Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
12.04.2008 - 10:00am ET
News from:
Cadbury
Trident(R) Donates $1.5 Million to Smiles Across America(R) to Provide Dental Education and Care to Children in Need
Contribution from Oral Health Leader Breaks SAA Records and Doubles the Number of Children Who Will Receive Oral Health Services
(CSRwire) PARSIPPANY, NJ. - December 4, 2008 - Trident(R), a Cadbury sugarless gum
brand, will donate $1.5 million to Smiles Across America (SAA), the
signature program from Oral Health America that provides dental services
to thousands of children in underserved communities nationwide. Through
its contribution, Trident will more than double the number of children who
currently receive oral health services and education from SAA professional
healthcare partners over the next three years, beginning in 2009.
Trident's support represents the first multi-year commitment and the first
donation over $1 million for SAA, which launched in 2004. In addition to
the financial commitment, the brand is shedding light on the importance of
pediatric oral health by producing a documentary about pediatric oral
health, dedicating advertising resources to the partnership and sponsoring
educational materials for SAA dental clinics during the course of the
partnership.
Today, tooth decay is the most common, chronic childhood disease in
America1, affecting 50 percent of first graders and 80 percent
of 17-year-olds2. Untreated tooth decay and disease can affect
a child's health, well-being, growth, and achievement3. Each
year, over 51 million school hours are lost as a result of problems
related to tooth decay. Smiles Across America links local governments,
businesses, and funders with care providers and schools to help fight
untreated oral disease in children.
"Since launching Trident as the first sugar-free gum to help fight tooth
decay over forty years ago, we have been committed to oral health and to
promoting good corporate citizenship for the communities we touch," said
Lesya Lysyj, executive vice president, marketing, Cadbury North America.
"Through partners like Smiles Across America, we can help make a
difference in the lives of millions."
Trident gum, a leader in sugar-free gums and innovations in oral health,
has partnered with Smiles Across America since 2005 to advance public
awareness of, and access to, oral health care through ongoing educational
programs and services for school children. This extended commitment
enables both partners to break new ground in the effort to improve
pediatric oral health.
"Trident's increased commitment to the Smiles Across America partnership
will enable us to provide oral health education and services to thousands
of more children in underserved communities across the country," said Beth
Truett, president and CEO of Oral Health America. "Through our combined
efforts, we can raise public awareness about the importance of oral health
and proactively provide education and services to those who need it
most."
Smiles Across America was launched in partnership with public schools and
community oral health providers in 2004, and since then, the program has
provided over $1.1 million in grant support to programs in Maine, New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minnesota, Las Vegas, West Virginia and Santa
Barbara/Ventura Counties (CA). The program's funding for oral disease
prevention services to uninsured and underinsured children allows
communities to leverage resources and expand oral health education
initiatives.
About Trident(R) Sugar-Free Gum
Trident gum has long been a pioneer in providing oral health benefits to
consumers. Trident was the first gum brand of its kind to undergo
extensive long-term clinical testing in 1967 with studies showing that
people who chewed Trident experienced significantly fewer cavities. Most
recently, the brand introduced Trident Xtra Care(TM) with Recaldent(R) , a
great tasting sugar free gum that delivers superior strengthening power
versus regular sugar-free chewing gum. Today, Trident is the best selling
chewing gum and sugar-free gum in the world4, and recent studies
show that the brand continues to be recommended by four out of five
dentists who recommend sugar-free gum to their patients5.
About Smiles Across America (SAA)
SAA is a signature program created by Oral Health America, a pioneer in
conducting programs and initiatives with a proven track record of raising
awareness and affecting change. SAA is an oral disease prevention, health
promotion initiative linking corporate, government, and community support
in advancing school-based or school-linked oral health programs for
families without access to routine care. For more information, visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/smiles.html.
About Cadbury North America
Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Cadbury North America is the
Canadian and U.S. combined business unit of Cadbury plc – a leading
global confectionery business with number one or number two positions in
over 20 of the world's 50 largest confectionery markets.
In the United States, the brand portfolio of Cadbury includes some of the
best-loved confections in the US, including Trident(R), Dentyne(R),
Halls(R), Bubblicious(R), Sour Patch(R), Swedish Fish(R), Chiclets(R),
Certs(R) and Stride(R), The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum(R) and Green &
Black's(R) organic chocolate. Our people create brands people love with
passion, dedication and drive.
For more information visit www.cadbury.com.
1 Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, May
2000
2 American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA)
3 Stephen A. Martin, Jr., Ph.D, M.P.H., chief operating officer
of the Cook County Department of Public Health
4 2006 Euromonitor
5 Data on file
For more information please contact:
Stephanie Donlan, Account Executive
Ketchum
646-935-4105
770-401-2067
www.tridentgum.com
Kathy Beyer, Manager, Corporate Communication USA
Cadbury
973-909-2040
862-219-1861
www.tridentgum.com
www.cadbury.com
News Categories:
Health & Wellness and CSR - General
More Cadbury news on CSRwire,
click here.
|
