DELTA DENTAL FOUNDATION GRANTS OVER $535,000 TO 12 NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT ORAL HEALTH FOR UNDERSERVED

PARSIPPANY, NJ (January 9, 2007) – The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation (the Foundation) announces it will donate over $535,000 in 2007 to 12 community organizations throughout New Jersey. The money will be used to fund dental clinics and support dental care for New Jersey's underserved children and families, developmentally disabled and senior citizen populations.

"Delta Dental is committed to providing all New Jersey residents access to oral health care," said Gene F. Napoliello, D.D.S., president of the Foundation. "The community organizations and healthcare facilities we have chosen to support this year share our mission to promote oral health to the greatest number of people and work to provide dental care while treating their patients with dignity and respect."

Delta Dental of New Jersey established the Foundation in 1986. Its mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good oral health, and improving dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Foundation awards $1 million to the community in the form of grants. Three-quarters of that budget is allocated to provide access to dental care for the underserved and dental education across the state of New Jersey.

Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation 2007 Grant Initiatives:

• Virtua Health in Camden for dental care
• Morristown Memorial Health Foundation to fund dental care at Morristown Memorial Hospital for developmentally disabled and to support dental care for seniors through the hospital's Senior Smiles program
• Jewish Renaissance Medical Center to fund a school-based clinic at Newark's Quitman Street School
• Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack to fund dental care for the developmentally disabled
• Ocean Health initiatives in Lakewood for dental care
• Paterson Public Schools to fund a school-based dental clinic
• Zufall Health Center in Dover for dental care
• Eva's Village in Paterson for dental supplies and equipment, and dental care
• Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton for dental care
• East Orange Health & Human Services for dental equipment and supplies
• Hunterdon County Department of Health for dental care
• NJ Foundation of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities in North Brunswick

About Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation
Delta Dental established the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation in 1986. Its mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good health, and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Delta Dental Foundation provides financial support to various organizations throughout the state.

About Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc.
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental system offers seamless dental benefits administration for employer groups throughout the country and the largest network of credentialed dentists in the nation. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com