TOM’S OF MAINE DENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL™ PROGRAM AWARDS $100,000 TO FIVE CLINICS TO FURTHER ACCESS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE

Kennebunk, Maine – March 25, 2010 

There’s good news today for the many families that rely on vitally important grassroots clinics for their dental care. Tom’s of Maine revealed five winning clinics as part of its annual Dental Health for All™ program, an initiative that celebrates the goodness non-profit clinics bring to their communities. Determined via an online public vote, each of the five winning clinics will receive $20,000 in project sponsorship to help waive fees, increase dental appointments for children, offer greater access to x-ray services, provide a mobile dental team and help with the purchase of needed supplies, among other much needed programs.

Community clinics nationwide stand at the ready to help create more accessible and affordable dental care but they are in dire need of funding. Tom’s of Maine has a long history of supporting non-profit clinics that provide critical dental care – from toothbrushes to annual screenings to fillings. This year’s Dental Health for All program marks the first time the funding was solely determined by consumers, who could log on to tomsofmaine.com and see clinic videos from all sixteen participants nationwide.

This year’s Dental Health for All winners are:

Families First Health & Support Center, Portsmouth, NH – With this sponsorship, the clinic will send a mobile dental team to provide dental care at sites convenient for homeless people, with no appointments needed and no fees, and increase the number of subsidized visits offered for follow up treatment.

Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego, CA – This sponsorship will help FHC provide treatments and procedures for families experiencing a demonstrated financial hardship.

Manos De Cristo, Austin, TX – The funds will help start a new clinic to increase access and the level of care to patients in need by purchasing supplies like x-ray film, needles and syringes, suture materials, impression materials, infection control products, anesthetics, gloves, and other materials.

Spanish Catholic Center, Inc., Washington D.C. – The clinic will use the funds to install digital radiography in two of its five operatories. This installation will ultimately decrease the time involved in taking x-rays from roughly 25 minutes to 10 minutes per patient.

St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island, North Providence, RI –The clinic will use the funds to purchase a dental operatory and related equipment/supplies, which will expand services at St. Joseph.

“Everyday millions of Americans go without proper, quality dental care because they simply can’t afford it,” said Susan Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Tom’s of Maine. “Non-profits continue to see their budgets slashed as state dental programs are cut across the country. TOMs continued investment in Dental Health for All aims to make up for some of those funding losses so clinics can continue to provide critical services to the communities.”

Tom’s of Maine’s Dental Health for All program has helped make 204,000 additional patient visits possible with more than 25 school and community-based dental clinics receiving funding totaling more than $900,000 over the last few years. To see all of the compelling videos created by each of this year’s clinic participants, visit tomsofmaine.com.

About Tom's of Maine

Tom’s of Maine is a leader in natural personal care with a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the living planet. For 40 years, the company has sponsored hundreds of non-profit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to the community and encouraging employees to volunteer by giving 5% paid time off. Each day, Tom’s of Maine employees contribute to high sustainability standards and their ideas from wind power to recycled and recyclable packaging are critical to the company’s sensitive way of doing business. Tom’s of Maine enjoys partnering with its consumers, vendors and many community organizations to support lasting, positive change that is good for the earth and us all. Visit us online at https://www.tomsofmaine.com/.

If you need any additional information about Tom's of Maine, please contact Susan Dewhirst, Media and Public Relations Leader. The best way to reach Susan is by email at sdewhirst@tomsofmaine.com. She can also be reached by phone at 207-467-2406.

For all other questions comments, please contact our Consumer Dialogue Department by email or at 800-367-8667.