United Way of Central Iowa Honored with Celebration of Smiles Award

On September 19, 2024, United Way of Central Iowa was honored to receive Dental Connections’ Celebration of Smiles Award. This recognition celebrates a decades-long partnership that has made a significant impact on the health and education of children in central Iowa.

For over 90 years, United Way of Central Iowa and Dental Connections have worked together to ensure that children in our community get a strong start in life—starting with their health. We know that oral health goes beyond a great smile; it affects a child’s quality of life, academic performance, and long-term well-being. When children are dealing with untreated oral pain, it’s harder for them to focus in school, which often leads to lower academic achievement and social struggles.

In 2001, Dental Connections launched the Little Healthy Smiles program to address a gap in dental care for young children. Many kids, especially those from underserved communities, don’t have access to a dentist after their baby teeth come in. Little Healthy Smiles has changed that. Over the past 23 years, this program has brought preventive dental services, such as fluoride treatments and screenings, directly to preschoolers—starting a cycle of care that continues as they enter Des Moines Public Schools.

United Way is proud to be part of this journey. Our partnership with Dental Connections and other community leaders has helped expand access to dental care in schools, ensuring that more kids can get the care they need. One example of this collaboration was working with local labor unions to install electrical hookups for mobile dental clinics at elementary schools. It’s a reminder of how our community comes together in creative ways to meet critical needs.

As we reflect on this partnership, we’re filled with gratitude for Dental Connections and their leadership in championing better oral health for our children. The work we’ve done together has left a lasting impact on the lives of many families, and we look forward to continuing this important work in the years ahead.

Thank you, Dental Connections, for this incredible honor. Here’s to many more years of putting smiles—and the health and success of our children—first.