This month Vitamin Angels sent a shipment of albendazole (antiparasitic) tablets to Prerana Women’s Health Initiative. Operating out of India, Prerana Women’s Health Initiative treats approximately 2,600 patients a year in clinic settings as well as assisting other medical facilities. Prerana is committed to improving the quality of life individuals and groups through self-help and to instilling awareness about issues like population, health, hygiene, reproductive health, education and capacity building thus enabling integrated community development.
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Guatemala
This month Vitamin Angels received an exciting update from Casi Colibri, a small clinic in Guatemala that has been working with Vitamin Angels over the last year to provide expecting mothers with prenatal vitamins. In partnership with Rotary International, Casi Colibri recently held a successful midwife training program for the men and women of the surrounding villages. The response was very positive and participants completed the training with increased knowledge, hands on experience, and supplies - including prenatal vitamins - for expecting mothers in the midwives’ villages.
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Saving Children One
Vitamin at a Time
Last December, Howard was accompanied by writer Karen Raterman on a distribution trip through several villages in India. The story that resulted from the experience "Saving Children One Vitamin at a Time," runs in the October issue of The Natural Foods Merchandiser! Read it Here
Full story reprinted with permission from Natural Foods Merchandiser, Oct. 2008, published by New Hope
Natural Media/Penton Media |
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Vitamin Shoppe Creates Mural
for Vitamin Angels
The Vitamin Shoppe has teamed up with Zoom Media and Marketing to create a beautiful Vitamin Angels mural in Midtown Manhattan at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Fifty-Fifth Street. Local graffiti artists created the mural over three days earlier this month. The mural will raise awareness and increase support for Vitamin Angels! Thank You to the artists for their amazing work and to the Vitamin Shoppe for their continued support!
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Vitamin Angels Joins SocialVibe
Raising money for Vitamin Angels has never been easier than it is with SocialVibe. By simply creating a profile, selecting Vitamin Angels as your cause then posting your badge to your social networking profiles, you will earn free donations for Vitamin Angels.
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13 Year Old Saves 6,000 Children!
Last month, Vitamin Angels was contacted by a very special 13-year old girl, Aryanna, about choosing Vitamin Angels as the beneficiary charity for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. Aryanna really took the Vitamin Angels message to heart, contacting her guests and evening writing to Oprah Winfrey on our behalf. As of October 20, 2008 $1,569.00 has been donated in her honor! Aryanna, Congratulations and Thank you!
Read about Aryanna’s accomplishment! |
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"Fundracing" for Vitamin Angels UPDATE:
"Derailed but not off track!"
While on a training ride, Vitamin Angels "FundRACER" and triathlete, Steven Spitz, was involved in a bike-to-car accident. The end result for Steven was a dislocated shoulder and broken collarbone just one week before he was to travel to Hawaii for the Ford Ironman World Championship, derailing his plans to compete in the '08 race.
However, Steven continued with his fundraising commitment through the Oct. 10th deadline, raising $10,225.00. Vitamin Angels also received a matching grant from the Ironman Janus Charity Challenge of $750, bringing the total raised to: $10,975.00!
Steven is on the road to recovery, and is planning to compete in next year’s race as his qualification was transferred from '08 to the '09 Ironman World Championship. MRI, Pro-NOS®, and Natrol, Inc. continue to sponsor Steven in this quest to be his best. Stay tuned for ongoing updates! |
Thanks to everyone who supported our work this month!
Amy Summers, Miranda Jarrell, Jeff Hilton, Tom Tolworthy, Michael Funk, Elizabeth and Rich from Seed, Volunteers from the Berklee College of Music, Sara Freidland, Beth Kline, Kirsten Miller, Rachel Sandnes, Rick Antonelli, Len Monheit, Patrick Rhea, Robin Sydney, Joy Joseph and Paul Bolar, Loren Israelsen, Mark Blumenthal, Clayton Ajello, our amazing BOD: Bill Sechrest, Tom Aarts, Barclay Hope, Elliott Balbert, Mehbs Remtulla, Anthony Zolezzi, Peter van Stolk, and Jeff Markel; Steve Allen, Susan Haeger, Peter Hefele, Scott Holmes, James Tonkin and Michelle Goolsby on our BOA. |
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Dear Friends,
This year I had the honor of interviewing Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea. Greg is an amazing human being and his work has lead to 75 schools being built in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg and I were comparing notes and we both realized that all over the world, if you ask women what they want, they ALL say the same thing; for their children not to die, and for their children to receive an education.
In looking at these simple answers I was struck by an obvious truth - vital nutrition just happens to be the foundation strategy to achieve both of these results. Take a look at a three pound baby from a malnourished mom and you will never again wonder how essential vital nutrition is. Ask any teacher about trying to teach a child who is hungry and you will receive a short response 'It’s impossible'.
I did not realize though, how closely the two were tied until recently when I came upon the Latin root of the word educate; educare, which means "to nourish". So whether you are trying to give every baby a chance at a healthy life from the day they are born or to give children the right to a basic education, your work must begin with vital nutrition. It just happens to be the foundation for everything else.
Best,
Howard Schiffer,
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Corporate Social Responsibility and the Millennium Development Goals
In an increasingly competitive market, many companies are considering new ways to reach their consumers and to portray the core values on which they were founded. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained significant ground over the last few years, with for-profit companies and non-profit organizations both taking responsibility for the impacts of their actions on the community at large and the environment, as well as taking the initiative to create positive change in the world. Read more
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The Fight to End Global Malnutrition Benefits the Nutraceuticals Industry as well as the Recipients.
An article published in the October edition of Nutraceuticals World discusses malnutrition as a global battle, leading to the deaths of 9.8 million children each year. The authors, Paul Altaffer and Grant Washington-Smith recognize Vitamin Angels as one of the "commanders on the field of this battle." Read more. |
We’ve been telling you about it for months, Celebration of Angels, our chance to thank our generous supporters for the amazing contributions they make throughout the year. The big day has come and gone, and the enthusiastic response and support we received exceeded even our highest expectations.
On October 16th, 2008, over 300 industry leaders gathered at the Harvard Club of Boston to experience what life is like for the children Vitamin Angels serves. Guests were transported, via two artfully crafted vignettes, to a child’s bedroom and playground in South America. Columns displayed the childhood items treasured by these children and told of the challenges these children face daily.
The theater style program featured performances by the Boston City Singers, a children’s choral arrangement, and gifted musicians from the band, Seed accompanied by several new talents from the Berklee College of Music.
President and Founder, Howard Schiffer gave an inspiring speech about overcoming obstacles, and keeping the promise Vitamin Angels has made to reach those who need us most. The captive audience responded with a standing ovation.
Pledges and donations both large and small were made by private individuals and companies enabling us to continue our work and expand new programs to reach even more children next year.
Our gracious Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and energy to the coordination of this event and to everyone who attended, giving of their time, resources and awareness – we couldn’t do what we do without you!
Thank You to the Sponsors
of Celebration of Angels
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