FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Institute for Oral Health Rebrands as ADHA Foundation
Name change strengthens connection to parent organization while maintaining philanthropic mission
CHICAGO, July 1, 2025—The American Dental Hygienists’ announced that its charitable arm, formerly known as the Institute for Oral Health (IOH), will operate under the new name ADHA Foundation effective immediately. The rebrand restores the organization’s name that it held from 1978 to 1986 and clarifies the foundation’s connection to ADHA while maintaining its core mission to advance the dental hygiene profession and expand access to oral care through scholarships, research grants and community service grants.
“We are excited to return to our foundational identity as the ADHA Foundation,” said Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, FADHA, ADHA Foundation chair and ADHA immediate past president. “This name change makes our connection to ADHA much clearer while reinforcing our commitment to supporting dental hygienists at every stage of their careers. The foundation’s mission remains unchanged — we continue to empower the next generation of dental hygienists and advance our profession through meaningful financial support.”
The name change strengthens recognition of the foundation’s integral role within ADHA. Over just the past three years, the foundation has awarded $461,413 in scholarship and grant funding to 155 ADHA members, demonstrating its growing impact on the profession.
“After years of fundraising for ADHA’s Institute for Oral Health, it amazes me how many ADHA members still don’t really understand what IOH is and does,” said LeeAnn Winkler, RDH, BSDH, FADHA, a regional liaison for the foundation. “Rebranding to the ADHA Foundation will help people better understand the organization’s impact through scholarships, research grants and community service projects, and increase donations and applications.”
The ADHA’s charitable funding arm was originally founded in 1956 as the Educational Trust Fund to enable the organization to accept foundation grants. It became the ADHA Foundation in 1978 and then was renamed the Institute for Oral Health in 1986 when ADHA’s Board recognized the need for an organization with broader scope to support the profession’s expanding research, education and practice initiatives.
The rebranding coincides with the start of ADHA’s new fiscal year and the introduction of new leadership and programming. All current scholarship and grant program names will continue unchanged, with one exception: the IOH General Research Grant will become the ADHA Foundation General Research Grant.
The foundation is also expanding its impact with two new scholarships available for applications in fall/winter 2025. The Sensodyne Better Everyday Health Scholarship will provide $2,500 to bachelor’s-level students dedicated to promoting everyday oral health. The Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Scholarship will offer $1,000 to master’s-level students who exhibit strong dedication to improving children’s oral health through community service efforts.
The foundation supports dental hygiene students, professionals and community oral health initiatives nationwide and operates as a 501(c)(3) entity under ADHA’s umbrella, maintaining its tax-exempt status throughout the transition.
The foundation’s website will transition from adha.org/ioh to adha.org/foundation, and organizational communications will use the new email address [email protected]. All branding materials, including logos and marketing tools used by state liaisons, are transitioning to reflect the new ADHA Foundation identity.
The foundation continues to accept donations and maintains donor recognition programs, including the Donor Honor Roll at the ADHA Annual Conference and special events for major supporters.
For more information about the ADHA Foundation or to donate, visit adha.org/foundation.
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About the ADHA Foundation
The ADHA Foundation is the charitable arm of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, dedicated to advancing the dental hygiene profession and expanding access to oral care through scholarships, research grants and community service grants. Founded in 1956, the foundation supports dental hygiene students, professionals and community oral health initiatives nationwide. The ADHA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to improving public health by increasing awareness of and access to quality oral healthcare. For more information or to donate, visit adha.org/foundation.
About the American Dental Hygienists’ Association
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is the only organization representing the professional interests of the more than 220,000 dental hygienists in the United States. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. The Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH), published bi-monthly, is ADHA’s scientific journal and flagship publication. To learn more about the ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit adha.org.
Media Contacts
Lindsey Naughton
ADHA Foundation
(312) 440-8900
[email protected]
Bronwyn Barrera
ADHA
(312) 440-8911
[email protected]