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Delta Dental of Kentucky’s Making Smiles Happen® program donates $100,000 to Family & Children’s Place

January 14, 2016

The four-year gift by Delta Dental of Kentucky’s charitable initiative will help bring new friends, funds to agency’s work with abused kids

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2016 ) – Family & Children’s Place is proud to announce Delta Dental of Kentucky as the presenting sponsor of Caper, the agency’s annual post University of Louisville basketball game party and auction fundraiser, through at least 2019.

Delta Dental of Kentucky Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve Day presented a check for $100,000 to Family and Children’s Place Tuesday during a tour of the facility.

familychildrenplace_jd_design-Recovered- 3“Delta Dental is the real deal in its partnership,” said JT Henderson, vice president of Philanthropy for Family & Children’s Place. “In addition to direct support, Delta Dental of Kentucky provides toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss for our client families to help with oral health, and leadership and staff volunteer with programs and activities.”

The dental benefits provider, which has contributed more than $70,000 to help children and families hurt by abuse since the late 1990s, pledged $100,000 over four years for Caper, planned for Feb. 6, 2016, at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The new commitment will help the agency “take Caper to the next level,” says Henderson. “The 2016 Caper will be our 29th, and the Making Smiles Happen gift will allow us to make it bigger, better, more family friendly and more reflective of our work in the community,” said Henderson.

Making Smiles Happen does more than just provide financial support; Delta Dental encourages staff members to get involved. Delta Dental of Kentucky employees are connected to several Making Smiles Happen charitable beneficiary organizations in strong ways, serving as advocates for issues they stand behind.

“As a Board member for Family & Children’s Place, I know firsthand what important work they do in our community, plus they are a national model when it comes to helping abused children.  We at Delta Dental are delighted to support such an outstanding organization,” said Day.

Annually, Family & Children’s Place gives nearly 6,000 Louisville area child victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation and their families a place to go to work through and heal trauma. The agency also supervises safe parent-child visitations; helps at-risk families find safe, secure homes; helps new parents raise happy, healthy babies; and helps at-risk youth make better choices and improve grades and behaviors.

About Delta Dental of Kentucky Making Smiles Happen:
Making Smiles Happen is Delta Dental of Kentucky’s commitment to serving the community and its residents one smile at a time. Aimed with the task of promoting oral health to the residents of Kentucky, Making Smiles Happen provides charitable support to a variety of non-profit partners.  Giving back is a core component of the culture at Delta Dental and Making Smiles Happen allows us to support, not only groups aimed at improving oral health, but non-profits important to our employees and the communities they serve. And while their primary focus is to ensure that Kentuckians of all ages have exceptional access to oral care, they are open to partnering with any organization that supports a healthy lifestyle and an improved well-being.

About Delta Dental:
Delta Dental of Kentucky is part of a family of companies that collectively is among the largest, most experienced dental plan administrators in the nation: Delta Dental Plans Association.  In 2013, the enterprise paid out nearly $3 billion for dental care for 12.1 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington, Hills, Mich.; Sherwood and Little Rock, Ark.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; and Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn. For more information visit, deltadentalky.com.

About Caper
The 2016 Caper immediately follows the UofL Cardinals vs. Boston College Eagles game at the Yum Center, and is just a short walk away in the convention center’s Cascade Ballroom. The family-friendly event features games for all ages, a silent and live auction and small bites from local area restaurants.

This year, the agency will present Louisville icon and legendary Cardinal Coach Denny Crum with its first Denny Crum Community Service Award, for his support for the agency and work to make life better for all in Louisville. The Cardinals men’s basketball team typically stops by, too, to sign autographs for the more than 500 expected guests.