DELTA DENTAL GRANT AIDS EXPANSION OF SERVICES AT VIRTUA'S DENTAL CENTER AT VIRTUA CAMDEN

PARSIPPANY, NJ (September 7, 2001) – The Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc., a non-profit subsidiary of Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., recently awarded Virtua's Evans-Wisniewski Dental Center at Virtua Camden a grant of $27,500 to hire a full-time certified, registered dental assistant position for one year.

"It is known that sound oral health practices can positively impact physical health, and that regular visits are key to early disease detection," says John Petrone, DDS, co-director of the Dental Residency Program at Virtua's Dental Center at Virtua Camden. "As a result of this grant, we hope to expand the number of patients served with the addition of a full-time dental assistant."

"It is our mission to help make dental care accessible to all New Jersey citizens," says Walter VanBrunt, president and CEO at Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc. "By adding this position to Virtua's Dental Center, we can help increase the dental care available to the community in Camden."

Virtua Health, with more than 7,000 employees and 1,600 physicians providing services, is the largest healthcare provider in southern New Jersey. It is comprised of four hospitals including Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County in Mt. Holly, and Virtua West Jersey Hospitals in Berlin, Marlton and Voorhees. Information about Virtua Health is available at 1-888-VIRTUA-3 (1-888-847-8823) and on the Internet at www.virtua.org.

In 1986, the Delta Dental Endowment Association of New Jersey was organized. This corporation was formed to promote and assist educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health and research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good health and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. In 2000, the Endowment Association officially changed its name to the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. Each year, the Delta Dental Foundation provides financial support to various organizations throughout the state.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s leading and largest dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country. Information about Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey is available on the Internet at www.deltadentalnj.com.