[Melville, NY (USA) – 18 August 2026] Access to quality healthcare can make a profound difference in a person’s life. Yet for many people with intellectual disabilities (ID), barriers to care remain a daily reality. According to Special Olympics, despite severe need and higher health risks, individuals with ID are often denied health services and have a life expectancy that is, on average, 16 years shorter than the general population.
Henry Schein, Inc., the world’s largest provider of healthcare solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners, and Special Olympics have extended their collaboration through 2030, reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding access to health screenings, education, and wellness resources for athletes at select Special Olympics events globally.
Through this partnership, which began in 2018, Henry Schein donates essential oral health and medical care products for the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program. Since 1997, Healthy Athletes has delivered over two million free health screenings to Special Olympics athletes worldwide and trained more than 300,000 healthcare professionals and students to treat people with ID. It supports the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with ID, the reduction of health disparities, and can help to increase life expectancy. The partnership also empowers and encourages healthcare providers to volunteer their time and services while increasing their knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with ID.
“Creating healthier communities requires collaboration and sustained commitment, principles that have been central to Henry Schein since our founding in 1932. Extending our partnership with Special Olympics reflects our shared belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to achieve better health and well-being. We are proud to continue supporting programs that help expand access to care, foster inclusion, and equip healthcare professionals with the resources and experience to better serve people with intellectual disabilities.”
Henry Schein’s donations are used during screenings in nine Healthy Athletes disciplines: Special Olympics Fit Feet (podiatry); Special Olympics FUNfitness (physical therapy); Special Olympics Health Promotion (preventative medicine); Special Olympics Healthy Hearing (audiology); Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® (vision/eye health); Special Olympics MedFest® (sports physical exam); Special Olympics Special Smiles® (dentistry); and Special Olympics Strong Minds (mental health), in several countries including Germany and the United States. Beyond these disciplines, Henry Schein’s donations also support Special Olympics Healthy Young Athletes, the pediatric discipline of Healthy Athletes.
Recently, the company donated a range of essential healthcare products for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games that took place from 20 to 26 June 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event united around 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans from 50 U.S. states.
“Long-term partnerships are essential to creating lasting change in health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. Henry Schein has been a valued partner in helping us reach athletes with critical health services, education, and support. Together, we are working toward a future where quality healthcare is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of every individual.”
The donations to Healthy Athletes are an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate citizenship program, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
