A local organization which provides dental care and educational services free of charge to uninsured Lowcountry residents recently received a $25,000 grant to further their efforts to help those in need.
Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine (BJVIM) William & Sheryl Magro Dental Clinic helps residents in Greater Bluffton and Jasper County receive much-needed dental care. The services are offered free of charge, a BJVIM news release said.
Since 2020, BJVIM has received a total of $125,000 from Delta Dental of South Carolina, including $25,000 as part of its most recent grant cycle, a BJVIM news release said. The clinic said it has also been able to assist, with the help from Delta Dental of South Carolina, with more than 1,500 individuals in the past few years.
Delta Dental of South Carolina is a non-profit organization who has given millions of dollars in support of organizations that align with its mission to improve oral health and help South Carolinians access vital dental treatment and educational services, the organization said. In the past two years, the company provided more than $747,000 in funding to 21 organizations across South Carolina.
“Oral health is a vital component of Bluffton Jasper Volunteers in Medicine’s services and is essential to improving our patients’ overall well-being,” Pam Toney, executive director of BJVIM, said. “We are deeply grateful to Delta Dental for its generous support, which enables us to continue providing critical dental care and expanding our programs for those who would otherwise lack access to this necessary treatment.”
Toney said the ongoing funding for William & Sheryl Magro Dental Clinic ‘significantly enhances their capacity to improve their patients’ quality of life and, quite literally bringing smiles to their faces.’
Since 2020, BJVIM said it has received a total of $125,000 from Delta Dental of South Carolina, including $25,000 as part of its most recent grant cycle.
“All funds have been instrumental in BJVIM’s ability to establish and sustain its William & Sheryl Magro Dental Clinic,” a BJVIM news release said. “In 2020, the initial funding given by Delta Dental of South Carolina enabled the organization to purchase essential dental equipment, including dental chairs, x-ray machines, imaging software, sterilization equipment and dental assistant tools, which allowed one dentist to provide routine cleanings.”
BJVIM said since that time, the clinic has grown to include a dental director and seven volunteer dentists. Services offered by the clinic have expanded to include panoramic x-rays, simple extractions, fillings, dentures and access to a denture molding lab. Ongoing funds received from Delta Dental of South Carolina, BJVIM said, have enabled the clinic to sustain services, purchase additional equipment and support staff salaries.
Delta Dental of South Carolina said it has given millions of dollars in support of organizations that align with its mission to improve oral health and help South Carolinians access vital dental treatment and educational services. In the last two years alone, the company said it provided more than $747,000 in funding to 21 organizations across South Carolina.
“Our passion and our purpose is to help people of all ages live better lives through improved dental health,” Stacy Harris, supervisor of community outreach at Delta Dental of South Carolina, said. “By donating grants to a variety of organizations – like BJVIM’s William & Sheryl Magro Dental Clinic – we can help connect thousands of people to essential dental resources to enhance their overall health and quality of life.”
Delta Dental of South Carolina said it awards grants annually to select organizations for general operations, programs, projects and capacity-building efforts promoting the oral health of individuals in South Carolina. Objectives of its grant program include the following: reducing oral disease through education, prevention and treatment; ensuring access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental care; enhancing the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children and individuals in need; making a measurable difference in the oral health of South Carolinians, and helping to ensure that South Carolina is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health.
Grant applications for 2025 consideration will be accepted starting on February 3, 2025. To learn more, visit
link