MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. , the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, helped prepare more than 2,000 underserved children in 18 North American cities for a great new school year by presenting them with specially selected new outfits and backpacks filled with books and school supplies through the 12th annual Henry Schein Back to School program. In addition, backpacks contained hand sanitizers and hygiene products to help children prepare for the 2009 flu season. The annual initiative is a flagship program of Henry Schein Cares, the Company''s global social responsibility program.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090910/NY73904 )
The largest of the 18 events took place in Melville, New York on September 3, where over 500 children across Long Island received their outfits and backpacks during a fun-filled celebration and distribution event at the Company''s World Headquarters. Additional Henry Schein facilities that participated in the Henry Schein Back to School program included Jacksonville, Fla.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Owings Mills, Md.; Sparks, Nev.; Denver, Pa.; Greenville, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas; Grapevine, Texas; American Forks, Utah; Bastian, Va.; Seattle, Wash.; West Allis, Wis.; and in Canada in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Vancouver. Henry Schein Back to School program participants received sneakers, socks, pants or skirt, undergarments and a top, as well as backpacks filled with school supplies and books of the children''s choice to make their first day of school exciting, enjoyable and stress free.
"Our annual Back to School program is special to all of Team Schein because it is a way for us to directly help less fortunate children in our communities in a meaningful way," said Gerald A. Benjamin, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Henry Schein.
"Team Schein Members use their own time and money to select items from a sponsored child''s wish list, and we have the great privilege of seeing the children''s eyes light up when they receive their back to school packages at the celebration and distribution event that we host for the children and their families. This initiative is fundamental to the special culture of giving that we have nurtured at Henry Schein, and we are delighted to have seen it expand in scope year after year."
To help identify children to participate in the 2009 Long Island Back to School program, the Company partnered with the Family Service League, Family and Children''s Association / Family Ties, MercyFirst, MPowering Kids, Greenville Boys and Girls Club, and Madonna Heights.
"Particularly during today''s economic challenges, Henry Schein''s Back to School program provides wonderful benefits to less privileged children," said Susan Marshall, founder of MPowering Kids. "Starting the school year with new school supplies and fashionable clothing allows the students to focus their full attention on the important lessons they will learn during the year."
Henry Schein hosted the first Back to School Program in 1998, distributing clothing and school supplies to 75 children identified by local social service organizations. Since that time, the Back to School program has served approximately 11,000 children throughout North America. In addition to Team Schein Members, many local businesses and Henry Schein supplier partners have generously donated products or provided other support for the 2009 Back to School program. To view video from Henry Schein''s 2009 Back To School event, please visit http://www.youtube.com/henryscheininc.
About Henry Schein
Henry Schein, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the NASDAQ 100 Index, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company''s four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 575,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 12,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company''s net sales reached a record $6.4 billion in 2008. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at http://www.henryschein.com/.
Henry Schein, Inc.
CONTACT: Susan Vassallo, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Henry
Schein, Inc., +1-631-843-5562, susan.vassallo@henryschein.com
Web Site: http://www.henryschein.com/
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