Posted on
(HOWARD, SD) – Horizon Health Foundation and the Patterson Foundation are partnering to decrease cavities and tooth decay in young children. More than 50% of kindergartners have never seen the dentist. More than 40% of these children have cavities by that time. Good dental hygiene and regular checkups are important as soon as a child gets a first tooth. Smiles for Miles makes sure children get an early start on a beautiful smile.
The Patterson Foundation is supporting the program with a $3,500 donation that will help offset the cost of the checkups.
Seeing a need for pediatric dental care in rural areas, Horizon piloted a children’s oral health campaign, “Smiles for Miles,” in 2018. The Smiles for Miles program is a month-long promotion held at Horizon dental clinics, allowing children ages 0-5 to receive a free dental exam, cleaning, and fluoride treatment during the month of October.
Horizon Health Foundation recently received matching gifts of $4,770 from Delta Dental of South Dakota, and $2,500 from First Bank & Trust to support Horizon Health Care’s Smiles for Miles program. These three gifts will provide $10,770 to help get children achieve healthy teeth.
“The Patterson Foundation is proud to be a partner of Horizon Health Care and their Smiles for Miles initiative,” said Allie Krug, program manager for Patterson Foundation and Corporate Giving. “Not only does the Patterson Foundation serve this partnership through monetary contributions, but our Patterson Dental employees have been inspired to give their time, talent and treasure to this important organization as well, and that speaks volumes. Giving back is part of our DNA at Patterson, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be involved with this effort.”
During October 2021, Horizon saw 187 patients ages 0-5. Forty-four percent of those patients were new patients and 28% of the children seen had decay identified during the exam.
All eight Horizon locations participate in the promotion, which includes clinics at Martin, Faith, Wessington Springs, Plankinton, De Smet, Howard, Yankton, and Alcester. Patients from Horizon’s other 14 clinic sites and the surrounding communities also participate in the program. Since the program’s conception, 769 children have received free dental care.
“The Smiles for Miles program ensures that children across South Dakota have access to dental care, even in rural communities,” said Michelle Scholtz, Chief Dental Officer. “Early dental visits are important in a child’s development by preventing future oral problems. The earlier a child receives a dental checkup, the more comfortable they’ll be around their dentist and receiving dental care.”
Since the creation of the Smiles for Miles program in 2018, the Patterson Foundation has donated $7,000 to directly help 28 children receive a healthy smile. Smiles for Miles has raised a total of $83,000 from 261 donors across 16 different states, including 52 communities within South Dakota.
The Horizon Health Foundation invites individuals to create “Smiles for Miles” by sponsoring a child through a gift of $264 or $22 per month. To donate, visit the Horizon Health Foundation webpage https://horizonhealthfoundation.com/smiles, Facebook page (Horizon Health Foundation), or call at 605-772-4553.
The Patterson Foundation is committed to investing in programs that strengthen our communities. We feel so fortunate to partner with such an important organization, working hard to create change and opportunities for those who need it most.
About Horizon Health Foundation
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. 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, 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
For over 40 years, Horizon Health Care 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 110,000 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.