WASHINGTON – The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation has awarded a $1 million gift to the Howard University College of Dentistry to launch the Delta Dental Endowed Scholarship for Opportunity program.

The grant will support the College of Dentistry by offering scholarships to high-achieving and financially deserving students. An additional $20,000 has been allocated to provide immediate financial support for students enrolled in the College of Dentistry. Preferences will be given to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and financial need as well as dentistry students who have demonstrated interest in working in underserved communities.

“We are grateful to the Delta Dental Care Foundation for its major investment in our mission,” said Dr. Andrea Jackson, DDS, dean of the Howard University College of Dentistry. “This donation will make a difference to dental students navigating the tremendous debt incurred during their education and contribute significantly to access to care for underserved communities.”

Howard University’s College of Dentistry is the fifth oldest dental school in the United States and graduates approximately 75 students each year. The college serves as a research institution that prides itself on being a national resource to dental leaders.

These scholarships can be awarded annually to new students or previous scholarship recipients.

“We are proud to partner with Howard University College of Dentistry and support their mission to educate and train the next generation of dental practitioners,” said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California. “The partnership helps us achieve our broader mutual goals of increasing access to oral health care, especially for those in underserved communities, and providing opportunities for oral health education.”

The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies, including Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and Delta Dental of New York, Inc. Since 2011, the foundation has awarded more than $80 million in funding and support to increase access to quality dental care and oral health education as well as to advance scientific research across the company’s 15-state service area and the District of Columbia.