Henry Schein, Inc. has launched its annual “Back to School” programme to provide underserved children throughout the world with backpacks, school supplies, and new clothes that they need to return to the classroom confident and ready to meet the challenges of the new school year. This year, more than 5,000 children will participate in the programme throughout the world. Since the programme’s inception in 1998, more than 38,000 children have headed back to school equipped for success.
Henry Schein “Back to School” events are taking place at 31 Henry Schein locations in the US, Canada, Spain, Scotland and Australia. Participating children are provided with school essentials, including backpacks filled with classroom supplies, books and hygiene products donated by Henry Schein. At many “Back to School” events, children also receive new first-day-of-school outfits, personally selected and paid for by Team Schein Members. The “Back to School” programme is a flagship initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate social responsibility programme.
“Every year, Team Schein Members look forward to our “Back to School” programme so they can help underserved children return to the classroom confident and equipped for the school year ahead,” said Mr. Gerry Benjamin, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Henry Schein. “For nearly two decades, we have watched the programme expand from a single event at our headquarters to 31 company locations throughout the world, and we could not be more pleased at the response from our Team Schein Members.”
More than 650 children and their families, pre-selected by local social service agencies, received school supplies and new clothes at a “Back to School” event held last Thursday at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Melville, NY. The event also featured dinner, ice cream, games, crafts, dress-up stations, and bounce houses.
To help identify participating children and families in the Henry Schein “Back to School” programme, Henry Schein partners annually with local social service organisations. For the event at the company’s headquarters, Henry Schein partnered with Northwell Health and 11 social service organisations, including Bethany House; Madonna Heights; Espoir Youth Programme, Inc.; the Nassau County Department of Social Services; Family Service League; YES Community Counselling Centre; MPowering Kids; Family and Children’s Association; Hispanic Counselling Centre; Pederson-Krag Centre, Inc.; and The Raymar Children’s Fund.
“There are no words to describe the look on the children’s faces when they open their boxes and backpacks to see the clothing, sneakers and school supplies they’ve received as part of the “Back to School” programme,” said Ms. Lynne Campbell, Volunteer Coordinator for the Nassau County Department of Social Services. “We want to thank Henry Schein and its team members for their generosity and for ensuring that these children have the resources and self-esteem to succeed in the classroom.”
More than 650 underserved children received new clothes and backpacks filled with school supplies at Henry Schein, Inc.’s Melville, NY headquarters recently as part of the company’s 19th annual “Back to School” programme. Held at 31 Henry Schein locations around the world, the “Back to School” programme will help more than 5,000 children in need return to the classroom with confidence. (PRNewsFoto/Henry Schein, Inc.)
