Dr. and Mrs. Tom Riddle will launch the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund in honor of Dr. Riddle's late brother to help horsemen and women who do not have dental insurance or the income to pay for dental procedures, the Blue Grass Farms Charities announced Monday.
“Margaret and I both want to do something to honor my older brother who passed away too young,” explained Dr. Riddle. “We thought of honoring him by establishing a fund through the Blue Grass Farms Charities in which we would pay for dental care for horse farm workers in Kentucky. Blue Grass Farms Charities does a great job providing for the horse community in our area and thus, we can support a charity which we strongly believe in and honor my brother with a dental fund. Many horse farm workers view dental care as optional. They do not realize the importance of taking care of their teeth to their overall health. It is Margaret's and my hope that the establishment of the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund with Blue Grass Farms Charities will be an encouragement to visit their dentist regularly.”
For the past four years, the charity has received the Delta Dental of Kentucky grant, which provides emergency and routine procedures designated for the horsemen. This grant has become an essential part of the charity's healthcare assistance since emergency extractions were the only procedures covered. Currently, farm employees may apply for dental care by meeting the criteria of employment with a farm or track facility. This grant has 'opened the flood gates for so many in need of dental care and has been the charity's number one requested assistance. The Delta Dental grant money regularly runs out before year-end because of this great need. Therefore, the BGFC said, the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund will be vital for the increased asks for dental assistance.
To contribute to the fund, write to the Bluegrass Community Foundation, 499 E High St STE 112, Lexington, KY, 40507, or visit the Bluegrass Community Foundation at www.bgcf.org, or Blue Grass Farms Charities at www.bgfcky.org.
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