Staff Reports | Community Updates
Delta Dental of Arizona president and chief executive officer Michael Jones earlier this month joined Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health chief executive officer, Wendy Armendariz; and Southwest Human Development’s chief development officer Jake Adams to dedicate a Little Free Library, as well as dozens of books at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center at 8705 E. McDowell Road in Scottsdale.
“The Little Free Library program helps inspire readers and expand access to educational materials to improve the overall wellness of our communities,” Mr. Adams said in a prepared statement.
“Its ‘take a book, return a book’ free book exchange will provide children the opportunity to read fun, age-appropriate books at home, which could very well be the only book that child owns.”
Delta Dental of Arizona has been a supporter of NOAH since 2013, helping to fund the organization’s three dental clinics throughout the Valley that provide exams, cleanings, sealants and fluoride varnish, fillings, oral surgery, root canals, crowns, and more.
“NOAH is dedicated to increasing access to care for many of our community’s most vulnerable individuals,” Mr. Jones said.
“We hope this Little Free Library stands as both a symbol of our commitment to supporting their good works as well as a new way to positively impact the lives of local children and families.”
According to Little Free Library, the overarching 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that founded the concept, studies show that children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors.
One of the most successful ways to improve the reading achievement of children is to increase their access to books, especially at home. But two out of three children living in poverty have no books to call their own.
Delta Dental of Arizona recently provided a $20,000 community grant, which also included additional funds for necessary supportive supplies.
“The program provides instruction on the importance of daily and lifelong oral health care, preventive screenings, and the importance of having a dental home,” Mr. Adams said. “Through it, Southwest Human Development also partners with dental professionals to bring screenings/varnish treatments to schools and community events to accompany the educational component whenever possibles.”
