$50,000 Grant from Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation to HNC Living Foundation Supports First Cancer Patient in Oklahoma

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  • The grant is part of a $2.4 million grant package Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation awarded at the beginning of 2021 to fund free and low-cost dental clinics, dental education programs and oral health initiatives across the state. (Image found on Facebook)
    The grant is part of a $2.4 million grant package Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation awarded at the beginning of 2021 to fund free and low-cost dental clinics, dental education programs and oral health initiatives across the state. (Image found on Facebook)
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OKLAHOMA CITY (July 2021) – To help Oklahoma head and neck cancer patients struggling with the effects of their diagnoses, Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the HNC Living Foundation.

The grant recently benefited the first patient in Oklahoma, a Guthrie resident with squamous cell carcinoma. The funds allowed the patient to receive extractions that were required to continue receiving lifesaving chemotherapy and radiation treatments. HNC Living Foundation expects the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation grant to provide dental care to approximately 100 head and neck cancer patients in Oklahoma this year.

“The mission of Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its Foundation is to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans,” said Terrisa Singleton, director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. “We are pleased to support HNC Living Foundation’s efforts to procure necessary dental services for cancer patients, especially in a difficult time in their lives.”

Each year, more than 65,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head and neck cancer for the first time. Most head and neck cancer patients begin their journey with dental care because treatment involves radiation, which impacts a patient’s ability to talk, eat, chew and do other daily functions related to oral health.

“Although head and neck cancer patients all experience differences in their cancer journeys, many will need dental care at the beginning and end of their treatments,” said Danielle Yearout, CEO of the HNC Living Foundation. “We are committed to getting these patients the dental care they need at the start of their treatment and as they move toward recovery.”

HNC Living Foundation works with organizations like D-Dent to identify head and neck cancer patients who need dental work done before receiving cancer treatments. Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation’s grant covers the cost for treatment and the transportation required to receive it. These groups collaborate with additional partners like the OU College of Dentistry to ensure patients receive the dental care they need.

The grant is part of a $2.4 million grant package Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation awarded at the beginning of 2021 to fund free and low-cost dental clinics, dental education programs and oral health initiatives across the state.

 

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Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of Delta Dental of Oklahoma and is the state’s single largest contributor to dental health and education-related projects and initiatives. Our Foundation is funded entirely by proceeds from Delta Dental of Oklahoma. For more information, visit DDOKFoundation.org

HNC Living Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping head and neck cancer patients live life fully during and after treatment by providing financial aid. Its grants fund services and programs that directly benefit head and neck cancer patients, supporting their treatment and recovery. For more information, visit HNCLiving.org.

 

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