Henry Schein, Inc., the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, joined MedShare in Atlanta to announce that it is the first corporate sponsor of MedShare’s newly created Disaster Relief Program Fund. The Fund will provide MedShare with the funding needed to send 40-foot container shipments of supplies to disaster-affected areas immediately, instead of waiting to raise funds in the wake of a specific disaster.

MedShare is a humanitarian aid organization dedicated to improving quality of life of people and the environment through the recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to health care facilities in the developing world. Chief Executive Officer and President of MedShare, Charles Redding, announced the creation of the Disaster Relief Program Fund and Henry Schein’s $25,000 donation at a ceremony commemorating their organizations’ 10-year partnership will enable MedShare to quickly deliver life saving medical supplies and biomedical equipment to be deployed immediately in response to future disasters or pandemic events.

“The quick actions of first responders can mean the difference between life and death in the wake of a natural disaster or during a pandemic event, and this new Disaster Relief Fund will allow MedShare to more rapidly provide medical supplies and equipment to health care providers working in disaster-affected areas,” Mr. Bergman said. “We at Henry Schein are proud to be the Fund’s first corporate donor, and we encourage our fellow corporate citizens to consider the impact a donation to MedShare’s Disaster Relief Fund will have on relief efforts throughout the world.”

Henry Schein’s sponsorship of the Disaster Relief Fund is an example of the Company’s commitment to the planning, coordination, and shipping of vital health care supplies in response to disasters around the world. Together with non-government organizations, Henry Schein donates medical and dental supplies to disaster-affected areas, monitors a disaster-relief hotline 24 hours a day, and establishes relief funds.

“At MedShare, we are uniquely positioned to support health care providers in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster and to partner with in-country hospitals and clinics during times of crisis,” Mr.

Redding said. “With the Disaster Relief Fund, we will be able to proactively respond with disaster relief instead of waiting for funds to be raised, allowing us to provide support far more rapidly. We thank Henry Schein for being the Fund’s first corporate supporter, and we look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the Company for many years to come.”

Since its first donation to MedShare in 2006, Henry Schein has provided more than 437,000 pounds of medical supplies worth approximately $6 million to support the organization’s work with more than 500 health agencies in 84 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Each donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company’s global corporate social responsibility program.