H2O Recipients in Illinois l Delta Dental of Illinois Basis

Posted on November 5, 2021 in In the Community

Delta Dental of Illinois Basis and Illinois Youngsters’s Healthcare Basis

award a second spherical of H20 On the Go grants. 

Fifty-five Illinois colleges will obtain new water bottle-filling stations to encourage college students to drink extra water as a part of H2O On the Go, a grant program began final 12 months by Delta Dental of Illinois Basis and Illinois Youngsters’s Healthcare Basis.

H2O On the Go gives better entry to consuming water for Illinois college students and encourages them to decide on water as a substitute of sugar-sweetened drinks like soda, juice and sports activities drinks. Illinois elementary, center and excessive colleges chosen for this program may have current water fountains changed with new water bottle-filling stations. The faculties will even obtain toothbrushes and reusable water bottles for his or her college students.

Tooth decay – although fairly preventable – is probably the most persistent illness amongst youngsters. Ingesting fluoridated water as a substitute of unhealthy, sugary drinks retains tooth robust and might scale back cavities by nearly 25%.¹ Water consumption can even assist scale back weight problems, enhance vitality ranges and enhance college students’ consideration span and talent to study. The brand new water bottle-filling stations are additionally touch-free, reducing germ alternate.

Delta Dental of Illinois Basis Government Director Lora Vitek stated with our H2O On the Go program, we make it simpler for Illinois college students to drink water in an effort to enhance their oral and general well being. Ingesting extra water means college students is not going to solely keep hydrated however they’ll scale back their sugar consumption, enhance their eating regimen and reduce their probability of tooth decay.

The Foundations launched this system final December, asserting that 85 Illinois colleges would obtain water bottle-filling stations. Continuation of the H2O On the Go program this 12 months brings the entire to 140 Illinois colleges that can obtain water stations equipped by Downers Grove-based Elkay and funded by Delta Dental of Illinois Basis and Illinois Youngsters’s Healthcare Basis. In addition to offering wholesome consuming water, the water bottle-filling stations assist scale back waste and promote conservation efforts.

Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Heather Higgins Alderman stated their Foundations is thrilled to proceed this program and set up these water bottle-filling stations in colleges throughout our state. Encouraging youngsters to drink extra water and making it extra accessible to take action helps scale back cavities and results in higher general well being and well-being.

See a full record of Illinois colleges chosen for the H20 On the Go program right here: www.deltadentalil.com/h2o-on-the-go-recipients.

¹ Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/index.html