07 May Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Partner for New H20 On The Go Grant Program
Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Partner for New H20 On The Go Grant Program
Oak Brook, Ill. (May 6, 2020) – Recently, the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation partnered to launch a new grant program to provide new water stations in Illinois schools. The program, H2O On the Go, aims to replace existing water fountains with new water bottle-filling stations at elementary, middle and high schools throughout Illinois.
The program collaboration comes as a part of both Foundation’s respective grant initiatives, and overarching missions, to improve the overall health and well-being of Illinois children. “The Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation is committed to improving the oral health of all children in Illinois,” said Heather Higgins Alderman, the Foundation’s president. “Our vision is, ‘Every child in Illinois grows up healthy.’ We are delighted to partner with Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation to encourage children to drink more water, which is a healthy alternative to sugary beverages and will help improve their oral health and overall health.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay, while largely preventable, is the leading chronic infectious disease among children. Choosing water instead of sugary beverages like soda, juice and sports drinks can help keep teeth strong and reduce cavities by almost 25%. It can also help combat obesity, increase energy levels and improve students’ cognitive function.
H2O On the Go will make it easier for Illinois students to have access to drinking water throughout the day and choose water over other beverages. Schools who apply and are approved for the grant will receive a water bottle-filling station along with reusable water bottles and toothbrushes for students.
“Making it easy for kids to make healthy choices helps instill good health habits,” said Lora Vitek, executive director of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. “This includes making beverage choices for optimal oral health and overall health. By installing water bottle-filling stations in schools across the state, we can reduce students’ sugar intake and encourage them to drink more water.”
In addition to health benefits, the H20 On the Go refillable water stations will help reduce waste and promote conservation efforts. The new water bottle-filling stations are made by Elkay, headquartered in Downers Grove.
All schools throughout Illinois are encouraged to apply for the H2O On the Go grant program. Schools that do not already have a water bottle-filling station will receive preference in the grant application review process. Applications will be accepted through Friday, June 12, at deltadentalil.com/h2o-on-the-go.
About Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation
The Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) has a single vision: Every child in Illinois grows up healthy. Working through grantee partners across the state, the Foundation focuses its grant making on identifying and funding solutions to the barriers that prevent children from accessing the ongoing health care they need. For more information, go to ilchf.org.
About Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation was formed in March 2008 and is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation works to support and improve the oral health of people in Illinois, with a specific focus on children. In the past decade, combined efforts of Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation have provided more than $8 million to programs and organizations in Illinois that improve the oral health of the state’s residents. For additional information about Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, please see www.deltadentalil.com.
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