Dear Friends,
During our recent trip to Belize, the Minister of Defense, the Honorable Mr. Rodwell Ferguson, in an eloquent speech at the Stann Creek school district, spoke to the children about how they are the future of Belize and how the country is investing in their future. The truly amazing thing which he noted is that the Defense budget in Belize is not the highest expense in the national budget! In fact the number 1 and 2 items in the national budget are Education and Health. The importance of this immediately struck me and I thought about how much healthier (and safer) the world would be if the number 1 and 2 items in every national budget were Education and Health!
During our Celebration of Angels event, our good friend, Robert Orr from Ocean Nutrition, noted emphatically that 'It is simply unacceptable that any child go blind due to a simple vitamin A deficiency.’ We would like to expand on this and make it part of our rallying cry for 2008 - It is simply unacceptable that any child go blind or die from a simple vitamin deficiency or chronic malnutrition! In 2008 we look forward to working with you to take a giant step towards bringing this vision closer to reality and in the process making this a truly healthier world.
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WHAT VITAMIN ANGELS HAS BEEN DOING IN DECEMBER
Guatemala, Guatemala City- In Guatemala this month a total of 372 patients were seen by Roswell Presbyterian Church doctors. All of the children and adults received a bottle of vitamins, and children vitamins were also provided to 90 children in two orphanages in Guatemala City. The highlight of the trip came when a Cherub grandfather stoppedby the clinic for some company and affection, he was given a bottle of children’s vitamins and beamed with delight.
Guatemala, Huehuetenango - This month, also in Guatemala, we supplied a new clinic with much need pre-natal vitamins. There are 247 villages in Huehuetenango, Guatemala and only 8 doctors covering over 98,000 inhabitants. Casa Colibri opened its doors for the first time on November 5, 2007. It is the hope and prayer of its founder, Linda Eastman, to employ a full time primary care provider and support staff for this clinic. Casa Colibri also plans on providing ongoing training to village health promoters and midwives, so they can be equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to reduce maternal-infant mortality.
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Belize - Along with the Ministry of Health and in-country organizations, Vitamin Angels has issued vitamin A and de-worming tablets to over 3,500 children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. The initiative was launched in the beginning of the December in San Antonio Toledo and was then taken to the Stann Creek District. This Belize program is a three year commitment; so, we will be going into these communities every six months for the next three years. We are excited to be involved in these communities and look forward to improving the nutrition and lives of many families.
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Mexico - Through the month of November, Tabasco Mexico has been experiencing the worst flooding they have seen in 50 years. More then 1 million people have been affected and one third of them are estimated to be children. Thousands of families have been forced out of their homes from the flood water with very limited access to food, medicine or safe drinking water. This month Vitamin Angels worked with Jim Schopper from World Ministries to provide anti-parasitics to the families affected by the flood.
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Celebrity Interest
This month TLC filmed an event with Los Angeles Ink tattoo artist Kat Von D. Starting on December 14th at 12 noon, Kat tattooed her LA logo for 24 hours straight with all the proceeds going to support Vitamin Angels. The event was a huge success with fans lining up for tattoos as early as 9:30 pm the night before! Not only did Kat set a new world record by giving 400 tattoos but she also prevented 32,000 children from going blind. Tune in to watch Kats new season of LA Ink on Tuesdays at 10 pm. A huge thanks to Kat, her sister Karoline, the whole LA Ink crew and Dan, Doug and Laurie from TLC. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to Vitamin Angels. We had a great time with all of you!!
Local Interest
Vitamin Angels has caught the attention of a local dentist, Dr. Rick Nagy, who is very interested in contributing to our cause and spreading the word about Vitamin Angels around the Santa Barbara area. Dr. Nagy is the president of the Ventura/Santa Barbara Dental Society and we look forward to working with him.
Charity Navigator
Vitamin Angels is proud to announce we have received the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator. Less than a quarter of the charities they evaluate have received their highest rating, indicating that Vitamin Angels outperforms the majority of nonprofits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility. We are honored to receive this recognition from Charity Navigator! To access the report click here: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10717
Holiday Giving
Every time we get a photo of one of the healthy children that Vitamin Angels has helped with a donation of supplements, we know it is true that 'giving is the gift'. For everyone who wants to help support Vitamin Angels' work this holiday season, a short note on the end of your emails would be terrific;
This year I am channeling my holiday giving to Vitamin Angels.
$.25 will save one child from going blind!
To donate: https://www.vitaminangels.org/menu/donate/payment.htm
For more information go to: www.VitaminAngels.org
IN THIS ISSUE
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DECEMBER RETAIL PROMOTIONS
HEALTH FIRST IN CANADA | Back to Top
Health First Network and 105 of their stores across Canada are continuing their first fundraising promotion for Vitamin Angels. With their partners Natural Factors, Preferred Nutrition, Prairie Natural, Body Plus and Presource-Now, consumers who purchase participating products will trigger a $1.00 donation to Vitamin Angels’ Operation 20/20. Operation 20/20 has the stated goal to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency childhood blindness worldwide.
VITAMIN ANGELS AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL | Back to Top
Do you want to get a good idea of how Vitamin Angels' programs look at the village level? Contact us at (info@VitaminAngels.com) and ask for one or more of our DVD's: Operation 20/20, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Asia, or Mississippi. We will happily drop them in the mail to you. Or go to our new website at; www.VitaminAngels.org and check out all of the videos in our video section!
We thank all of our supporters who make this work possible!
Thanks to everyone who supported our work this month: our amazing BOD: Tom Aarts, Barclay Hope, Yvon Bastien, Bill Sechrest, Elliott Balbert, Mehbs Remtulla, and Jeff Markel; Steve Allen and Peter Hefele on our BOA; Jeff Hilton and everyone at IMG; our amazing interns Hava, Rachel, Ashley and Brittany.; Amy, Miranda and Steve at Pitch Publicity. From our new program in Belize: Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer (Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor, Belize Ministry of Health), Dr. Guillermo Troya (Health Systems & Services Adviser, PAHO/WHO Belize), and Dr. Steven K. Ault, Regional Advisor in Communicable Diseases (Parasitic Disease). From LA Ink: Kat Von D, Karoline Von D, Miranda Garrell from Pitch Publicity, Lauri Goldberg and Doug Wilson from TLC.
Thank you to Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO Belize), SPINS, Presence Marketing and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
WANTS & NEEDS | Back to Top
We are in need of financial contributions to help support our work. From the recent World Bank book ‘Repositioning Nutrition as Central To Development', it is clear that our need for vitamin supplements is greater than ever before. We need planned production of children's chewable vitamins (multiples), adult multiples, prenatals, and fish oil capsules. Please contact Ada at: 805 564 8400 or Ada@VitaminAngels.org to arrange for a financial contribution or a product donation.
Thanks to our donors this month: Tishcon, Pharmachem Laboratories, Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems, NOW Health Group, Flora Inc., and Pure Fruit Technologies, Acelera Nutrition, Platinum Naturals.
As always, please forward this newsletter to all of your friends and colleagues. We rely on our supporters and friends to help get the word out and get people to our site (www.VitaminAngels.org) so they can see the scope of what we are accomplishing and make needed contributions. Your support and encouragement make all of the difference in the world!
Best,
Howard B. Schiffer
Vitamin Angels
PO Box 42029
Santa Barbara, CA 93140 USA
P: 805 564 8400
F: 805 564 8499
E: info@VitaminAngels.org
PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION REPORT 11/1/07 - 11/30/07) | Back to Top
NEW PROGRAMS THIS MONTH!
1. Belize
Through an arrangement with SPINS, Presence Marketing and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy and the Belize Ministry of Health we have launched a 3 year program in Belize as part of Operation 20/20. We will reach 25,000 Mayan children each year.
2. Guatemala
Through a program with the Roswell Presbyterian Church, 372 patients were seen and all children and adults received a bottle of vitamins. Children’s vitamins were also provided to 90 children in two orphanages in Guatemala city.
3. Guatemala
In Huehuetenango, Guatemala we worked with Casa Colibri Clinic to distribute much needed pre-natal vitamins.
4. Mexico
With the help of Jim Schopper from World Ministries we delivered anti-parasitics to many of the families affected by the flooding in Tabasco Mexico.
NEW PROGRAMS
1. Cameroon
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were provided to some of the 4,000 adults and 1,500 children on Sio Sio. Nutrition was severely lacking on this small island off the coast of Cameroon. The vitamins helped the children concentrate in school and provided hope for future employment on the mainland.
2. Dominican Republic
The DR program sponsored by UNFI, is slated to be a three year campaign to reach 55,000 children per year. We are distributing multivitamins daily and antiparastics two times per year. Our program partners are Direct Relief International, who will handle all to-country shipping and Batey Relief International, who will handle all in-country distribution
3. Niger
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were provided to Nigerian orphanages, primary schools, centers for troubled youth, and families living in extreme poverty. Niger has the highest poverty of 177 nations. The recipients included 32,360 children under fifteen years of age and to 1,800 pregnant and breast-feeding women
4. Pakistan
Through a program with Hope in Action twenty-eight pallets of vitamins were distributed to people recovering from earthquake destruction in four areas of Pakistan: the Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot.
5. Rwanda
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were distributed to 5,000 internally-displaced children and 3,000 impoverished adults in Rwanda. The recipients included orphans in Kamabuye sector of Bugesera, Ngoma, the poorest area of Kicukiro district, and a dozen areas near Kegali. Some of the children were functioning as the head of household.
6. St. Louis, MO
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were distributed at an event where 19,000 inner-city residents of St. Louis gathered to receive a hot meal and donated groceries.
7. Sudan
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were distributed to displaced Sudanese in refugee camps near the Sudan border in Ethiopia. Recipients also included 4,353 children in 13 southern Sudan schools near Boma
8. Zambia
Through a program with Hope in Action vitamins were distributed in the Lasaka area to schools, HIV/AIDS clinics and 15 orphanages. Distribution of vitamins was also made in conjunction with a week-long medical and dental clinic.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
1. Bolivia
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Bolivia as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 58,000 children.
2. Burkina Faso
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Burkina Faso as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 375,000 children.
3. El Salvador
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to El Salvador as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 4,000 children.
4. Haiti
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Haiti as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 138,000 children and 21,000 lactating mothers and their babies.
5. Haiti
In the remote mountain areas where no medical help is available and an estimated 98% of all children are infested with worms, Missions of Love received 43 bottles and treated 2,150 children. World Harvest Missions received 200 bottles of anti-parasitics and were able to treat 10,000 children in the Pestel area.
6. Honduras
This program is sponsored by Sight & Life (DSM), UNFI, Anabolic Laboratories, United Flavors, Domino Foods, George Washington University, Pan American Health Organization and Medpharm. This program is reaching 55,000 children per year for three years. Our in-country partners are Cristo Salva, Ministry of Health and PAHO. We are distributing children's multivitamins and antiparastics (the multivitamins are given daily and the antiparastics are given twice a year). Recent photos show new gardens that children have planted at their schools with crops high in Vitamin A!
7. India
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson our campaign in India is in its fourth year and is now reaching 1 million nursing mothers and children with vitamin A and deworming tablets - both the vitamin A and the deworming are given two times per year.
8. Indonesia
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Indonesia as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 320,000 children and 60,000 lactating mothers and their babies.
9. Malawi
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Malawi as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 90,000 children.
10. Mali (Sahel)
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Mali as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 25,000 children.
11. Mississippi
Ruleville Mississippi is a very poor rural district in the Mississippi Delta. With the support of Univera and their Serve First Program, we are now reaching 2,000 children with a daily nutrition supplement; Ageless Essentials.
12. Mozambique
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Mozambique as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 720,000 children and 110,000 lactating mothers and their babies.
13. Myanmar
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Myanmar as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 343,000 children and 7,000 lactating mothers and their babies.
14. Nepal
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Nepal as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 333,000 children.
15. Nicaragua
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Nicaragua as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 500,000 children.
16. Pakistan
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Pakistan as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 385,000 children and 835,000 lactating mothers and their babies.
17. Philippines
We are doing a deworming program in partnership with Save the Children reaching 250,000 kids per year. This program began in the first quarter of 2006 and is now slated to run through the last quarter of 2007.
18. Sudan
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Sudan as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 40,000 children.
19. Tibet
In this program we work closely with Dr. Nancy Harris who is the founder of Terma. We've distributed up to 2 million children's multiples per month.
20. Uganda
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Uganda as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 175,000 children.
21. Uganda
Through a program with Feed the Hungry children’s vitamins will be used as a daily supplement during a feeding program at Good News Academy (800 children daily) and at Destiny school & orphanage (677 children at present).
22. Vietnam
Vitamin A and antiparasitics are being delivered to Vitenam as part of Operation 20/20's expansion with Save the Children. The program will reach 376,600 children and 2,000 lactating mothers and their babies.