The Tooth Fairy Fund for Grown-ups is an effort to provide financial assistance to those who are unable to pay even

the low sliding-scale fees at the Health District’s Family Dental Clinic. Although we do a great job reaching out to people of all ages and making our services as affordable as possible, some people still cannot afford the dental care they need, and there are not enough public funds to help all of them. (There is a separate fund and programs such as Project Smile to provide free care to children and Dental Connections, which the Health District also supports.)

 

The Tooth Fairy Fund was initiated by a $20,000 challenge grant from a local funder in 2009. Community donors met the goal of $20,000 in local matching funds, and the Tooth Fairy Fund began providing help. Now we seek approximately $20,000 per year to maintain the funds and meet the need of those who require critical dental care but who are unable to pay the low sliding-scale fees at the Health District Family Dental Clinic.

 

Here are a few examples of adults who have received care at our clinic thanks to the Tooth Fairy Fund

(names changed to protect their identities):

 

 

 

  • Sam, a 62-year-old man with limited income, was in need of a partial denture and two crowns. In tears from the pain and from general despair, he came to the Family Dental Clinic for assistance, where he received professional treatment through the assistance of the Tooth Fairy Fund for Grown-ups.
  • Disabled and depressed from her dental problems, Anita found it hard to eat and dropped down to 84 pounds. Fortunately, she sought help at the Family Dental Clinic. Her four remaining teeth were extracted, and she received full upper and lower dentures, improving both her physical and mental health.
  • Martha was raising her three teenage grandsons and didn’t have enough money for food or taxes on her home, let alone dental treatment for her grandsons. With help from the Tooth Fairy Fund for Grown-ups, her 18-year-old grandson received a root canal and crown, and all received much-needed cleanings.
     
 

 

For more information about the Tooth Fairy Fund for Grown-ups or to make a donation, please contact Jim Becker, Resource Development, at (970) 224-5209 or jbecker@healthdistrict.org.

 

*Any donation of $100 or more from an individual or corporation is eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit based on the value of the donation, on their Colorado state income tax return. The Health District is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to our organization are tax-deductible to the extent allowed on donors’ federal income tax return. For individual tax savings, donors should consult their tax professionals.