Carry The Load

Henry Schein’s corporate social responsibility programs support veterans through recognition and advocacy efforts.

By Jenna Hughes

For Francis Lanni, Business Development Executive for Enterprise Health at Henry Schein, Memorial Day takes on a very important meaning. Lanni served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1992. His father, sister, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and son are also military veterans.

“Growing up, I was surrounded by veterans, as my father was a commander at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Maryland,” Lanni said. “At the time, I did not realize that our veterans were under-recognized for their service. Today, I am proud to be part of a purpose-driven company that supports connecting Americans to the sacrifices made by our military, veterans, first responders, and their families.”

Lanni knows firsthand the sacrifices that military veterans have made for the country. In his personal life and within the company, he strives to give service members the recognition they deserve. Giving back to the community is integrated throughout Henry Schein’s corporate culture. Employees have numerous opportunities to get involved in supporting veterans through groups such as the Veteran’s Engagement Team (VET) and employee resource groups for veterans and members of the Armed Forces, along with community fundraising events. Lanni is the Co-Chair of Henry Schein’s Veterans Engagement Team.

“Going forward, I plan to participate in Carry The Load’s Memorial May campaign every year. In addition to its Memorial May campaign, Carry The Load does incredible work with its community outreach programs that support veterans and patriots,” he said. This year, Lanni is attending the Dallas Memorial March –Carry The Load’s two-day flagship event which celebrates our heroes, embraces the fallen, and educates communities on how to respectfully observe Memorial Day.

Memorial May Campaign

Since 2022, Henry Schein Cares, the Company’s global corporate social responsibility program, has sponsored the Carry The Load Memorial May National Event. The 32 day-long nationwide Memorial Day awareness movement was created as a grassroots effort to honor and remember the people who died while serving in the U.S. military.

“Last year, I joined in the Carry The Load Tennessee relay, which was an incredible experience,” Lanni said. “I’ve participated in fundraising walks in the past, but none of them made me feel as proud as the Carry The Load walk did. The sense of community, and the feeling I got as I walked with my fellow veterans, is something I will never forget. I encourage everyone to try it once.”

During 2023, Henry Schein will sponsor various rallies throughout the nation, including the Dallas Memorial March. Carry The Load was started by Stephen Holley and Clint Bruce, two veteran U.S. Navy SEALs. In 2011, Holley and Bruce completed a 20-hour, 11-minute Memorial March around White Rock Lake in Dallas. The purpose of the flagship march was to remind the nation about the true meaning of the sacrifices made for our freedoms, according to Carry The Load website.

More than a decade later, Carry The Load’s National Relay travels 20,000 miles covering 48 states. There are also 86 rallies across the country and 5 regional relay routes. Volunteers can get involved by walking, biking, or even water tubing the routes, and by participating in fundraising efforts.

“As a 17-year Team Schein Member, I’m truly honored to be part of a company that leads with social responsibility,” said Lanni. “Organizations can make a positive difference in people’s lives by supporting programs such as Carry The Load. Our support of Carry The Load reinforces the work to bridge the healthcare access gap that veterans experience.”

Corporate social responsibility initiatives encourage employees to get involved beyond the office and make an impact in the local community. In addition to the various employee resource groups, Henry Schein has provided dental care to veterans through Henry Schein Dental, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Also, North American Rescue – a Henry Schein Medical business – has a team of veterans, former senior military medical officers, EMS health care providers, law enforcement, and special operations medics. North American Rescue provides survivability and casualty-care medical products for the defense and public safety markets.

According to Lanni, “At Henry Schein, giving back to the communities we serve is an important part of our team culture, and having the opportunity to walk throughout the month of May in honor of our nation’s heroes exemplifies the Team Schein culture of volunteerism.”