For Immediate Use
November 16, 2021
Contact: Dr. Mark Crabtree
276 632-9266
The Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Foundation is turning over the operation of the Community Dental Clinic to the Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, a not-for-profit organization which received its initial funding from The Harvest Foundation.
“This new effort will expand health services for low-income residents,” said Dr. Mark Crabtree, president of the Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Foundation, which started the Community Dental Clinic 16 years ago in Uptown Martinsville.
“The benefits of this effort working together are more residents having access to dental services and an expansion of dental services to Medicaid patients,” he added.
The Coalition is a Federally Qualified Health Center that receives funds from the federal government to provide primary healthcare services in underserved areas. The Harvest Foundation continues to provide some funding.
The Coalition offers medical services, behavioral health services, assistance with medication, eye exams when medically necessary, assistance with insurance and health education. Approximately 4,900 residents of the community receive one or more services in a typical year.
In its 16 years, the Community Dental Clinic has provided more than $13 million in dental services to low-income adults and children. The Clinic has had nearly 57,000 visits. Private dentists in the community have volunteered their services at the Clinic.
The Dental Foundation has raised approximately $4 million from the community to fund the Clinic with the Harvest Foundation’s being its financial partner. “We are grateful to foundations, organizations and individuals for their donations,” said Crabtree. “The generosity of the Martinsville community has resulted in thousands of indigent residents receiving quality dental care.”
