Press Release Details

More Than Seven Million Underserved Children Have Received Free Oral Health Education and Services, and $20 Million in Oral Care Products Have Been Donated by Supplier Partners

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2022-- The American Dental Association celebrates the 20^th anniversary of its Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program, which has provided free oral health care education and services to more than seven million underserved children in the U.S. The program is made possible thanks to the thousands of dental professionals who have volunteered their time to deliver this much needed care. To watch a celebratory video highlighting this important milestone, click here.

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In 2022, nearly 1,000 GKAS events are scheduled to take place throughout the U.S., and it is estimated that 300,000 underserved children will receive free oral health education, and preventive and restorative services, such as cleanings and fillings. These services will be provided by more than 20,000 dental team volunteers, including approximately 5,000 dentists, using supplies from 3,200 kits of essential oral health care products donated by Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL), and its supplier partners. Henry Schein has served as the exclusive professional product sponsor since the program’s inception, and Colgate-Palmolive has served as the exclusive sponsor of health and hygiene consumer products since 2007.

“What began as a grassroots effort has become a national movement to ensure access to quality health care for all children,” said Dr. Cesar R. Sabates, President of the American Dental Association. “The success of GKAS would not be possible without the nearly 37,000 dental professionals who volunteer at local events each year in addition to national sponsors, Henry Schein and Colgate, and long-time supporters like the ADA Foundation. My sincere appreciation and thanks to all of you who have been a part of the program, some from the very first day. We are all involved for the right reason – to Give Kids A Smile and help children in need.”

Over the years, Henry Schein’s support has included donations from its supplier partners, which have contributed to the $20 million in oral health care products made available to the program, and thousands of hours preparing and sending more than 40,000 dental kits that helped ensure volunteers had the supplies they needed to deliver much needed oral health care.

“Henry Schein is pleased to be a part of Give Kids A Smile’s evolution and its long-term success since the program’s inception, alongside our industry partners who provide the supplies and products to help dentists and their teams deliver quality care,” said AJ Caffentzis, President, U.S. Dental Distribution, Henry Schein. “The program exemplifies our commitment to the profession’s ideals, enhancing oral health literacy and expanding access to care to those who need it most. Congratulations and thank you to the American Dental Association for your leadership, our supplier partners for their collaboration, and all the dental volunteers, dental school faculty, staff, and students who have donated their time and talents to make GKAS the success it is today – one of the largest, charitable dental health programs in the country.”

Colgate-Palmolive’s support of GKAS helps build proper oral care habits and reflects the Company’s mission to reimagine a healthier future for all. In addition to supporting GKAS, Colgate-Palmolive promotes health equity and optimal health and wellbeing among underserved children and their families through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® initiative. Established in 1991, the initiative leads global social impact efforts that empower children and families to achieve healthy and bright futures, and has reached more than 1.4 billion children in more than 100 countries across the world.

“Colgate-Palmolive is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Give Kids A Smile program and promote oral health literacy, which is foundational for children’s overall health and well-being,” said Dr. Barbara Shearer, Worldwide Director, Professional Strategy and Innovation, Colgate-Palmolive and Chair, Give Kids A Smile National Advisory Committee. “As the worldwide leader in oral care, Colgate is on a mission to empower people to Know Your OQ™ – your oral health quotient – and for people to understand that your healthier future starts with oral health.”

Supplier partners that are supporting the 2022 Give Kids A Smile program through product donations also include 3M, Centrix, DASH Medical, Dentsply Sirona, DMG America, Dukal Corporation, Medicom, PacDent, Premier, Richmond, Sempermed USA, Sunstar, TIDI Products, and WaterPik.

For more information on Give Kids A Smile, visit: www.ada.org/GKAS.

Click here to view the GKAS 20^th Anniversary Gratitude Report.

About American Dental Association:

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 161,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org

About Henry Schein, Inc:

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 21,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can help provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.

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.

A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 32 countries and territories. The Company's sales from continuing operations reached $10.1 billion in 2020, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 12 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.

About Colgate-Palmolive:

Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, the Company sells its products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, PCA Skin, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. The Company is recognized for its leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community wellbeing, including its achievements decreasing plastic waste, saving water, reducing waste, promoting recyclability, conserving natural resources and improving children’s oral health through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached more than 1.4 billion children since 1991. For more information about Colgate’s global business and how the Company is building a future to smile about, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220209006115/en/

Ann Marie Gothard
Vice President, Corporate Media Relations
annmarie.gothard@henryschein.com
(631) 390-8169

Source: ADA, Henry Schein, Inc. & Colgate-Palmolive Company