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(HOWARD, SD) – Horizon Health Care’s Horizon Health Foundation, in conjunction with Delta Dental of South Dakota, is gearing up to celebrate Giving Tuesday for South Dakota and to raise $10,000 from 300 individual, business, and corporate partners to help children ages 0-5 receive a free dental screening.
Cavities are one of the most common diseases of children in the US. Over 40% of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. About 20.5% of children ages 2-5 have untreated decay, and 50% of children ages 2-5 have never seen a dentist.
In February of 2018, Horizon piloted a children’s oral health campaign, “Smiles for Miles”, that focused on bringing children ages 0-5 into the dental clinic for a free preventative exam and cleaning. Horizon saw 162 patients ages 0-5, 70% were new patients, and 20% of the children seen had decay identified during the exam. “In that one month promotion, we saw 56% of the children we typically see during an entire calendar year. To offer a comparison regarding the success and replication of this program, in 2017 we saw 289 children during the year for a preventative exam,” said Christina Konechne, COO.
To meet the need of children across South Dakota and ensure they have access to a free dental exam, the Horizon Health Foundation is raising money to support and grow “Smiles for Miles” by participating in South Dakota Gives’ first ever Giving Tuesday #ForSouthDakota campaign.
Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s Giving Tuesday #ForSouthDakota will take place on Tuesday, November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. #ForSouthDakota for the first time ever, is uniting to celebrate generosity in the great state of South Dakota. The Horizon Health Foundation invites individuals to create “Smiles for Miles” by joining the Golden Smile Club (sponsor a child – gifts of $150 or more), or Golden Toothbrush Club (gifts of $8 or more).
“We are also excited to announce our partnership with Delta Dental of South Dakota to help children in need,” said Tracy Pardy, Foundation Director of Horizon Health Foundation. “Our organizations are similar in that we provide for thousands of South Dakotans, especially in our rural and frontier communities. All gifts made on Giving Tuesday during our “Prime Brushing Times” (7:00 – 9:00 am, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, and 5:00- 7:00 pm) will be matched dollar for dollar up to $2,500 by Delta Dental of South Dakota; for this, we are grateful,” said Tracy Pardy, Foundation Director of Horizon Health Foundation.
Delta Dental is an oral health company that is working to improve the oral health of all South Dakotans. For nearly 50 years, Delta Dental of South Dakota has provided quality dental coverage for thousands of South Dakotans. “We know how important it is that young kids see a dentist,” said Scott Jones, CEO of Delta Dental of South Dakota. “We also know it’s not always easy, especially in rural areas. This is a great way for us to support a mission we share for better oral health for kids in South Dakota.”
To donate or learn more on South Dakota Day of Giving, visit the Horizon Health Foundation webpage https://horizonhealthfoundatio..., Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Horiz..., or call at 605-772-4553.
If you already have plans for November 27th, the Foundation has the ability to schedule gifts in advance of South Dakota Day of Giving by phone or through the website.
The Horizon Health Foundation was established in 2016 to ensure rural health care access to those in need and provide funding for Horizon Health Care, Inc. Horizon Health Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, seeks through responsible activities to encourage and derive sustaining gift support from current and former patients and interested friends, including corporate entities. The Horizon Health Foundation, operating in coordination with Horizon Health Care, Inc., is the duly designated fundraising arm for Horizon Health Care. In the broadest sense, the purpose of the Foundation is to create an awareness of the financial needs of Horizon Health Care, which are not provided by patient charges and to systematically implement plans by which dollar needs can be met.
About Horizon Health Care, Inc.
For the past 40 years, Horizon Health Care, Inc. has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 105,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.