Dear Friends,

On January 17th, one of the most respected medical journals in the world, The Lancet, issued a major report on child and maternal health. With an introduction by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (JHSPH), the paper noted that 1/3 of the child deaths worldwide every year are due to chronic malnutrition among children and their mothers.  http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/Lancetseries_ExecutiveSummary.pdf 

Vitamin A deficiency is the largest micronutrient deficiency noted in the article and accounts for over 1/2 million child deaths each year. Vitamin Angels Operation 20/20 initiative has a goal of eradicating vitamin A deficiency on the planet by the year 2020.

Joy Phumaphi, the Network Head of Human Development at the World Bank, noted that “malnutrition and nutrition as a whole is an economic imperative.” She noted that nutrition not only affects cognitive functioning and performance at school but also impacts productivity and health costs and has catastrophic implications.

We agree with World Bank. And Vitamin Angels will go even further and say that addressing a global health problem which is killing millions of children every year, is a moral imperative. This is even more necessary because we have the knowledge, the resources, the relationships, and the reason to take action. We thank you for joining us and saying ‘Yes, these children are worth doing everything we can to give them a chance at a healthy life!’

WHAT VITAMIN ANGELS HAS BEEN DOING IN FEBRUARY

Guatemala - This month Vitamin Angels provided vitamins for two teams from Global Medical Brigades. Both the Boston University chapter and our local UC Santa Barbara chapter made trips to Honduras. The top medical conditions treated were malnutrition, parasites and diarrhea.

The Boston University chapter went to Tegucigalpa, Nuevo Paraiso and surrounding villages in a non-clinic setting. Vice President, Sarah Rumbellow, reflected on the condition of the villages noting that the only food affordable to the villagers was rice, beans and tortillas. This leads to an unavoidable amount of malnutrition. In many of the patients that the Global Medical Brigades saw there was an overall need for calcium tablets. The team treated many injuries involving broken bones.

India - Vitamin Angels just received a report from Dr. Rashmi Gapchup who coordinated a vitamin distribution in Pune, India during December 2007. Vitamin Angels along with Janana Prabodhini Medical Trust and Dr. Sheshadri Iyar distributed Vitamin A to 3,274 children in need. As is routine during a Vitamin Angels distribution, education was also provided regarding the importance of sanitation and leafy fruits and vegetables.

 

 

Peru - This moth Vitamin Angels worked with Southern Cross Humanitarian and Michael’s Naturopathic Programs to deliver children’s chewable vitamins to an orphanage in Peru.

 

 

 

 

Vitamin Angels is Growing!

In the last few months Vitamin Angels has gained three new employees. We want to welcome Jeannie Morgan and Cami Allen to our Vitamin Angels staff. We are also pleased to announce that Kathie Velazquez has now joined Vitamin Angels as our Development Director. With our growth and success last year we expect to have our work cut out for us. Not only is our staff growing but Vitamin Angels has been looking for new office space in order to support our ever expanding team.

Small Vitamin, Huge Difference

In a study in Burkina Faso, the combination of Vitamin A and zinc was shown to cut the prevalence of malaria by 34%. In a February 7th report published in Nutrition Journal, researchers confirmed the key role of micronutrients in the reduction of children's morbidity and mortality, particularly as it is linked to malaria. Interestingly, the study used the same dosage (200,000 IU) that Vitamin Angels uses in much of our work with Operation 20/20.

To check out the full article go to:  
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=83093&m=1NIE207&c=rmponzfrsmanprt

Congratulations Dr. Neil Solomon!!

Our friend and colleague, Dr. Neil Solomon, was recently honored at the United Nations. Vitamin Angels wants to congratulate Dr. Neil Solomon for receiving the Pioneer award by ICCC (International Council of Caring Communities). Dr. Dianne Davis, President of ICCC, noted, “Dr. Neil Solomon’s pioneer work in medical communications and research has enhanced the lives of humankind around the world. We honor his vision, leadership and professional contributions which are internationally recognized as well as by the international Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) and the United Nations family. As an ICCC Pioneer he joins an eminent group of world leaders in government, business and philanthropy.

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

 

IN THIS ISSUE

 

 

FEBRUARY RETAIL PROMOTIONS

HOME ECONOMIST MARKETS | Back to Top

In February, Home Economist Markets began a retailer vitamin purchase program with Vitamin Angels. Now for every person who signs up for the program $1.00 will go directly to support Vitamin Angels. 

NATURAL RETAIL GROUP  | Back to Top

The Natural Retail Group, a subsidiary of UNFI, is donating 5% of their 12 stores' sales on February 29 to Vitamin Angels.

CORE NATURALS | Back to Top

Starting this month and continuing through 2008, for every bottle of Salba Whole Seed and Salba Ground product sold 25 cents will go directly to Vitamin Angels!

GIVELINE  | Back to Top

Vitamin Angels is now registered with Giveline Inc. an online retail store which donates a percentage of product sales to support the charity of your choice. Giveline sells such products as DVDs, music, books and electronics so next time you are making a purchase go to www.giveline.com and choose Vitamin Angels!

NATURAL HEALTH CENTER | Back to Top

Starting this month for every bottle of Natural Health Center Vitamin Line and Mike's Choice Vitamins sold 25 cents will go to support Vitamin Angels Operation 20/20.  Along with a discount on these vitamins customers receive an informational letter about Vitamin Angels.  We have worked with Natural Health Center in the past and are very excited to be working together again on another promotion.

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 website at www.VitaminAngels.org and check out all of the videos in our video section!
A Huge Thanks to our Monthly Angels for February!

High Voltage Tattoo, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Purity Products, Scarsdale High School, The Betsy Gordon Foundation, Vitamin Retailer Magazine Inc., Zorbitz Global Foundation, Northwest Natural Products, Gematria, NOW, Westside Food Bank, Whole Foods, Tishcon, Jon Benninger and Peter Van Stolk.
Thank you to Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO Belize), SPINS, Presence Marketing and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
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, Anthony Zolezzi, Clayton Ajello and Jeff Markel; Steve Allen, Susan Haeger and Peter Hefele on our BOA; Amy, Miranda and Steve at Pitch Publicity. Recent VA staff additions: Cami Allen and Jeannie Morgan; Our new Development Director: Kathie Velazquez; Jeff Hilton and everyone at IMG; our amazing interns Hava, Christina and Brittany.. .

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 Rachel at: 805 564 8400 or rachel@VitaminAngels.org  to arrange for a financial contribution or a product donation.

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 makes all of the difference in the world!

Best,

Howard B. Schiffer
President and Founder
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 1/1/08 - 1/31/08) | Back to Top

NEW PROGRAMS IN FEBRUARY!

  1. Guatemala - This month Vitamin Angels provided vitamins for two teams from Global Medical Brigades. Both the Boston University chapter and our local UC Santa Barbara chapter made trips to Honduras.

  2. Peru - This month Vitamin Angels worked with Southern Cross Humanitarian and Michael’s Naturopathic Programs to deliver children’s chewable vitamins to an orphanage in Peru.

ONGOING PROGRAMS

  1. Belize - Through an arrangement with Spins, Pharmaca, Presence 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. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  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.