Press release
Give Kids A Smile Program Celebrates 23rd Year of Providing Free Oral Health Care Services to Underserved Children
The American Dental Association Foundation’s Initiative, with Exclusive National Sponsors Henry Schein and Colgate-Palmolive, Continues to Expand Its Reach,
About this update from Henry Schein, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nThe American Dental Association Foundation’s Initiative, with Exclusive National Sponsors Henry Schein and Colgate-Palmolive, Continues to Expand Its Reach, With Nearly 325,500 Children Expected to Receive Care Throughout 2025\n\n\n CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nThe American Dental Association Foundation (ADA Foundation) is celebrating the 23rd year of its Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) program, which officially launched on Friday, February 7, at the 2025 national kick-off event at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. Since its national launch in 2003, GKAS volunteers have provided free oral health education and services to more than 9.5 million underserved children in the U.S.\n\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250207520214/en/A participant receives a dental exam during the 2025 national kick-off event at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. (Photo: Business Wire)\nIn 2025, nearly 1,100 GKAS events are scheduled to take place throughout the nation, and it is estimated that approximately 325,500 underserved children will receive free oral health education, screenings, and preventive and restorative services, such as cleanings and fillings. These services will be provided by approximately 25,000 dentists and dental team members who volunteer at local GKAS events, using essential oral health care products donated by national sponsors, Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL), as well as Henry Schein’s supplier partners.\n\n\n“The Meharry Medical College team is greatly pleased to be the launch site of this year’s Give Kids A Smile national program,” said James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D., President of Meharry. “We recognize that oral health is central to physical health and part of individual well-being. Our pediatric dental team — as well as the entire Meharry School of Dentistry — embraces Give Kids A Smile as a representation of our mission of what we call ‘health caring.’ That mission has been central to our college since we were founded as a medical school nearly 150 years ago, and since 1886, when dentistry became part of our educational enterprise.”\n\n\nAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 50 percent of children aged six to nine years have had cavities in their primary (baby) or permanent t...