Manor College of Jenkintown will receive a $20,000 Blue Safety Net grant from the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, the school announced last week. 

The grant is awarded to nonprofit, privately funded community health centers that provide free or affordable care to diverse communities across the region. It will help provide general operating support for the Dental Health Center on Manor College’s campus. This is the seventh year Manor College has received a grant from the IBX Foundation. 

“We are honored to receive continued support from the IBX Foundation through the Blue Safety Net Health Center program,” said Jaime Simpson, Dean of Academic Programs and Director of the Dental Health Center said. “The grant will significantly enhance the Manor College Dental Health Center’s ability to provide essential care to our community.” 

Established in 1979, the Dental Health Center functions as a full-service dental facility for the community while also serving as a teaching facility for Manor’s dental programs. Because it is a teaching facility, dental services are offered at rates that are about 50 percent lower than the average fee in surrounding area private practices. 

More than 1,300 patients receive care through the Dental Health Center. The center’s mission is to build a bigger future of community health, increase access to quality and affordable dental care, facilitate experiential learning and provide prevention education.

“When inflation of supplies and wages is at an all-time high, this grant provides the support needed to continue with our goals and activities,” Simpson said. “The Foundation also helps their partners foster relationships with one another and provides collaboration efforts through their partnership networking meetings to address many obstacles clinics face. We are grateful to be part of this network and Foundation.”

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