MELVILLE, N.Y., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — In the wake of tornadoes that have claimed hundreds of lives and created a swath of devastation across the Southeastern United States, Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the largest provider of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, today announced that it has activated its disaster relief hotline for dentists, physicians and veterinarians who have experienced operational, logistical or financial issues as a result of the disaster. The toll-free number for all dental, medical and animal health customers – 800-999-9729 – is operational from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT.
"Henry Schein stands ready to help our dental, medical, and animal health customers whose practices may have been affected by this disaster," said James P. Breslawski, President and Chief Operating Officer of Henry Schein. "We encourage our customers throughout the South, particularly those in hard-hit central Alabama, to call our hotline with issues that we might be able to help them address. At all times, we try to be a valuable business partner to our customers, and through this hotline we want to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way."
In addition to activating the disaster relief hotline, Henry Schein has established the Tornadoes Relief Fund through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The Fund provides a way for Team Schein Members and others who are interested in supporting the relief effort to contribute. Henry Schein will match all donations contributed to this fund by Team Schein Members, and the proceeds will be applied directly and completely to relief efforts. Because tornadoes typically strike many regions of the United States throughout the summer months, the fund will remain open to provide aid for victims of future tornadoes.
In the past, Henry Schein Cares has responded to other disasters including the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan; the earthquake in New Zealand and flood in Australia; the earthquakes in Haiti, China, Chile in 2010; the flood in Pakistan in 2010; the cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in China in 2008; Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the U.S. Gulf Coast; the 2004 Asian tsunami; the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan; the conflict in Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine; and September 11.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Tornadoes Relief Fund can make a donation by credit card through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation Web site, http://www.hscaresfoundation.org (click the "donate button" to be directed to an online credit card processing page, and select "Tornadoes Relief Fund" for the gift designation.) Those who wish to contribute by check should make the check payable to "Henry Schein Cares Foundation" with "Tornadoes Relief Fund" noted in the memo of the check, and send it to Dewi Wijaya at Henry Schein, Inc., 135 Duryea Road, Melville, NY 11747. Donations to the Henry Schein Cares Foundation are tax deductible in the United States.
