Henry Schein Awards Henry Schein Cares Gold Medal to Guiding Eyes for the Blind for Excellence in Expanding Access to Care

The program honors organizations that demonstrate excellence in expanding access to care for the underserved. Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, presented Guiding Eyes for the Blind with the gold medal at the company's national animal health sales meeting yesterday in Las Vegas.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind was recognized for its commitment to providing guide dogs to people with vision loss. It fulfills this mission by working with volunteer puppy raisers to provide guide dogs-in-training with basic obedience and social skills, followed by a minimum of five months of formal training with a professional instructor. Upon graduation, each dog is placed with its human partner, having learned the skills needed to provide greater independence to a person with vision loss.

An independent panel of judges selected Guiding Eyes for the Blind as this year's gold medalist from a field that also included First Coast No More Homeless Pets of Jacksonville, Florida (silver medalist) and Animal Care Centers of NYC in New York City (bronze medalist). Each medalist receives a cash award in the following amounts: $15,000 for gold, $10,000 for silver, and $5,000 for bronze, through the support of the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc. In addition to the cash awards, each medalist will receive $10,000 worth of product from Henry Schein, Inc.

"Guiding Eyes for the Blind service dogs provide their human partners with something greater than just navigational assistance; they offer companionship, protection, and a stronger sense of independence," said Mr. Bergman. "This organization's commitment to the health of animals and the wellbeing of people in need makes it the perfect recipient for this year's gold medal. We congratulate Guiding Eyes for the Blind and its fellow medalists, First Coast No More Homeless Pets and Animal Care Centers of NYC, for all they do on behalf of animal health."

Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been providing professionally trained guide dogs to blind and visually impaired people since 1956, and has graduated more than 7,000 guide dog teams since opening its doors. The organization's model of breeding, training, and matching dogs—which comes at no cost to its clients—is recognized by the International Guide Dog Federation for its success.   

"We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our work on behalf of the incredible dogs and inspiring clients with whom we work every day," said Thomas Panek, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. "We are proud to share the stage with our fellow medalists and we thank Henry Schein for recognizing the important role that organizations like ours play in helping people achieve a greater sense of independence. This award will enhance our ability to serve the needs of our dogs and our graduates, and we are grateful to Henry Schein and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation for its generous support."

Henry Schein's commitment to serving society has been a cornerstone of its corporate philosophy since its founding in 1932. Through the Henry Schein Cares global corporate social responsibility program, the company uses its resources to support health care professionals around the world who provide care for those who would otherwise receive little or no medical attention. The Henry Schein Cares Medal honors the people and organizations whose work has been especially effective in bringing care to people and animals in need. Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires received the gold medal in the Medical category earlier this month.

To be considered a candidate for this award, applicants must be a nonprofit organization or trust that is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and that is a public charity (not a private foundation). The applicant should demonstrate that the program has expanded access to health care for the underserved in a novel and innovative way that is measurable and quantifiable. Emphasis is placed on expanding access to health care for children (birth to age 18), although all efforts to expand access to care will be considered, including those involving animal health. Programs also should involve an established multi-disciplinary team that demonstrates the expertise needed for a comprehensive solution to expand access to care. Lastly, programs should demonstrate potential for replication and large-scale impact, and should include a business plan or demonstration of financial sustainability.

For more information on the Henry Schein Cares Medal, please visit http://www.hscaresfoundation.org/HSC-Medal.asp.

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 the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc.

Established in 2008, the Henry Schein Cares Foundation works to foster, support, and promote dental, medical, and animal health by helping to increase access to care in communities around the world. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation carries out its mission through financial and health care product donations to non-profit organizations supporting health care professionals and community-based programs focused on prevention, wellness, and treatment; disaster preparedness and relief; and capacity building of health institutions that provide training and care.

The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible as provided by law.

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 21,000 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 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 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 $11.6 billion in 2016, 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.

SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.

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