OUR HISTORY
The Virginia Dental Hygienists Association Foundation (VDHAF) was established in 1994 by the executive board as an innovative and visionary way to address continuing education for dental hygienists. The Foundation is an enduring endowment of Alice B. Hinchcliffe Williams, RDH, MS. The fund assists VDHA members in attaining affordable, high-quality continuing education and partners with individuals and non-profit organizations to provide access to care for those who are medically underserved. The VDHAF promotes the principles of wellness, prevention, and health education and collaborates to create new oral health programs and not duplicate limited resources.
RECENT GRANT AWARDS
- Speaker sponsorships to assist local VDHA components with continuing education programming expenses.
- Funding of VDHA’s Delegation of 10 to ADHA 2021 Virtual Annual Conference and HOD
- Rally Day at the Capitol providing an advocacy training session and breakfast for students, faculty and dental hygienists from across the state.
- Grant awarded Alice B. Hinchcliffe Williams, RDH, MS, Graduate Scholarship funded annually through the Institute for Oral Health.
- Funded 8 registrations for the ADHA Annual Conference for student chapter members of ADHA at VCU and GCC.
ONGOING FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
- Funding for the annual VDHA Scientific Session’s 16 continuing education hours.
- Contributions to the ADHA Institute for Oral Health
- Developing future leaders through program funding, mentoring and leadership programs including student participation in the VDHA House of Delegates
- Supporting advocacy for the profession with student participation in VDHA events such as Rally Day and House of Delegates meeting, Executive Board meetings and receiving Advocacy presentations within the Dental Hygiene schools/programs by VDHAF Directors
- Funding for Student Delegates and 6 first year/junior dental hygiene students to participate in VDHA’s Professional Development Workshop.
- Sponsoring full weekend package for 18 Student Delegates to participate in the VDHA’s House of Delegates.