Delta Dental of Tennessee awarded its second annual Tennessee Smile Power Award to Tennessee Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak during its Smile180 clinic workshop.

Presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee and the Smile180 Foundation, the Tennessee Smile Power Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the oral health of Tennesseans; someone who is a true champion for smiles in our community; someone who understands that the power of a healthy smile can empower others to change their lives.

McPeak helped pave the way for the creation of Delta Dental of Tennessee’s Smile180 Foundation, an organization whose focus is centered on three pillars of support: Tennessee’s children’s hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and dental schools.

“Our responsibility as a good corporate citizen is to help make sure that the people of Tennessee have the resources to find and receive good oral health care. Smile180 was created to help the communities we serve turn lives around through healthy smiles,” said Philip Wenk, DDS, President and CEO, Delta Dental of Tennessee. “Commissioner McPeak’s assistance was vital in getting permission to begin the work of Smile180. She understood our vision to create an organization dedicated to helping the children of Tennessee and the future dentists who will care for our citizens.”

Commissioner McPeak has served Tennesseans as head of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance since her appointment in 2011. She has nearly 25 years of legal and administrative experience in state government and is the first woman to serve as chief insurance regulator in more than one state, having also served in Kentucky.

Governor Bill Lee, in conjunction with the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, has proclaimed June 10-14, 2019, Tennessee Oral Health Smile Power Week. To celebrate, Delta Dental of Tennessee will work with community partners all over the state to show how important a smile can be to a person’s health, well-being and self-esteem.

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Smile180

Smile180 reflects the transformative power of a healthy smile to turn someone's life around. The Smile180 Foundation supports Tennessee's dental colleges, children's hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities.

Delta Dental of Tennessee

Delta Dental of Tennessee is the state’s largest independent dental benefits carrier with more than 1.2 million lives covered. As part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, Delta Dental of Tennessee members have access to the largest dental network in the nation with more than 154,000 providers serving more than 332,000 locations. With the simple mission of ensuring healthy smiles, Delta Dental of Tennessee works hard to help members of the communities it serves. Along with its corporate foundation, Smile180, Delta Dental of Tennessee donated $5.2 million to over 120 organizations in 2018, and employees shared 2,378 volunteer hours in the community. 

Contact: Missy Acosta
macosta@deltadentaltn.com
615-742-6904