Through the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative students will receive impactful Arts in Education programs
LOUISVILLE, KY (DECEMBER 18, 2015) – In partnership with Delta Dental of Kentucky and Fund for the Arts, $44,502 has been granted to 34 schools in Jefferson County for the first round of The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative. This grant creates an estimated 6,225 Arts experiences for area students. A second round of funding will be awarded to schools in 25 Southeastern Kentucky counties beginning in early 2016.
Last month, Delta Dental of Kentucky announced a $100,000 donation to Fund for the Arts to create The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative. This initiative will create Arts experiences for students of all grade levels in Jefferson County and in Southeastern Kentucky. Each program is connected to Commonwealth of Kentucky’s core education content and are a complement to current student curriculum. Programming is provided by Fund for the Arts Cultural Partners.
“Bringing Art education to more classrooms across the commonwealth will not only enrich the learning platform but provide an overall more impactful educational experience. We are thrilled these teachers are receiving the news of this special gift during the heart of the holiday season,” says Delta Dental of Kentucky’s COO and Fund for the Arts Board Member, Tammy York-Day, “It is a great way to end the year.”
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 fortunate to have a committed partner in Delta Dental of Kentucky to provide Kentucky students with access to transformative Arts experiences,” said Christen Boone, Fund for the Arts President and CEO. “We know that rich Arts in education experiences inspire student success and hone 21st century skills. With the support of 20,000 donors to the Fund for the Arts and dedicated partners like Delta Dental of Kentucky, we seek to bring the Arts into every school across our region to ensure students receive a well-rounded, impactful education.”
“Laukhuf Elementary School is delighted to be part of the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative,” said Toska Adams, Laukhuf Elementary Arts and Humanities Teacher. “Through the generosity of Delta Dental of Kentucky and Fund for the Arts, my students will gain a greater understanding of what we are currently learning in the classroom. The possibilities are endless when we connect powerful Arts in education experiences to core education content.”
Schools Receiving Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative Grants:
– Academy @ Shawnee
– Bloom Elementary School
– Camp Taylor Elementary School
– Conway Middle School
– Crums Lane Elementary School
– Englehard Elementary School
– Farnsley Middle School
– Fern Creek Traditional High School
– Frayser Elementary School
– Hawthorne Elementary School
– Johnsontown Road Elementary School
– Knight Middle School
– Laukhuf Elementary School
– Lowe Elementary School
– Mary Ryan Academy
– Maryhurst Academy
– Meredith-Dunn School
– Noe Middle School
– Our Lady of Peace Hospital Peace Academy
– Pleasure Ridge Park High School
– Sayers Classical Academy
– Slaughter Elementary School
– St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
– St. Albert the Great School
– St. Matthews Elementary School
– St. Nicholas Academy
– The Pheonix School of Discovery
– The Weinberg Academy at Home of the Innocents
– Uspiritus – Bellewood School
– Uspiritus – Brooklawn School
– Waller-Williams Environmental School
– Watterson Elementary School
– Western Early College High School
– Whitney Young Elementary School
###
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.
