DDKY Press Conference 11.9.15(November 9, 2015) Louisville, KY- Delta Dental of Kentucky’s charitable initiative, Making Smiles Happen, and Fund for the Arts held a press conference today at Shelby Traditional Academy to announce a new educational art program in Kentucky. The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative will provide Arts in Education programs to two regions of the Commonwealth, Jefferson County and 25 Eastern Kentucky counties, beginning in 2016.

Through the collaboration of Delta Dental of Kentucky and Fund for the Arts, teachers will have the opportunity to apply for grants that bring Arts experiences to students. Each of these programs is connected to Commonwealth of Kentucky’s core education content and complement what students are learning in classrooms. “We are beyond thrilled to provide the support needed to execute this initiative and help spread the reach of the great work of Fund for the Arts. We realize how crucial the arts are to the development and education of healthy communities as well as to an overall vibrant and thriving community,” says Delta Dental of Kentucky COO and Fund for the Arts Board Member, Tammy York-Day.

The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative will allow Fund for the Arts to broaden its reach by serving constituents across the Commonwealth. Through Delta Dental’s Making Smiles Happen commitment, Fund for the Arts will be able to reach an additional 12,000 children in 200 classrooms across the Commonwealth.

“Fund for the Arts is committed to inspiring student success and engaging creative minds through the Arts. Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative is a bold step leveraging the Arts to help drive academic attainment and a well-rounded education for Kentucky students,” said Christen Boone, Fund for the Arts President and CEO. “We are grateful to partner with Delta Dental of Kentucky to ensure that our students not only continue to smile but also learn crucial 21st century skills through innovative Arts programming.”
“This funding will make possible additional arts programming for thousands of students, especially those students who might not otherwise have access to the arts,” said Dr. Donna Hargens, Superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools. “Studies show that exposure to the arts helps improve academic achievement, so we are grateful to Delta Dental and Fund for the Arts for making this funding available for teacher grants.”

Educators in Jefferson County will have until November 30, 2015 to submit their applications for consideration through the Fund for the Arts website. Awards to Jefferson County teachers will be made by December 14, 2015. Educators in Eastern Kentucky will have until December 14, 2015 to submit their applications for consideration. Awards to teachers in Eastern Kentucky will be made in early January 2016.

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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 them 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 the Fund for the Arts

The Fund for the Arts builds a stronger community by investing in world-class Arts organizations, driving collaborative initiatives and fueling innovative arts-in-education programs throughout the region. A national leader in corporate partnerships; helping business and creative find a unified voice, a more educated workforce, and attract talent through the Arts. The annual Fund for the Arts campaign has generated more than $196 million for the Arts since its establishment in 1949. More than 20,000 donors contribute to the campaign each year. For more information, visit fundforthearts.com.

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