Delta Dental Contributes $100,000 to Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman Scholarship Fund
Arlington, VA / June 22, 2026 – The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation announced a $100,000 contribution from Delta Dental to support the Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman Scholarship at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), helping expand educational opportunities for future dental professionals.
Established in 2022 through a collaborative effort across the dental industry, the Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman Scholarship supports aspiring dentists as they pursue their education and prepare to improve oral health in communities across the country.
Delta Dental’s generous contribution will help ensure that more students have access to the financial resources needed to achieve their educational goals and enter the dental profession.
“We are incredibly grateful to Delta Dental for this significant investment in the future of dentistry,” said Jackie Michaels, Managing Director of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation. “The Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman Scholarship was created to support talented students pursuing careers in oral healthcare, and this contribution will help expand the scholarship’s impact for years to come.”
Since the scholarship’s inception, students from dental schools across the country have benefited from donor support. Recent scholarship recipients include Noah Williams of Howard University and Destiny Smart of Tufts University, both of whom recently graduated from dental school. Williams has gone on to begin a pediatric dental residency in Louisiana.
The scholarship honors Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman, recognized as the first professionally trained Black dentist in the United States. Through partnerships with industry leaders, educational institutions, and philanthropic organizations, the scholarship seeks to support the next generation of dental professionals and strengthen access to oral healthcare.
The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation remains committed to advancing oral health through scholarships, grants, and workforce development initiatives that help build a stronger future for the profession. For more information about the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation and its programs, visit dtafoundation.org.
About the DTA Foundation:
The DTA Foundation’s mission is to enable access to, empower personal ownership of, and increase the utilization of oral healthcare. The foundation achieves this through strategic partnerships, research, and education. For more information, visit www.dtafoundation.org.
About Delta Dental:
Delta Dental is a leading dental benefits provider dedicated to advancing oral health through access to care, community partnerships, and support for the future dental workforce.