The American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile Program Celebrates Milestone of Over 10 Million Children Reached with Essential Dental Services, in Partnership with Longtime Sponsors Henry Schein and Colgate-Palmolive
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) is officially kicking off Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) 2026 at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, marking 24 years of transforming children’s lives through this access-to-oral-health-care initiative. What began as a local grassroots movement in St. Louis, MO, has evolved into a national movement, having served more than 10.2 million underserved children since 2003. GKAS begins nationally in February, which is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and events will take place year-round. These essential oral health services are made possible thanks to the tens of thousands of dental professionals who volunteer their time and talent.
“Hosting the national kickoff for Give Kids A Smile is a historic moment for UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry and powerfully reinforces our mission to improve oral and overall health through compassionate, community-centered care,” said Raha K. Naderi, RDH, MEd, Director of Community Outreach at the School of Dentistry. “Give Kids A Smile is more than a one-day event; it is a springboard for lifelong oral health. Every child we serve leaves not only with a healthier smile but with a clear pathway to continued care.”
2026: A Year of Scale
Across the country, the 2026 GKAS program is mobilizing to meet a critical need:
- 325,000 Children: The estimated number of children receiving free oral health education, dental screenings, cleanings, and preventive and/or restorative services.
- 1,200 Events: A nationwide network of dental offices, medical and dental clinics, schools, and organizations hosting events.
- 23,000 Volunteers: Dentists and dental team members donating their time and expertise.
“Give Kids A Smile is a national public-private collaboration that ensures access to quality oral health care services for all children, and, given that dental disease is the #1 reason children are absent from school, GKAS truly improves a child’s overall well-being on a daily basis,” said Dr. Rita Cammarata, Chair of the ADA Foundation. “We sincerely thank all of the volunteers and sponsors that support this initiative, which will help improve the lives of children for years to come.”
Powered by Partnerships
The scale of GKAS is made possible by the support of exclusive national sponsors who provide the resources necessary to deliver care.
Henry Schein: The Foundation of Care
As the exclusive professional product sponsor since the program’s inception, Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC) has contributed over $20 million in products with its supplier partners. This year alone, Team Schein has prepared more than 2,600 dental kits to equip volunteers.
“Together, we will continue to champion a critical mission: expanding access to vital oral health care for all,” said Steven Kizy, Vice President and General Manager of Henry Schein’s U.S. Dental Group.
Henry Schein’s longstanding support of the GKAS program underscores the mission of Henry Schein Cares, the Company’s global corporate citizenship initiative. Through strategic partnerships and purpose‑driven action, Henry Schein Cares seeks to drive positive, sustainable change worldwide across five core pillars: Catalyzing health care access; Advancing policies, solutions, and innovation; Relationship building for change; Empowering Team Schein; and Sustaining the planet.
In 2026, Henry Schein Cares celebrates 25 years of impact, reflecting a continued commitment to improving access to care, strengthening communities, and helping to create a healthier world. The Company’s long‑standing collaboration with GKAS exemplifies this commitment and highlights the power of public‑private partnerships in advancing oral health equity for children and underserved populations.
Colgate-Palmolive: Supporting Oral Health Education and Resources
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. The Company brings this purpose to life through Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached approximately 2 billion children and their families globally since 1991 with oral health education, free dental screenings, and treatment referrals. Colgate-Palmolive also recently announced a new multi-year partnership with the WHO Foundation focused on scaling oral health education, driving policy to integrate oral health interventions into national health systems, and supporting awareness through strategic, global, and cross-sector engagement to underscore the importance of oral health.
“Colgate is proud to support Give Kids A Smile, as we work towards engaging more children and their families with critical oral health education and free dental screenings,” said Dawna Michelle Fields, Senior Director, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures. “Together, we can create a world of bright smiles and even brighter futures.”
A Community Effort
The 2026 program has also received vital support from a dedicated group of supplier partners, including Ansell, Centrix, DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc., Dukal, Haleon, Perrigo, Solventum, and Sunstar Group.
For more information about Give Kids A Smile, visit: www.adafoundation.org/GKAS.
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, the Whiston Leadership Award, and the 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 154,000+ 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 monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) 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 more than 25,000 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 34 countries and territories. The Company’s sales reached $12.7 billion in 2024 and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 11.2 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:
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, Ajax, Axion, Darlie, elmex, EltaMD, Fabuloso, Filorga, hello, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Hill’s Science Diet, Irish Spring, Lady Speed Stick, meridol, PCA SKIN, Prime100, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Sorriso, Soupline, Speed Stick, Suavitel and Tom’s of Maine. 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 and improving children’s oral health through our Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached approximately two billion children and their families since 1991. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive and how we make more smiles, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com.
Contacts
Lauren DelGuidice
Associate Manager, Corporate Media Relations
[email protected]
631.479.7309
