children in the United States,” Fenton said. “Over 54 percent of pediatric patients at the Baldwin school-based clinic have active tooth decay. I hope that by giving these students tools that will help reduce plaque, there will be a reduction in tooth decay.”
Electric toothbrushes remove plaque better than traditional toothbrushes and have a two-minute timer to help make brushing foolproof.
“On behalf of our affiliate, the Lake County Community Foundation, we are proud to award this grant to Family Health Care to provide electric toothbrushes for students in its school-based dental clinic,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, President and CEO of the Fremont Area Community Foundation. “We know that tooth decay compromises overall health and quality of life, and we applaud Family Health Care’s work to help more children build healthier dental habits.”
Family Health Care operates five school-based health clinics throughout West Michigan, including the clinic at Baldwin Elementary School. The clinic sees patients ages 5 to 21.
The Lake County Community Foundation is a geographic affiliate of the Fremont Area Community Foundation, which provides asset management and other support services. An advisory board from the Lake County community reviews grant proposals and recommends funding for organizations and programs addressing local needs. Since 1992, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million to organizations serving Lake County.
Media Contact:
Alan Neushwander
Director, External & Internal Relations
(231) 745-0433
aneushwander@familyhealthcare.org
