Marathon Petroleum Grant Makes Dental Care Accessible To Underserved Youth in Salt Lake City
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is connecting underserved youth who live near its Salt Lake City refinery with dental care they may not be likely to receive otherwise. MPC recently gave a $50,000 grant to the Roseman University College of Dental Medicine to fund two events this year where children and teens 18 and younger from qualifying low-income households will receive free dental screenings and cleanings.
“This investment reflects our company’s priority of helping the communities where we operate to thrive by making measurable impacts in the lives of residents,” Salt Lake City Refinery General Manager Eric Sjunnesen said. “We believe partnering with the Roseman College of Dental Medicine will generate lasting benefits because this effort addresses some of the most basic health and wellness needs.”
The first event will take place this spring when Roseman Dental, the clinical practice of the Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine , partners with the American Dental Association to provide screenings and cleanings as part of the national Give Kids a Smile® program. The second opportunity for screenings and cleanings will occur in the fall during the College of Dental Medicine’s Back-to-School Brush Up™. All children and teenagers who attend either event will also receive a voucher that allows them to return to Roseman Dental for a free comprehensive exam, x-rays, sealants and as much as $50 in additional care and services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 20% of children between five and 11 years of age have at least one untreated, decayed tooth, and children from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as children from higher-income households.
