MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, announced today that Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities will provide free medical and dental services to more than 5,000 children and their caregivers in five cities throughout the United States this summer and fall. In addition, as part of this initiative, Henry Schein is supporting health screening events in three additional cities as a silver sponsor of National Health Center Week 2010.

A flagship program for Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program, Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities promotes access to health care, prevention, and wellness for underserved communities by providing free medical and dental screenings at events around the country that are fun and engaging for the community. Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities is annually co-sponsored by state and local community health organizations and supported by Henry Schein's supplier partners.

"Henry Schein is dedicated to giving back to the communities in which we operate, and to promoting prevention, wellness, and access to care among the underserved," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. "We are grateful for the commitment and generosity of our supplier partners, as well as the volunteers and our local community health organization partners in each of these communities across the United States. Together, we are 'helping health happen' for thousands of children and their caregivers."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all Americans live with one or more chronic conditions, and chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of ten deaths in the United States. The Affordable Care Act, which became law in March 2010, places an emphasis on the importance of preventative care and wellness.

At each Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities event, local physicians, nurses, dentists and community volunteers screen for five diseases and associated risk factors that commonly affect children --hypertension, asthma, diabetes, obesity and poor oral health. In addition, participating children and their caregivers receive educational materials about ways to prevent and treat these problems, as well as assistance in finding a local community health center where they may receive health care on a regular basis. The program seeks to create a "Health Home" for participating children, so that they have a place to receive ongoing care throughout the year.

In celebration of the Company's support of community health centers, Henry Schein is a sponsor of National Health Center Week 2010. The theme for National Health Center Week 2010 is "Celebrating America's Health Centers: Turning the Vision into Reality," highlighting the 45-year record of America's Health Centers in providing affordable, high quality, cost-effective health care to all people, regardless of ability to pay.

This year, Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities events are taking place in Birmingham, Alabama; Miami, Florida; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Orangeburg, South Carolina; and Meridian, Mississippi. As a part of Henry Schein's sponsorship of National Health Center Week, Henry Schein is supporting health screening events in Reno, Nevada; Yakima, Washington; and Uvalde, Texas.

    Henry Schein's Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities Supplier Partners:
    ASO, LLC
    DUKAL Corporation
    HealthLink, Inc.
    Lifescan, Inc.
    Microflex Corporation
    Midmark Corp.
    OMRON Healthcare, Inc.
    PDI (Professional Disposables International), Inc.
    Terumo Medical Corporation
    TIDI Products, LLC

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 600,000 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 13,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $6.5 billion in 2009. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.