FSL Receives $30,000 Grant from Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation

(PHOENIX – May 6, 2024) – FSL (Foundation for Senior Living) has been selected for a $30,000 grant by the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation to support the FSL nutrition program which addresses food insecurity for families, seniors, and adults with disabilities in Maricopa County.

“We are thankful for this generous contribution from Delta Dental of Arizona,” said Tami Bohannon, president and CEO of FSL. “Their support helps us answer the increasing calls for assistance as current and new members face rising costs of living. Our goal is to help alleviate the burden of having to pick between paying for essential medications and utilities or meeting dietary needs.”

The grant will be used to support the purchase of food for the nutrition program’s congregate meals that are served in FSL’s senior centers in Wickenburg and Peoria and at FSL’s ReCreación day centers in Glendale and Tempe, providing a daily hot lunch with nutrition in mind for seniors and adults with disabilities.

Taking place in a group setting, the lunches are created based on the recommendations of a registered dietician, with options available to address special dietary restrictions. The daily gathering over a hot meal not only addresses nutritional needs to create better health outcomes for program members, but it also encourages socialization and creates opportunities to build meaningful friendships for individuals who may otherwise feel isolated.

“To advance our mission to create a path to better health and wellness, the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is proud to support local organizations that are proactively working to increase access to preventive care as well as those that provide proactive oral health and nutritional assistance,” said Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.  “Since 2010 alone, the Foundation has given more than $18 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities statewide.”

A portion of the grant has been designated to support the nutrition staff salaries at the senior centers, ensuring operations and the program continue to run efficiently. FSL aims to provide more than 124,000 meals to more than 850 individuals in 2024.

In 2021, Feeding America found that 9.2 percent of Maricopa County, or 400,830 individuals, were facing food insecurity and lacked access to proper, nutritious meals.

FSL’s nutrition program also includes a delivery option for home-bound seniors and adults with disabilities, ensuring access to a hot meal Monday through Friday and two frozen, nutritious meals for over the weekend. The organization also operates two food panties in Wickenburg and Peoria, providing emergency food for seniors, adults with disabilities, low-income families and unhoused individuals on a daily basis.

To learn more about the FSL’s program and services, visit fsl.org.

About FSL:

FSL is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide home and community-based services and to develop energy-efficient, affordable housing to promote health, independence and dignity for all. With a long history of helping Arizona families with issues including health, hunger, aging, illness, loneliness and substandard housing, FSL is committed to improving the quality of life for all Arizonans. To learn more about FSL programs and services, visit fsl.org.

About Delta Dental of Arizona:

Delta Dental of Arizona (Delta Dental) is a health and wellness company providing affordable dental and vision benefits to individuals, families and businesses throughout the state. Building on its reputation as the state’s largest and most experienced dental insurance provider, Delta Dental’s mission is to create a path to better health and wellness. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, has given over $18 million to support oral health education, disease prevention and food assistance programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.