Press Release Details

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) announced today that Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires (VIM Berkshires)—a Great Barrington, Massachusetts-based humanitarian organization—has been awarded the gold medal in the Medical category of the second annual Henry Schein Cares Medal program.

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 VIM Berkshires with the gold medal at the company's national medical sales meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, yesterday.

VIM Berkshires was recognized for its commitment to providing free health care to income-qualified, uninsured, and under-insured people of western Massachusetts' Berkshire County. It fulfills this mission by providing its patients with medical, mental health, dental, and optometry services. It also offers acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and diabetes education, as well as therapeutic massage as part of its non-opioid pain management program.

An independent panel of judges selected VIM Berkshires as this year's gold medalist from a field that also included North Country Mission of Hope of Plattsburgh, New York (silver medalist) and St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy of Cincinnati of Cincinnati, Ohio (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 finalist will receive $10,000 worth of product from Henry Schein Cares.

"With a focus on helping people and families most in need, Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires exemplifies the spirit of social responsibility that has guided our company for 85 years," Mr. Bergman said. "We believe strongly that no one should go without essential health services because of their life's circumstances, and we are pleased to support organizations that share that belief. Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires and its team of dedicated volunteers, as well as those of North Country Mission of Hope and St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy of Cincinnati, consistently demonstrate the incredible impact that kindness and generosity can have on a community. It is our honor to celebrate this year's medalists."

VIM Berkshires opened its doors in 2004, the result of a collaborative effort by local medical professionals, business leaders, and community volunteers. Today, the organization treats approximately 3,500 patients per year. It is the 30^th VIM clinic nationally, the first in New England, and the only one in Massachusetts.   

"We are honored to receive this award, humbled to share this stage with our fellow medalists, and grateful to Henry Schein for recognizing the important role that organizations like ours play in providing critical care to people in need," said Art Peisner, Chairman of the Board, VIM Berkshires. "We share Henry Schein's belief that everyone deserves quality health care, and we are proud to offer an array of services under one roof. As a volunteer organization, this award will help us continue our work on behalf of local communities and we thank 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.

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.

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SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.

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