Sharks Foundation teams up to bring free dental care to Bay Area kids

A new partnership between the Sharks Foundation and Healthier Kids Foundation is bringing dental care to young students in the Bay Area. The initiative, launched at Lowell Elementary School in San Jose, provided free screenings and hygiene kits to children while introducing an educational program featuring S.J. Sharkie. The effort aims to improve access to essential oral health services for local pupils aged 5 to 12. The collaboration kicked off with a dental health activation at Lowell Elementary School. S.J. Sharkie visited second-grade classrooms, handing out hygiene kits and beanies as students received free dental check-ups. Sharks staff, community partners, and San Jose District 3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos joined the event to support the cause.

The programme is backed by a $40,000 Community Assist Grant awarded to Healthier Kids Foundation's *Dental First* initiative. Over the 2025-26 school year, it will deliver screenings and oral health resources to around 1,600 Bay Area students. While the exact number of schools involved remains unspecified, the focus is on expanding access to care. To further promote good habits, an educational tutorial featuring S.J. Sharkie will launch in March 2026. The tutorial will teach children essential oral health practices in an engaging way. Sharks Foundation Director of Operations Jenné Johnson highlighted concerns about limited access to dentists and quality care for many children in the region.

The partnership between the Sharks Foundation and Healthier Kids Foundation will continue delivering screenings and resources throughout the school year. The shared goal is to close the gap in dental care access and support the well-being of young students. The programme's success will depend on ongoing community involvement and outreach efforts.