MONTICELLO, NY — The chair of the New York State Dental Foundation appeared at the government center on January 17 to present a check to Philanthropic Relief, Altruistic Service and Development (PRASAD).

The foundation promotes education, seeks to improve the oral health of all New Yorkers, and gives grants to organizations that come up with innovative ways of helping the most vulnerable parts of the population, which is usually children and seniors.

This is the fourth time the foundation has given this grant to PRASAD, which is more than any other group in the state. It gives four or five grants of $5,000 each year, and looks for groups that use this to help a large number of groups, especially children. The over-sized check was for $2,100, but with additional materials the foundation had already provided to PRASAD, the total grant came to $5,000.

Dr. Cecilia Escarra said PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program was established in 1998 to provide dental services in Orange and Sullivan counties to children who would otherwise not have access to dental treatment. The organization works through the schools in the region.

She said children enjoy getting dental service in PRASAD’s mobile clinic because they can feel that they are being well cared for.