Tom's of Maine gives dental 10 clinics $10K

Tom's of Maine is awarding $10,000 each to 10 dental clinics as part of the company's Be a Tooth Fairy Hero initiative.

The contest encouraged children to submit drawings and recommendations to nominate nonprofit dental clinics in their states, part of a Tom's of Maine program to raise awareness about the need for greater access to dental care, the company noted in a press release.

Tom's of Maine also donated its natural toothpaste to the schools of the children who submitted winning entries. The Dental Health for All program is distributing more than 5,000 tubes of toothpaste and $100,000 to help increase access to dental care for the needy.

The names of the children who submitted winning entries and the clinics include:

• Tyler of Tujunga, CA, and Valley Community Clinic, North Hollywood, CA
• Kevin of Jacksonville, FL, and Sulzbacher Center, Jacksonville, FL
• Haley of Blairsville, GA, and Blue Ridge Dental, part of Georgia Mountains Health -- Blue Ridge, GA
• Karri of Crown Point, IN, and Gary Community Health Center, part of Community HealthNet, Gary, IN
• Thomas of Radcliff, KY, and Family Health Center - Southwest, Louisville, KY
• Maya of, Yarmouth, ME, Health Care for the Homeless, part of the Portland Public Health Division, Portland, ME
• Bridget of Hopkinton, MA, and Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Framingham, MA
• Caiden of Johnstown, OH, and Columbus Public Health Dental Clinic, part of Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Columbus, OH
• Alyssa of Jenks, OK, and Morton Midtown Clinic, part of Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Tulsa, OK
• Riley of Bent Mountain, VA, and Craig County Dental Center, part of Monroe Health Center -- New Castle, VA

Tom's of Maine created the Dental Health for All program more than 10 years ago. To date, the program has helped make 200,000 additional patient visits possible with $1 million in funding to more than 30 school and community-based dental clinics.