Henry Schein looking to fund groups that assist needy pets, owners

Henry Schein is accepting applications for the second annual Henry Schein Cares Medal, which awards funds to organizations that work to expand access to veterinary care for the underserved.

Henry Schein, one of the largest veterinary distributors in the market, is using its resources to support animal health professionals who provide care for animals that would otherwise receive little or no medical attention, according to a company release.

Three medalists will be selected from among applicants: gold, silver and bronze. The gold-medal-winning organization will receive $15,000, silver will receive $10,000, and bronze will receive $5,000 from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation. In addition to the cash awards, each winning organization will receive $10,000 worth of product from Henry Schein. 

A panel of expert judges from the fields of medicine, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and business will evaluate the applications and select the finalists and medalists.

How to apply

To be considered a candidate for the award, an applicant must be (1) a nonprofit organization or (2) a trust that is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and a public charity (not a private foundation). The applicant should demonstrate that the program has expanded access to veterinary healthcare for the underserved in a novel and innovative way-one that is measurable and quantifiable.

Programs also should:

involve an established multidisciplinary team that demonstrates the expertise needed for a comprehensive solution to expand access to veterinary care

demonstrate potential for replication and large-scale impact

include a business plan or demonstration of financial sustainability.

This year's winning organizations, announced in early 2016, were:

Medalist: Portland Animal Welfare Team (Portland, Oregon).

Finalists: Humane Society for Seattle-King County (Bellevue, Washington) and Helping Paws (Escondido, California).

Applications are now being accepted and must be submitted by midnight Eastern time on October 5, 2016. Finalists will be announced in January 2017, and the medals will be awarded at the 2017 national sales meeting for Henry Schein's animal health division.

Visit the Henry Schein Cares Foundation website to apply for the award.