On Dec. 13, it was announced that the Manor College Dental Center will be receiving $25,000 for Blue Safety Net funding, supported by a grant from the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation. The Foundation’s Blue Safety Net Program aims to improve community health access by providing grants to private, non-profit health centers operating in medically underserved areas. Manor College first received the Safety Net grant in December of 2018 and hopes to build upon the progress made this year in reaching the local community. 

“We are thankful to the IBX Foundation for allowing the Dental Health Center at Manor College to receive their Blue Safety Net grant for a second year. This grant enables the Dental Health Center to continue to grow our outreach and meet the dental needs of the surrounding communities at affordable fees,” says Jaime Simpson, director of the EFDA Program and Dental Health Center at Manor. 

Manor College’s Dental Health Center aims to provide affordable, high-quality dental care to the public. Patients are seen by licensed dentists and faculty, well-trained professionals, as well as students working under the supervision of a dentist as part of the students’ EFDA Clinical rotations. The Center has been servicing the local community for over three decades, offering a wide range of affordable dental care options. New patients can receive a full consultation, clinical examination, and oral cancer screening for only $35, while the Student Hygiene Clinic offers hygiene services (cleaning, x-ray, exam, and more) for a nominal fee of $20.

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is an independent, private organization focused on strengthening access to healthcare in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In order for an organization – like the Manor College Dental Center – to be eligible for the grant, they need to have a mission that aligns with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, provide free or low-cost primary healthcare services to the underserved/uninsured, and must be a non-profit, privately-funded health center.

To learn more about the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, visit its website.