Category: Blog

Thriving Families, a nonprofit organization located in metro-Denver, offers programs that support women, children, and their families during pregnancy and just after a baby is born – a critical period of development for children’s futures. With the support of Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, Thriving Families is providing bilingual oral health care for families, a […]

Frank and Carolyn Anello always knew they wanted to make a difference across the world. Driven by their passion for helping others, they began aiding refugees from Burma, including sponsoring a family. Then, in 2012, they embarked on a mission trip to Burma where Carolyn, a dental professional, volunteered her services. This trip ignited a […]

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY TO HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY Jim Garcia had never imagined that his career would lead him to the world of health care policy. As a dedicated staff member for Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Wirth, his primary focus had always been on policy issues related to health care. However, one thing was clear – […]

Nonprofits often face limited loan options, and the loans available in the private sector usually come with high-interest rates, making them less effective in a nonprofit context. In 2019, Whitney Gustin Connor took the helm as the Executive Director of Kids First Health Care, armed with her knowledge of capital loans from previous roles. “Kids […]

For years, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) has been dedicated to achieving oral health equity in Colorado, primarily through capital grants. As the sole oral health-focused funder in the state, DDCOF has expanded its support beyond traditional grantmaking by introducing mission-related investments (MRIs) in collaboration with community partners. Known as the Oral Health Capital […]

As a person who grew up in disenfranchised communities, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of health inequities on individuals and families. That is why I’m passionate about health care equity and have dedicated my career to working toward reaching it. Recently, I had the privilege of facilitating dialogues with AHEC scholars and then CLLARO […]

Meet Lolinda Turner, dental workforce diversity & inclusion program manager at Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA). When she was a practicing registered dental assistant, Turner says that she “didn’t see a lot of other dental professionals who looked like me.” Three years ago, in her current role, Lolinda channeled her skills, experience, and passion for […]

Oral health is an integral part of overall well-being, yet many communities continue to face disparities in accessing oral health care and achieving optimal oral health. As part of an overarching strategy to address these disparities, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) launched a workforce initiative in 2021, with the goal of increasing the number […]

Raising a Reader Aspen to Parachute is a nonprofit organization serving the Roaring Fork Valley that provides preschool and kindergarten students with entertaining, educational, and engaging books to read at home, thus building important parent-child bonds. Suzanne Wheeler-Del Piccolo has been the Executive Director at Raising a Reader Aspen to Parachute for over a year. […]