Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation announced Tuesday it is awarding $2.27 million in SMILE Workforce Grants for 2026.
The funding is specifically designed to bolster the pipeline for dental assistants and hygienists across New Jersey and Connecticut. This announcement marks a major milestone for the foundation’s 40th anniversary and brings its total investment in workforce development to over $5 million since 2024.
The centerpiece of this year’s grant cycle was a record-breaking $1 million commitment to the County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation earlier this month. This represents the largest corporate foundation grant in CCM’s history.
The funds will support the launch of brand-new dental hygiene and dental assisting programs at the college’s Center for Health Professions, which is scheduled to open its doors in 2027.
“By investing in programs that support the full career journey of dental professionals—from early exposure in middle school to accredited collegiate training—we’re advancing access to dental care for all,” Paul Di Maio, President and CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut said.
The investment comes at a pivotal time for the health care industry. Data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a staggering national shortage of over 33,000 dental hygienists and nearly 20,000 general dentists by 2038.
Dr. Lisa Gallucci, foundation chair, noted that the grants will directly benefit nearly 4,000 students over the next three years. “These grants reflect an investment in students that will result in our communities having more reliable access to dental care,” she said.
The Foundation distributed 21 grants ranging from $6,500 to $1 million to modernize infrastructure and fund education.
New Jersey Beneficiaries (16 Organizations):
-
Higher Ed: Bergen Community College, Brookdale Community College, Ocean County College, Rowan College (Burlington & South Jersey) and CCM.
-
Vocational/K-12: Atlantic County Institute of Tech, Cape May County Tech, Central High School’s Dental Academy (Newark) and Monmouth County Vocational School.
-
Community Health: Zufall Health Center, KinderSmile Foundation and CAMCare.
Connecticut Beneficiaries (5 Organizations):
- Goodwin University
- Manchester Community College Foundation
- New England Teaching Institute
- University of Bridgeport
- University of New Haven
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to award more than $3.5 million in additional workforce funding over the next three years through multi-year commitments.
For more information on the foundation’s initiatives or to view the full list of programs, visit deltadentalnj.com/our-foundation.
