2024 Annual Report
Dental Trade Alliance Foundation
2024 Annual Report
Our Core Pillars
Strategic Partnerships
Research
Education
Scholarships
Dental Scholarships
Dental scholarships have always been a core component of our work. With many programs totaling over $300k for four years, scholarships can make a big difference for their budgets. Offered to dental students at schools across the US and Canada, these funds help those most dedicated to dental care for the underserved. In 2024, we awarded 11 scholarships to the best and brightest of our applicants, including one $25k scholarship, five $10k scholarships, and five $5k scholarships.
Hear the Impact of Your Support
2024 Dental Scholarship Recipients
| Full Name | School | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Tamera Thomas | Meharry Medical College | DTA Foundation / Robert J. Sullivan Family Foundation |
| D’Nai Ashford | UIC College of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / Benco Family Foundation |
| Jason Beugnet | Marquette University School of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / Patterson Dental |
| Aleya Steckel | Oregon Health & Science University | DTA Foundation / Patterson Dental |
| Jasmine Gray | Howard University College of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / Darby Dental |
| Ana Goldstein | University of Florida College of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / Gary & Deborah Steinberg / Ronald & Myriam Reuben (AMD Medicom) |
| Jeremie Piña | University of Maryland School of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / Shils Entrepreneurial Fund |
| Haleigh Smith | University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / PDT, Inc. |
| Liza Harutyunyan | UCSF School of Dentistry | DTA Foundation / NSK Dental |
| Lillian Gordon | Harvard School of Dental Medicine | DTA Foundation / PDT, Inc. |
| Amanda Milton | LECOM School of Dental Medicine | DTA Foundation / Al & Carol King |
Hygiene Scholarships
Meet the first recipients of this new scholarship!
When you take a look at the dental industry as a whole, the US is critically low on dental hygienists to lead the oral health crusade. Dentists can’t do it all alone – it takes a team of dedicated professionals to care for your community. That’s why the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation has expanded our scholarship program to invest in the important work of dental hygienists. Thanks to the Lawrence and Sally Cohen Endowed Scholarship for Dental Hygiene, created by a $1m gift from the Benco Family Foundation, two $25k dental hygiene scholarships were awarded in 2024, while another $6k scholarship was also awarded to a third student.
2024 Hygiene Scholarship Recipients
| Full Name | School | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Alexis Francis | Chattanooga State Community College | DTA Foundation / Wilson Walk Scholarship |
| Fartun Ibrahim | Pacific University | DTA Foundation / Lawrence and Sally Cohen Endowed Scholarship |
| Felicia Sweeny | Midlands Technical College Airport Campus | DTA Foundation / Lawrence and Sally Cohen Endowed Scholarship |
2024 DTA Foundation Grants
Center for Oral Health
Location: Sacramento, CA
Grant amount: $25k
In 2024, we awarded The Center for Oral Health a $25,000 grant to support a pivotal study titled “The Impact of School-Based Dental Programs on School Absenteeism”. This research, powered by our Disabled Community Access Fund, will evaluate how their Early Smiles Sacramento program—established in 2016—affects student attendance by providing preventive dental care directly in schools.
Serving over 27,000 children annually across 17 school districts, Early Smiles Sacramento delivers oral health education, screenings, fluoride treatments, and care coordination services, including translation and transportation support. By reducing dental-related absences, the program not only improves student well-being but also reduces costs for families and school systems. This study aims to highlight the program’s effectiveness in improving educational outcomes and inform policy decisions that expand access to care. We expect the results from this study to be ready this summer.
Penobscot Community Health Center
Location: Bangor, ME
Grant Amount: $25k
Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center in Maine, is home to a high-demand dental center serving a largely underserved population—most of whom are uninsured, underinsured, or covered by MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program). Like much of the state, PCHC faces a critical shortage of dental providers and dental assistants, making access to care even more challenging.
To help close this gap, the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation awarded PCHC a $25,000 grant to support the recruitment and training of new dental assistants. This innovative initiative provides not only formal education but also paid, hands-on training—removing key barriers for those entering the field. Launched this spring, the program is now welcoming its first three dental assistant trainees this summer, marking a hopeful step toward strengthening Maine’s oral health workforce.
Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine/Texas Tech Foundation
Location: El Paso, TX
Grant amount: $25k
In an underserved area of Texas near the border, dental heroes are changing lives by enabling access to care. Access to health and dental care is difficult for many, especially those with disabilities. There are only two dentists that specialize in care for those with disabilities in the region, while 1/41 people have an intellectual or developmental disability there.
Addressing this critical need, the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation awarded a $25k grant to the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine in El Paso, TX to provide three free trainings and cleanings to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and offer support to their caregivers, both in English and Spanish. They will also hold a cleaning/screening planned in fall 2025. Impact numbers and stories to come!
Unfunded List
Location: USA
Grant Amount: $25k
Through a unique partnership with Unfunded List, The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation is helping our prospective dental grantees build up their capacity to win impactful grants. In total, 21 non-profit applicants were reviewed over two rounds of feedback before and after submitting their applications. This feedback is aimed at improving their proposals to better position them to win grants that can improve oral and dental health.
A WORD FROM OUR CHAIR
To our DTA and DTAF members, friends, colleagues, and supporters,
It is with great pride and gratitude that I present to you our Annual Report for the fiscal year ending 2024. This past year has been one of both challenge and opportunity, and I am pleased to report that our organization has navigated it with resilience, strategic focus, and a steadfast commitment to increasing access to oral healthcare for all.
Despite a dynamic economic landscape, we have remained true to our priorities of finding innovative oral health solutions through our grants program, increasing access to care for the underserved, and increasing visibility and access to careers in dental by adding and promoting new scholarship opportunities. Our financial performance reflects not only the strength of our business model but also the dedication of our team and the trust of our industry partners. We have made significant progress in key areas of growth, and sustainability, all while maintaining a strong balance sheet and disciplined capital management.
Looking ahead, we are confident in our ability to continue to adapt and thrive. Our strategic priorities remain clear. We are excited about the future and remain committed to creating a world with healthy smiles for all!
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank you for your continued support and confidence in our journey.
Sincerely,
Liz Meyers
Board Chair-DTA Foundation
How We Advocate for Oral Health
The DentSquad & National Brush Day
Have you met our dental superheroes yet? In 2024, the DentSquad was forged out of hope and a desperate need to engage the community in dental and oral health advocacy. These friendly and brave characters were first introduced during our National Brush Day campaign last year, when they helped us explain the importance of toothbrushing for all ages. Conveniently timed the day after Halloween, National Brush Day offers an important reminder to take care of your teeth, especially after eating candy.
Caring for Our Communities
The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation is committed to uplifting underserved populations through initiatives that expand access to care. Over the last year, we invested in the dental health of children and adults with disabilities in Texas through a $25k grant to Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine/Texas Tech Foundation and announced a new 2025 grant to TeamSmile which will connect occupational therapists with children and dentists at their stadium-based days of care. We also focused on the dental health of veterans through our 2024 Serving Those Who Served initiative, which identified access to care issues for veterans and offered resources to help close this gap. We’re also proud that ALL 2024 grantees and scholarship winners share our dedication to helping meet the unique needs of their communities.
Fundraising Highlights
Main Expenses
A Message of Thanks
We are so grateful to all those who support our mission to enable access to, empower personal ownership of, and increase utilization of oral healthcare so that we may see our vision realized for a healthy smile for all. From our committees to our in-kind donors and all those who pledge funds to support our initiatives, you each have a hand in the year’s success.
2024 was filled with so many big impacts created by our community partners in grant-winning non-profits and through volunteer-led dental projects completed by our scholarship recipients. Thousands of children and adults, particularly those from underserved populations that struggle to access affordable health care, have benefited from pain-reducing and life- changing dental care thanks to you.
Thank you for standing up to champion dental health in all communities.
Jackie Michaels
Managing Director
Dental Trade Alliance Foundation
Join Our Mission
For more information contact
Jackie Michaels
Managing Director
p: 703.379.7755
jackiemichaels@dentaltradealliance.org