The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) recognizes Benco Dental as one of four businesses whose private investments encourage quality care and early learning, as well as innovative and excellent supports for working families.

Andrea Heberlein, Executive Director for the PA Early Learning Investment Commission presents the Excellence in Caring Award to George Rable, Chief Culture and People Officer on August 16 at the Benco Dental home office in Pittston, Pennsylvania. (Benco Dental/Jimmy Musto)
Andrea Heberlein, Executive Director for the PA Early Learning Investment Commission presents the Excellence in Caring Award to George Rable, Chief Culture and People Officer on August 16 at the Benco Dental home office in Pittston, Pennsylvania. (Benco Dental/Jimmy Musto)

At the 2021 Early Learning Economic Summit held virtually on June 2, former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker introduced the four honorees and outlined initiatives and programs to unveil the Commission’s “Investments in Caring PA” initiative.

“I am a firm believer in the critical importance of quality early care and learning and the power of public-private partnerships. The businesses being recognized today clearly understand the role the private sector can play and the resulting benefits of quality childcare, supporting their working families, and investing in their early learning communities.”

Former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker
The Benco Family Foundation Scholarship is awarded annually to alumni of the Head Start program. Pictured, Meredith Wall and Rebecca Binder, representing the Benco Family Foundation and with scholarship recipient Ian Kochanowski.
The Benco Family Foundation Scholarship is awarded annually to alumni of the Head Start program. Pictured, Meredith Wall and Rebecca Binder, representing the Benco Family Foundation and with scholarship recipient Ian Kochanowski.

Meet 4 Investments in Caring PA Award winners recognized by Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission

Excellence in Caring: Benco Dental, Pittston, PA

The Excellence in Caring award winner shows a sustained commitment to supporting and expanding access to high quality early learning and leading the way to implement policies and programs that support their employees as caregivers.

Innovation in Caring: CAI – Computer Aid, Inc., Allentown, PA

The Innovation in Caring award recognizes a company that has been truly creative in expanding access to high quality early learning and childcare, whether within the company or within the community. Though creativity, leadership, skills, culture change, and entrepreneurship, this company goes beyond the traditional methods to champion caregivers and children.

Small Business in Caring: NPC, Inc., Claysburg, PA

The Small Business in Caring Award is given to a small business that has been a demonstrated leader in these areas and has a proven commitment to its current and future workforce.

Response in Caring: Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg, PA

The Response in Caring Award honors a business that took extraordinary measures to support their working families and community through COVID-19 mitigation mandates that affected childcare and school-age care.

The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) recognizes Benco Dental this week as one of four businesses whose private investments encourage quality care and early learning, as well as innovative and excellent supports for working families. Benco Dental associates volunteer as part of Benco’s Community Booster initiatives organized each year as opportunities to give back. Pictured: Benco Dental associates volunteering at the Luzerne County Head Start Edwardsville Center in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) recognizes Benco Dental this week as one of four businesses whose private investments encourage quality care and early learning, as well as innovative and excellent supports for working families. Benco Dental associates volunteer as part of Benco’s Community Booster initiatives organized each year as opportunities to give back. Pictured: Benco Dental associates volunteering at the Luzerne County Head Start Edwardsville Center in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania.

“It is truly an honor for Benco Dental to be selected for the ‘Excellence in Caring’ award by the PA Early Learning Investment Commission. I want to thank Executive Director Lynn Biga and the folks at Luzerne County Head Start for nominating Benco for this recognition. In recent years, but especially the past year, we have learned a great deal on how to support associates and their families as we continue to nurture our caring family culture.”

George Rable, Chief Culture and People Officer for Benco Dental.
Benco Family Foundation supports Lessons in a Lunchbox: Healthy Teeth Essentials & Facts About Snacks. This national oral health and nutrition program created by Dr. Winifred J. Booker reaches underserved elementary school children by offering an ingeniously-shaped holder — a carrot — packaged in a bright orange lunchbox with all the supplies needed for healthy teeth. Pictured, Benco Dental associates volunteering during a Lessons in a Luncbox program at an elementary school in Pennsylvania.
Benco Family Foundation supports Lessons in a Lunchbox: Healthy Teeth Essentials & Facts About Snacks. This national oral health and nutrition program created by Dr. Winifred J. Booker reaches underserved elementary school children by offering an ingeniously-shaped holder — a carrot — packaged in a bright orange lunchbox with all the supplies needed for healthy teeth. Pictured, Benco Dental associates volunteering during a Lessons in a Luncbox program at an elementary school in Pennsylvania.

Benco Dental, headquartered in Northeastern Pennsylvania, is America’s largest family-owned dental distributor, offering a complete portfolio of technology, supplies, equipment, consulting and other services from coast to coast. As the first dental distributor to offer dental practice design and space planning in 1978, Benco has established a position of industry leadership. This grew substantially with the introduction of CenterPoint design and equipment facilities beginning in 2010, which changed the way customers try and buy equipment while simultaneously planning their practice designs.

Today, Benco Dental operates CenterPoint locations in California, Texas and Pennsylvania, and introduced the CenterPoint Virtual Experience during 2020 in response to Covid-19.

Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission is a network of 50 business leaders dedicated to the success of every child in Pennsylvania

The Early Learning Economic Summit also included remarks about the importance of quality early learning from Governor Tom Wolf, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, State Representative Mark Longietti, and Deputy Secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning Tracey Campanini.

The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission is a network of 50 business leaders dedicated to making the success of every child in Pennsylvania a top priority. The Commission was created by Executive Order by Governor Rendell in 2008. Commission Members are appointed by the Governor and serve three-year terms.

For additional information on the Commission, visit paearlylearning.com