Mars Wrigley Foundation / CDS Foundation
Healthier Smiles Grants

The 2024 Mars Wrigley Healthier Smiles Grant application window is now closed. Please check back in February 2025 for updates about this program.

mars-wrigley-foundation

Since 2014, the Chicago Dental Society Foundation partnered with the Mars Wrigley Company Foundation to provide grant money to CDS member dentists to provide oral health treatment and education to address socioeconomically disadvantaged groups with oral healthcare needs in the Chicagoland area. These grants were made to dentists who are:

Community-minded Chicago Dental Society member licensed dentists
Chicago Dental Society second- and third-year dental students
Willing to identify, volunteer and partner with local community health fairs, organizations and healthcare facilities in vulnerable and underserved communities
Interested in providing dental programs that increase oral health literacy (dental education programs) and that provide dental services (increase access to care)
Innovative and creative
Able to deliver specific, measurable, achievable and realistic oral health outcomes
Ready to make a difference in the oral health of residents in the City of Chicago, or Cook, DuPage or Lake Counties

Previous Mars Wrigley Foundation Grants

2023

D’Nai Ashford-Leake: (UIC Dental Student)- Representation Matters Health Career Fair
Dr. Lisa Beaudette Nguyen: Asian Human Services
Haizel Botwe (UIC Dental Student): Project PODS
Lazma Deeb (UIC Dental Student): Growing Smiles
Dr. Ashley Kauffman: Misericordia Donovan Dental Clinic
Dr. Evelina Kratunova: Mobile CARE Mobile Dental Van
Dr. Wanda Laszcz: IWS Clinic Oak Park Portable Dental Program
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski: Mayslake Village Dental Program
Paige Madden, (Midwestern Dental Student): Schweitzer Fellowship/ Targeting low income families at local food banks to increase oral health literacy
Ruchi Naik,(UIC Dental Student): Dental Oral Hygiene Screening Initiative
Dr. Robert Rada: AdventHealth Free Mission Clinic
Dr. Scott Tomar: Oral Health Education at Nourishing Hope Pantry
Dr. George Zehak: Heal Elgin Free Clinic

2022

Dr. Victoria Ursitti for Marklund Children’s Home/ Marklund Wasmond Center Dental Clinic Program
Dr. Joe Lepkowski for Spread the Health/ Mayslake Village
Dr. Ashley Kauffman for Misericordia Donovan Dental Program
Dr. Eric Jackson for Little Youth Dental Health Expo
Courtnie Akande (UIC Dental Student) for Project Mouth
Teliane Suelle Bakala- Mpandzou (UIC Dental Student) for Caries Prevention for Refugees & Asylees Children
Amber Dansby (UIC Dental Student) for Curly Girl Initiative
Lazma Deeb (UIC Dental Student) for Growing Smiles
Amy Lin (UIC Dental Student) for Increasing Oral Health Literacy for Chicagoland Chinese American Youth
Dr. Ian Marian for Interactive AR-enhanced Comic Book to Improve Oral Health Literacy Among Children & Caregivers
Dr. Bernice Lopez for Pillars Community Health Dental Services
Dr. Larissa Navarro for Mobile CARE Mobile Dental Van
Dr. Ilie Pavel for Special Olympics Special Smiles
Dr. Robert Rada for AdventHealth Free Mission Clinic
Dr. George Zehak for Heal Elgin Free Clinic

2021

Dr. Sahar Alrayyes for Training Undergraduate Dental Students in the Oral Health Needs of Pediatric Cancer Patients
Mr. Brian Currie, Dental Student for Oral Health Advocacy for the LGBTQ Community
Dr. Judy Fan Hsu for Promoting Oral Health with Train the Trainer in UI Health-Englewood
Dr. Eric G. Jackson for Little Youth Dental Health Expo
Dr. Ashley Kauffman for Misericordia Donovan Dental Clinic
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski for the Spread the Health program at Mayslake Village
Ms. Mariam Saadah, Dental Student, for Lives of Immigrants and Refugees through Oral Health Education
Mr. Juaquan D. Savage, Dental Student, for Project Mouth with C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program
Dr. Victoria Ursitti for Marklund Children’s Home Wasmund Center

2020

Dr. Lisa M. Beaudette-Nguyen for the Medical and Dental Integration Project at the AHS Family Health Center, Chicago
Dr. Spencer Bloom for Dental Access Days program for the Veterans of Lake County and the Wings Program in Northwest Cook County
Dr. Judy Fan-Hsu for the Reaching Chicago’s Vulnerables from South and Westside programs throughout the South and West Side communities of Chicago
Dr. Eric G Jackson for the Little Youth Dental Health Expo for the Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage County
Dr. Ashley Kauffman for the Misericordia Donovan Dental Clinic in Chicago
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski for the Spread the Health program at Mayslake Village
Dr. Berenice Lopez for the Dental Services Support program at Pillars Community Health in LaGrange
Dr. Joanne Oppenheim for the Senator Iris Martinez Annual Family Wellness Fair in the city of Chicago
Dr. Illie Pavel for the Special Olympics Special Smile program in Chicago
Dr. Alejandra Valencia for the Ask a Dentist Day program of the Oral Health Forum at the Southside Chicago Community Centers for Older Adults
Dr. George R. Zehak for the Heal Elgin Project in Elgin

2019

Dr. Judy Fan-Hsu for the Summer Health Fairs and School Outreach programs throughout the South and Westside communities of Chicago
Dr. Eric Jackson for the Little Youth Dental Health Expo for the Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage County
Dr. Ashley Kauffman for the Misericordia Donovan Dental Clinic in Chicago
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski for the Spread the Health program at Mayslake Village in Oak Park
Dr. Joanne Oppenheim for the Illinois State Sen. Iris Martinez Annual Family Wellness Fair in the city of Chicago
Dr. Anna Orland for the Dental Education for Everyone Program in the western suburbs, Chicago, Cook and DuPage counties elementary schools
Dr. Patrick Dean Smith for the UIC College of Dentistry’s Implant Supported Overdentures as the 1st Choice Treatment for Underserved Patients
Dr. Bryan Thompson for the Healthy Smiles Increasing Oral Health Awareness to Pediatric Patients Program in the South and South East neighborhoods of Chicago
Dr. Susan Torres for the Pillars Community Health Dental Services Support in LaGrange
Dr. George Zehak for the Heal Elgin Project in Elgin

2018

Dr. Lisa Beaudette-Nguyen for the Intraoral Cameras Patient Education Project at the Asian Human Family Health Center
Dr. Judy Fan-Hsu for the Community Health Fair Pathfinder Program throughout the South and Westside of Chicago
Dr. Nunya Irvine for the Pillars Community Health Dental Services at Pillars Community Health
Dr. Eric Jackson for the Dental Health Expo for the Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage County
Dr. Richard Leyba for the Back to School Fair at the Heartland Human Care Services of Chicago
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski for the Spread the Health Program at Mayslake Village
Dr. Marilia Montero for the Children’s Dental Education for Health Smiles Program throughout the City of Chicago
Dr. Joanne Oppenheim for the Senator Iris Martinez Annual Family Wellness Fair in the city of Chicago
Dr. Anna Orland for the Dental Education for Everyone Program in the Western suburbs, Chicago, Cooke and DuPage counties elementary schools
Dr. Grant Sims for the Dental Access Days in Chicago and Evanston
Dr. Amy Van Fossen for the Summer Camp and Back to School Rock the Wood Jamboree at the All Things Through Christ Ministries of Chicago

2017

Dr. Jessica Bertoglio for the Volunteers Training Program at the Willow Creek Care Center Dental Clinic
Dr. Shandra Bundy-Smith for Happy Mouth – Happy Smile Program at the Christ Centered Church Ministries
Dr. Judy Fan-Hsu for the Community Health Fair Pathfinder Program throughout the city of Chicago
Dr. Loren Feldner for the Illinois Dentists Salute to Vets Program Dr. Nunya Irvine for Dental Services at the Community Nurse Health Center Program
Dr. Flavia Lamberghini for the Only One Program at WIC program sites across the city of Chicago
Dr. Joseph Lepkowski for the Spread the Health Program at Mayslake Village Dr. Jun Sup Lim for the Community Care Day Program at Heartland Alliance & World Relief Chicago
Dr. Barbara Mousel for the Family Wellness and Back to School Fair held at the Avondale-Logandale School
Dr. Joanne Oppenheim and Dr. Marilia Montero for the Children’s Dental Education for Health Smiles Program throughout the City of Chicago
Dr. Anna Orland for the Oral Health Education for Everyone Program in the Wheaton-Warrenville area
Dr. Paula Rosenberger for the Health Education and Promotion on the Backstretch Program for the Racing Industry Foundation
Dr. Timothy Toepke for the Baby Steps to Better Health Program for the Family Christian Health Center
Dr. Richard Ziegler for the Smiles of Hope Program in Berwyn

2016

Sponsored by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation & the Chicago Dental Society Foundation

Dr. Jorelle Alexander for oral health dental screening at Cook County Health and Hospital System
Ms. Michelle Aumann for Snow Day at Midwestern University
Dr. Shandra Bundy-Smith for Good Oral Health for Mommy and Me at Christ Centered Church Ministries
Dr. Barbara Chang for Clean Them to Keep ’Em at Pacific Garden Mission
Mr. Yale Cho for Smiles for Safe Haven at the University of Chicago
Dr. Judy Fan Hsu for health fairs throughout the city of Chicago
Mr. Joshua Eastham for Right from the Start at John R. Tibbott Elementary School
Dr. Caswell Evans for preventive services and oral health education to special needs students at Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education
Dr. Paul Fischl for Dental Access Days
Dr. Nunya Irvine for dental services for the Community Nurse Dental Center
Dr. Jun Lim for Back to School Fair dental exams at the Community Care Clinic of First Evangelical Free Church
Dr. Barbara Mousel for Family Wellness and Back to School Fair at Avondale/Logandale School
Dr. Michael Unti for dental services at Living Grace Community Church Free Clinic

2014

Sponsored by Wrigley Company Foundation and Chicago Dental Society Foundation

Dr. Shandra Bundy-Smith for My Oral Health Counts: Take Time Out – Care (TTO-Care) at Christ Centered Church Ministries
Dr. Sue Etminan for SMILES Oral Health Program at Ravenswood Community Services
Dr. Paul Fischl for Dental Access Days
Dr. Jun Sup Lim for the Community Care Clinic at First Evangelical Free Church
Dr. Anthony Lumpkin for Volunteer Dental Services at Community Nurse Health Center
Dr. Gerald Mackey for the Kids 1st Health Fair at Rosalind Franklin University
Mr. Kenneth Negro, UIC Dental Student, for the Student-Run Clinic at Goldie's Place
Dr. Robert Rada for his work with special needs patients including work with UCP Seguin Services and Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education
Dr. Paula Rosenberger for Oral Health Exacta at Racing Industry Charitable Foundation
Dr. Amy VanFossen for the Love In A Ziplok program at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Mars Wrigley Foundation / CDS Foundation Healthier Smiles Grants