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MetLife Foundation to Support Oral Health Programs for Kids in the U.S. with $1.1 Million in Funding

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Posted: October 25, 2011
METLIFE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR KIDS IN
THE U.S. WITH $1.1 MILLION IN FUNDING

Partners with Children’s Health Fund and Sesame Workshop to provide direct dental care
and oral health education and outreach to children and families

NEW YORK, October 25, 2011 – In an effort to promote the importance of oral health care and
the importance of teaching children and their families proper tooth-brushing techniques, MetLife
Foundation announced it is awarding $1.1 million to two organizations focused on children and
children’s health. Tooth decay is among the most common chronic childhood diseases and can
impact a child’s ability to eat, speak, foster self-esteem and affect their ability to learn, as it can
lead to school absenteeism. And in the most extreme cases, can cause infections,
hospitalizations and other long-term health issues.

“Developing good oral health and hygiene habits is a vital part of a comprehensive approach to
ensuring overall health care,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation.
“The earlier children and families begin to learn about dental hygiene and receive preventive
care, the better equipped they will be to develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

MetLife Foundation will provide $500,000 to Children’s Health Fund (CHF) to support CHF’s
national oral health initiative, Healthy Kids, Healthy Smiles. With the funding, CHF programs
will provide oral health care to low-income and homeless children and families primarily via
mobile dental clinics in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, D.C. The
donation will increase CHF’s mobile dental clinic services in these cities by 65 percent over the
previous year.

“Many children living in poverty lack access to oral health care services due to transportation,
insurance and other barriers,” said CHF Executive Director Karen Redlener. “MetLife
Foundation’s generous gift allows CHF to bring comprehensive and quality dental services
directly to children, helping to prevent painful and potentially dangerous oral health conditions.”

Foundation will provide an additional $600,000 to Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit
educational organization behind Sesame Street, to develop Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me, a
bilingual (English/Spanish) multimedia outreach initiative which leverages the power of the
beloved Sesame Street characters to motivate children 2 to 5 years of age, their parents, and
caregivers to care for children’s oral health…early. This initiative will emphasize the easy
everyday routines and habits to keep your teeth, mouth, and therefore, bodies healthy and strong.
The outreach kit, which will launch early next year, will include an original Sesame Street DVD,
a guide for families, public service messages, community health providers guide and online
games and resources.

The grant will also support the development, production and dissemination of booklets aimed at
parents, caregivers and adults to help them support and maintain their children’s oral health.
“This is an opportunity for Sesame Street to continue to use its influence to help families and
their children make healthy decisions about oral health at a time when nurturing children’s
overall development is so critical and the subsequent positive effects can last a lifetime,” said H.
Melvin Ming, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop. “We are excited to partner with
MetLife Foundation, bringing these much needed resources to families with young children.”

About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to carry on MetLife’s longstanding tradition of corporate
contributions and community involvement. The Foundation is committed to building a secure future for
individuals and communities worldwide. Through programs focusing on empowering older adults,
preparing young people and building livable communities, MetLife Foundation increases access and
opportunities for people of all ages. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has made more than
$500 million in grants and $75 million in program related investments. For more information visit
www.metlife.org  

About Children’s Health Fund
Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, MD,
Children’s Health Fund (CHF) is the nation’s leading pediatric provider of mobile-based health care for
homeless and low-income children and their families. CHF’s mission is to bring health care directly to
those in need through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public
health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to health care for all children. CHF currently has 50
mobile clinics serving hundreds of locations across the country. Over the past 24 years, the organization
has supported more than two million health care visits for disadvantaged children, often in places where
doctors and health care providers are in short supply. For more information about CHF, visit
www.childrenshealthfund.org.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television
programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs,
seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The
Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a
wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to
help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional
strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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