Manos de Cristo Dental Center Awarded $30,000 Grant from Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to Expand Senior Dental Services
[Austin, TX] – [July 2026]
The Manos de Cristo Dental Center has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to help increase access to affordable dental care for older adults throughout Central Texas. By offsetting the cost of direct care and supplementing financial assistance for seniors, this support will allow the Dental Center to maintain affordable pricing, help patients complete treatment plans, and expand access to preventive and restorative services that improve long-term oral health outcomes.
"This generous grant enables the Manos de Cristo Dental Center to continue providing quality dental services to individuals who are uninsured and unable to afford the cost of care at a private dental office," said Julie Ballesteros, Executive Director of Manos de Cristo. "Everyone deserves access to affordable dental care, regardless of their financial situation. With this support, we can help more seniors receive the treatment they need to stay healthy, independent, and confident."
In 2025, the Manos de Cristo Dental Center provided dental care to more than 5,000 unduplicated patients, including over 500 adults age 65 and older, while completing more than 44,000 dental procedures. The organization's Senior Care Fund remains a vital resource for reducing financial barriers and ensuring older adults can access the care they need.
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental, supports nonprofit organizations that increase access to oral healthcare, especially for underserved populations. Their partnership with Manos de Cristo reflects a shared commitment to health equity and to improving lives through compassionate, community-based care.
For more than 35 years, Manos de Cristo has empowered Central Texans by providing affordable dental care, adult education, and basic needs assistance. This grant represents another meaningful investment in ensuring seniors and families throughout the region have access to the healthcare services they need to live healthier lives. To learn more about Manos de Cristo and its programs, visit www.manosdecristo.org.
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About Manos de Cristo
Manos de Cristo, founded in 1988, meets essential needs by providing adults and children with low-cost dental care, educational opportunities, a back-to-school program to prepare elementary students for school with new clothing and school supplies, and emergency food and clothing relief. The Manos de Cristo Dental Center is one of the few not-for-profit dental facilities in Austin. Our life changing services empower people of all backgrounds to build self-esteem, self-confidence and the ability to participate fully in the life of our community. All are welcome. Visit www.manosdecristo.org to learn more.
About Delta Dental Community Care Foundation
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies including Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and Delta Dental of New York, Inc. Since 2011, the Community Care Foundation has awarded more than $170 million in funding and support to increase access to quality dental care, oral health education, and to advance scientific research across the company’s 15-state service area and the District of Columbia. For more information about the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, please visit https://www1.deltadentalins.com/foundation.html