The 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
The 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.
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A participant receives a dental exam
during the 2025 national kick-off event at Meharry Medical College
School of Dentistry. (Photo: Business Wire)
In 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.
“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.”
According 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 teeth. Children aged six to nine from
lower-income households are more than twice as likely to have
untreated cavities than children from higher-income households.
“What started, 23 years ago, as a grassroots effort in St. Louis
has grown into a nationwide movement to ensure that every child has
access to quality oral health care,” said Dr. Michele M.
Tulak-Gorecki, Chair, ADA Foundation. “The success of GKAS is a
testament to the dedication of approximately 4,500 dentists and
20,000 dental team members who volunteer annually, as well as the
unwavering support of our national sponsors, Henry Schein and
Colgate. Throughout its history, GKAS has brought care to more than
9.5 million children. I am grateful to everyone who has contributed
to this program, dentists, dental students, and dental team
members, as we all share a common purpose: to Give Kids A Smile and
help children in need.”
Since the program’s inception, Henry Schein has contributed more
than $20 million in oral health care products in partnership with
its supplier partners. Team Schein also donates thousands of
volunteer hours each year preparing and sending more than 40,000
dental kits to ensure volunteers have the supplies needed to
deliver much-needed oral care.
“At the heart of Henry Schein lies a deep commitment to helping
expand access to health care,” said Dave Steck, President of Henry
Schein’s U.S. Dental Group. “GKAS exemplifies this dedication, and
we are honored to join the American Dental Association and American
Dental Association Foundation as an exclusive national partner.
Together, we will continue championing a critical mission:
enhancing access to vital oral health care for all. We extend our
sincere gratitude to everyone involved in this program for their
tireless efforts in creating a healthier future for our
communities.”
Since 2007, Colgate-Palmolive has supported GKAS as the
exclusive sponsor of essential health and hygiene products to help
build proper oral hygiene habits, which reflects the Company’s
purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all. In addition to
supporting GKAS, Colgate-Palmolive promotes health equity and
optimal health and well-being among children who are underserved
and their families through its Know Your OQ initiative, a free oral
health resource that helps determine your oral health quotient, and
its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® initiative. Established in 1991,
the initiative leads global social impact efforts that empower
children and families to achieve healthy and bright futures, and
has reached more than 1.7 billion children and their families in
over 100 countries around the world.
“As the worldwide leader in oral care, Colgate is deeply
committed to our purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all,”
said Dawna Michelle Fields, Director, Community & Operations,
North America, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Program and
member of the ADA’s Give Kids A Smile National Advisory Committee.
“Colgate-Palmolive is proud to be a long-standing supporter of the
Give Kids A Smile program, as we understand the importance of
promoting oral health literacy to children and their families.”
Henry Schein supplier partners that are supporting the 2025 GKAS
program through product donations include Centrix, Colgate, Dash
Medical Gloves, Dukal, DMG, Medicom, Premier, Sionbrands, and
Solventum.
For more information about Give Kids A Smile, visit:
www.adafoundation.org/GKAS; Facebook.com/GiveKidsASmile.
About the ADA Foundation:
The ADA Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of the American
Dental Association. The Foundation encourages hope and health in
communities through philanthropy, professional development and
recognizing promising leaders in the dental profession. As part of
these efforts, the Foundation oversees Give Kids A Smile® and its
suite of smile programs like Tiny Smiles and Give Veterans A Smile,
in addition to Charitable Assistance Grants, Whiston Leadership
Award, and Crest and Oral-B Promising Researcher Award. For more
information about the ADA Foundation, visit
www.adafoundation.org.
About American Dental Association:
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental
association, representing 159,000 dentist members. The premier
source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the
public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since
1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and
test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice
of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA
Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to
consumer dental care products. The Journal of the American Dental
Association (JADA), published monthly, is the ADA's flagship
publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For
more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information
on oral health, including prevention, care, and treatment of dental
disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for
health care professionals powered by a network of people and
technology. With approximately 26,000 Team Schein Members
worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more
than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued
solutions that help improve operational success and clinical
outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain
solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work
more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively.
These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and
institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care
sites.
Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated
distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded
products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our
distribution centers.
A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index,
Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations
or affiliates in 33 countries and territories. The Company's sales
reached $12.3 billion in 2023 and have grown at a compound annual
rate of approximately 11.5 percent since Henry Schein became a
public company in 1995.
For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com,
Facebook.com/HenrySchein, Instagram.com/HenrySchein,
LinkedIn.com/Company/HenrySchein, and @HenrySchein on X.
About Colgate-Palmolive Company:
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company
that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets
and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and
Pet Nutrition, we sell our products in more than 200 countries and
territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello,
meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring,
Lady Speed Stick, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick,
Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Murphy, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as
Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. We are recognized
for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and
community wellbeing, including our achievements in decreasing
plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water, conserving
natural resources and improving children’s oral health through the
Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached
approximately 1.7 billion children and their families since 1991.
For more information about Colgate’s global business and how we are
building a future to smile about, visit
www.colgatepalmolive.com.
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Lauren DelGuidice Senior Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Lauren.DelGuidice@henryschein.com 631.479.7309
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