Delta Dental of Minnesota sends nearly 50,000 toothbrushes to libraries throughout Minnesota

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May 30th, 2018



Books on a shelf with a toothbrush

Donation program celebrates June as National Smile Month

To celebrate National Smile Month in June, Delta Dental of Minnesota is distributing more than 150 toothbrushes to more than 300 public libraries in the state of Minnesota. Using the tagline #SmilePower, Delta Dental of Minnesota is sending 50,000 toothbrushes in total in an effort to support libraries in their important work to strengthen the communities they serve, and to help improve oral health care and awareness throughout the month of June.

“At Delta Dental of Minnesota, we believe that everyone deserves a healthy smile. We are thrilled to partner with Minnesota libraries in our commitment to improving the health of all Minnesotans through oral health,” said Rodney Young, chief executive officer and president at Delta Dental of Minnesota. “Libraries are a crucial part of our communities. Through dozens of efforts, including lending books, libraries remain a cornerstone of Minnesota’s community building as they have for many, many generations.”

According to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, 81 percent of people believe that libraries provide resources that would be hard to find elsewhere, and 86 percent say a library can be helpful for people seeking health information. In fact, 7 out of 10 Minnesotans have a library card, and public libraries experienced nearly 24 million visits during 2016.

“We are excited at the opportunity to provide toothbrushes for our patrons at the St. Peter Public Library thanks to Delta Dental of Minnesota,” said Brenda McHugh, Assistant Lead Librarian/Children’s Librarian of St. Peter Public Library. “As a central hub of this community in St. Peter, it’s a great place to provide all kinds of resources for the public.”

“We are excited for this generous donation from Delta Dental of Minnesota, because it will allow us to serve our community in a special way,” said Rhonda Barnes, Director of LeRoy Public Library. “We can’t wait to get the word out about National Smile Month and help spread oral health awareness through the distribution of these toothbrushes. For small rural towns in Minnesota, the library is a hub of the community. What better places could they have picked?"

Delta Dental of Minnesota

Delta Dental of Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit health services company that serves the oral health needs of Minnesota and North Dakota residents. Since 1969, Delta Dental of Minnesota has accomplished this mission by providing the best access across the state to oral health care through affordable dental plans. Delta Dental of Minnesota is an authorized licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association of Oak Brook, Illinois. To learn more, visit DeltaDentalMN.org.