Cuba

In September Vitamin Angels supplied Echo Cuba with a shipment of prenatal vitamins allowing them to treat a number of Cuban women suffering from malnutrition and high risk pregnancies. Echo Cuba provides education, medicine, medical supplies, food, clothing, and other humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba. Echo Cuba networks with traditional churches, home-based churches, and seminaries to help those in need from tiny rural villages to large urban areas.

Haiti

This month Vitamin Angels worked with the Friends of the Children in Haiti to deliver prenatal vitamins to women in the village of Cyvadier. The group has been making trips to provide medical treatment to the people of Haiti since 1985. On their last trip they reached 2,360 patients with vital medical services.

Aidmatrix

Vitamin Angels is excited to announce their partnership with Aidmatrix, a foundation working to assist other nonprofits in disaster relief and aid distribution. Aidmatrix provides software to nonprofits enabling them to network with other parties online to increase efficiency and distribution of aid. Vitamin Angels has already taken advantage of this indispensable tool to process more than 28 million tablets, assisting such organizations as Orphan Outreach in Honduras and the San Diego Food Bank.

Aidmatrix is also actively assisting in the recovery efforts from Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike which have heavily impacted the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Many of our partners in the US are currently working in the impact zones as well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by these storms.

To learn more about Aidmatrix and how you can help, visit: http://aidmatrix.org/index.html


Fundraising Party for Vitamin Angels

On September 12, 2008, dicentra, a leading scientific and international regulatory consulting firm from Canada, celebrated its 5th anniversary at the Canadian Health Food Association EXPO EAST in Toronto, Ontario. The party was attended by senior staff from some of Canada’s leading natural health products companies and by government officials from Health Canada, including the new Director General of the Natural Health Products Directorate, Michelle Boudreau. The occasion was also used to help promote Vitamin Angels and a total of $500.00 was raised for the organization.

Catch Howard Speak

Catch Howard speak at the CRN’s annual Symposium on Dietary Supplements. October 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

GAIAM

This month Gaiam released one of their signature 'Thoughtful Tees’ to benefit Vitamin Angels. For every shirt sold, $5 will go directly to support our programs. The women’s long-sleeved shirt was designed by Gaiam specifically for us, and is made from 100% organic cotton using low eco-impact dyes. Buy your own here.

"Fundracing" for Vitamin Angels: UPDATE

Not only has triathlete Steven S. Spitz named Vitamin Angels his "official charity" for the Ironman Janus Charity Challenge, but he’s also increased his initial "Fundracing goal!” Steven is competing in the 2008 Ironman World Championship, October 11, on the Big Island of Hawaii. To date Steven has raised nearly $5,000 for Vitamin Angels, you can help reach his new goal by clicking here. He is sponsored by Medical Research Institute (MRI) and its parent company, Natrol, a long-time Vitamin Angels supporter.

New to Vitamin Angels

Vitamin Angels is proud to welcome Michelle Goolsby to our Board of Advisors. Michelle has many years of industry experience and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Development, Sustainability, and Corporate Affairs at Dean Foods Company. She is a strong addition to our board and we look forward to her contributions and participation in upcoming events.


Thanks to everyone who supported our work this month!

Rick Antonelli, Len Monheit, Patrick Rhea, Robin Sydney, Joy Joseph and Paul Bolar, Loren Israelsen, Mark Blumenthal, Jeff Hilton, our amazing BOD: Bill Sechrest, Tom Aarts, Barclay Hope, Elliott Balbert, Mehbs Remtulla, Anthony Zolezzi, Clayton Ajello, Peter van Stolk, and Jeff Markel; Steve Allen, Susan Haeger, Peter Hefele, Scott Holmes, James Tonkin and Michelle Goolsby on our BOA.

Dear Friends,

Ever since Vitamin Angels started in 1994, we have been working through food banks, schools, senior centers, and Native American clinics in our own country to get vital nutrition to children in need.

We have now expanded our efforts to include a massive distribution of prenatal vitamins through the generous donation of Andrew Lessman (of Home Shopping Network renown) and Procaps Labs. Other suppliers supporting this effort include: PCA, Stauber Performance Ingredients, Seltzer Ingredients, AIDP, Inc., Las Vegas Color Graphics, Lonza, Sojitz, LycoRed, Ultrapak, Berry Plastic Corporation, and Unisource.

Beginning this month, Vitamin Angels will be distributing tens of thousands of bottles of prenatal vitamins to low income women across the United States. Using AidMatrix software we have connected with distribution partners including National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC), and Feeding America. Prenatal vitamins are being offered to all NAFC and Feeding America clinics and sites.

In addition, a generous donation of tens of thousands of bottles of children’s chewable multiple vitamins from our friends at Vitaquest International, will allow Vitamin Angels to reach these same sites and offer free children’s multiples for low income children.

Due to the significant volume of donations from both of these vendors, Vitamin Angels will also be distributing these prenatal and children’s multiple vitamins through our existing international networks. Vitamin Angels knows that children are our future and healthy children will make a healthy future!

 

Best,

Howard Schiffer,
President

Four Tropical Storms Hit Haiti; Vitamin Angels Assists with Disaster Relief

After enduring four fierce tropical storms in less than a month, the people of Haiti have watched the little they had reduced to nothing at all. The most recent blow, Hurricane Ike, has left a path of destruction across the small island, destroying roads and bridges, and isolating people from resources and aid. While the government has officially asked for international assistance it will take time to reach the most troubled places such as Hanna, where there have already been more then 300 deaths. Read more.

Rising Food and Oil Prices Affect Indonesia’s Already Troubled Children

The World Food Program estimates that 13 million Indonesian children suffer from malnutrition. Despite major improvements in Indonesia’s public health system, child malnutrition rates have held constant since 2000 and have even increased in some provinces. UNICEF says that these numbers will increase with the current food crisis. The high rate of malnutrition along with the impact of rising food and oil prices is detrimental to Indonesians, and children are at the forefront of those who suffer. Read more.