Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, MA, has received $1.25 million toward the renovation of its dental hygiene clinic and classrooms -- the largest single gift in the school's history.
The donation came from Maureen Wilkens, a local philanthropist and long-time supporter of the college. Wilkens will now serve as honorary co-chair of the campaign.
The school also received a $250,000 gift from Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, bringing the school past the halfway mark of the $2.5 million it needed for the renovation. With its donation, Cape Cod Five will have exclusive naming rights to the Dental Hygiene Program's Children's Community Outreach program. Through this program, second-year students travel to area preschools and childcare programs to provide education, cleanings, sealants, and dental screenings.
Created in 1975, college's dental hygiene program is the only one within a 50-mile radius. It helps to meet the dental care needs of the uninsured and underinsured population on Cape Cod, providing an average of 1,800 appointments per year to area residents, according to the college.
