Delta Dental sends toothbrushes to U.S. troops

12/20/2011

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (Dec. 20, 2011) — Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana recently donated 1,350 toothbrushes to Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit seeking to put a smile on the faces of service members currently serving overseas. The toothbrushes will be included in care packages for U.S. troops still stationed in Afghanistan, the Middle East and in Africa.

“We are delighted and honored by Delta Dental's generosity with the toothbrush donations,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. "It will make a huge difference in our ability to get an oral hygiene kit out to every deployed service member who receives one of our care packages."

Operation Gratitude annually sends more than 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually-named U.S. service members who are currently deployed. The organization’s mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member’s face and express appreciation and support to our armed forces.

“We appreciate everything our service men and women do for us,” said Sarina Gleason, a spokesperson for Delta Dental. “This is just one simple way to show our gratitude and help keep healthy and bright smiles on each of their faces.”

About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana and its affiliates in Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina and Tennessee collectively are among the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2010, the enterprise paid out more than $2 billion for dental care for nearly eight million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.