Ozarks Technical Community College received a $35,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to support a new project called the OTC Community Dental Education and Prevention Program.
Walmart Foundation grant funds will allow OTC’s dental programs faculty and students to perform dental screenings at the college’s five locations across southwest Missouri. The grant will fund 160 preventative dental care vouchers to OTC students on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant will also pay for 120 gas cards, which will allow students from outlying campuses and centers to travel to OTC to receive dental care.
“Thanks to the Walmart Foundation, we now have the opportunity to help our students who might not otherwise have access to preventative dental care,” said Rebecca Caceres, OTC dental hygiene program director. “By serving this specific student population, we hope to create a positive cycle of dental awareness and good oral hygiene.”
Statewide, the Walmart Foundation distributed checks worth more than $600,000 at its Day of Giving event on Nov. 18. Springfield’s recipients included OTC, Care to Learn, Good Samaritan of the Ozarks and Ozarks Food Harvest. These recipients accepted grant funds totaling more than $262,000 in a check presentation ceremony held Wednesday at the Walmart Supercenter on South Campbell.
Springfield City Councilwoman Jan Fisk, Mo. State Rep. Charlie Norr and Walmart executives joined the four grant recipients at the ceremony.