Henry Schein's 19th Annual 'Back to School' Program Helps More Than 5,000 Children Return To The Classroom Ready To Learn
Program Provides Children in Need With Backpacks, School Supplies, and New Clothes
MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) has launched its annual "Back to School" program to provide underserved children throughout the world with the backpacks, school supplies, and new clothes they need to return to the classroom confident and ready to meet the challenges of the new school year. This year, more than 5,000 children will participate in the program throughout the world. Since the program's inception in 1998, more than 38,000 children have headed back to school equipped for success.
Henry Schein "Back to School" events are taking place at 31 Henry Schein locations in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Scotland, and Australia. Participating children are provided with school essentials, including backpacks filled with classroom supplies, books, and hygiene products donated by Henry Schein. At many "Back to School" events, children also receive new first-day-of-school outfits, personally selected and paid for by Team Schein Members. The "Back to School" program is a flagship initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program.
"Every year, Team Schein Members look forward to our 'Back to School' program so they can help underserved children return to the classroom confident and equipped for the school year ahead," said Gerry Benjamin, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Henry Schein. "For nearly two decades, we have watched the program expand from a single event at our headquarters to 31 Company locations throughout the world, and we could not be more pleased at the response from our Team Schein Members."
More than 650 children and their families, pre-selected by local social service agencies, received school supplies and new clothes at a "Back to School" event held last Thursday at the Company's worldwide headquarters in Melville, N.Y. The event also featured dinner, ice cream, games, crafts, dress-up stations, and bounce houses.
To help identify participating children and families in the Henry Schein "Back to School" program, Henry Schein partners annually with local social service organizations. For the event at the Company's headquarters, Henry Schein partnered with Northwell Health and 11 social service organizations, including Bethany House; Madonna Heights; Espoir Youth Program, Inc.; the Nassau County Department of Social Services; Family Service League; YES Community Counseling Center; MPowering Kids; Family and Children's Association; Hispanic Counseling Center; Pederson-Krag Center, Inc.; and The Raymar Children's Fund.
"There are no words to describe the look on the children's faces when they open their boxes and backpacks to see the clothing, sneakers, and school supplies they've received as part of the 'Back to School' program," said Lynne Campbell, Volunteer Coordinator for the Nassau County Department of Social Services. "We want to thank Henry Schein and its team members for their generosity and for ensuring that these children have the resources and self-esteem to succeed in the classroom."
About Henry Schein Cares
Henry Schein Cares stands on four pillars: engaging Team Schein Members to reach their potential, ensuring accountability by extending ethical business practices to all levels within Henry Schein, promoting environmental sustainability, and expanding access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world. Health care activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.
Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of "doing well by doing good." Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success. "Helping Health Happen Blog" is a platform for health care professionals to share their volunteer experiences delivering assistance to those in need globally. To read more about how Henry Schein Cares is making a difference, please visit our blog: www.helpinghealthhappen.org.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the S&P 500® and the Nasdaq 100® indexes, Henry Schein employs more than 19,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than one million customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 110,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 150,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 33 countries. The Company's sales reached a record $10.6 billion in 2015, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 15 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein and @HenrySchein on Twitter.
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SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.
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