Henry Schein Joins The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society And Major League Baseball Players To Promote Good Health For Local Youth

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, today announced that for the fourth straight year, it is partnering with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society® (PBATS) and the Taylor Hooton Foundation to support the 2016 PLAY (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) Campaign. Held in Major League Baseball stadiums throughout the year, the PLAY Campaign educates children and teenagers about the importance of staying active, eating right, and routine dentist and physician visits.

As part of the partnership, Henry Schein's Athletics and Schools business and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc. are donating $40,000 to support 24 PLAY events, each of which is attended by as many as 200 children and teenagers. This year's donation brings the Foundation's and the Company's joint four-year financial contribution to the PLAY Campaign to $160,000.

In addition to the financial donation, Henry Schein and its supplier partners are providing each child with a backpack containing sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, eye black, a mouthguard, Thera-Band exercise bands, hand sanitizer, and a score card to track teeth brushing, hand washing, and other healthy habits. The product donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global social responsibility program.

Participating children and teens are pre-selected from local community organizations and invited onto the field of a Major League Baseball stadium where they rotate through a series of stations that touch on everything from healthy eating to injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and education about the dangers of illegal performance and appearance-enhancing drugs. Each event is run by the host team's athletic training staff and includes an appearance by a Major League Baseball player.

"We are thrilled to count Henry Schein and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation among our partners again this year, as their commitment to expanding access to care for children in need perfectly aligns with the PLAY Campaign's goals," said PBATS President Mark O'Neal. "The support they provide each year helps us spread the message of good oral health and healthy life choices to thousands of children, and adds to the impact of every PLAY event."

PBATS created the PLAY program in 2004 to raise awareness about children's health issues and the obesity epidemic in the United States. PLAY has conducted more than 250 events inside all 30 Major League ballparks, reaching tens of thousands of young people with positive messages about making healthy decisions and living a more active and healthy lifestyle.

"Henry Schein is pleased to continue working with PBATS as part of our Company's deep commitment to 'helping health happen' for children living in underserved communities," said Jeff Klingler, Vice President, Enterprise Health, Henry Schein Medical. "Being on a Major League ballfield is a dream come true for many of these kids, and by encouraging healthy food choices and promoting a more active and healthy lifestyle, we are helping to set these kids on the path to a lifetime of good health."

About PBATS 
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is a recognized 501(c) (6) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the education of athletic trainers, and the enhancement of the general public's awareness of health, wellness and disability knowledge. PBATS membership consists of all Major League Baseball athletic trainers. For more information, please visit www.pbats.com.

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 nearly 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.

SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.

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