Dear Friends,

We just returned from India – we are now reaching 1.1 million children, nursing moms and babies there with our Operation 20/20 campaign. In sheer numbers the challenges in India are immense; 2 million children still die every year, India has the highest rates of vitamin A deficiency, 150 million Indians are blind (remember that 75% of blindness is preventable), 600 million Indians still have no electricity and tens of millions of Indians have no local access to a health clinic or health center.

India is the big question mark when it comes to talking about significantly improving global health. India is a powerhouse economically but neighboring countries Nepal and Bangladesh (much slower economies) have seen far greater reductions in infant and child mortality, simply because they have made lowering infant and child deaths a key public health focus.

The poverty in India is acute. 260 million people still live below the poverty line. This is not the official ‘UN’ definition of poverty (incomes of less than $1 per day) but the Indian version (incomes of less than 30 cents per day)! People in India are working hard to survive, they’re working 8 hours a day and maybe making 50 cents –barely enough to feed their children and definitely not enough to get any good nutrition or health care. 

With over 23 million births every year, Vitamin Angels and our wonderful indigenous health care partners, are rising to the occasion to meet this enormous opportunity to save many children’s lives and sight. Our India video will be up on our site in the next few weeks – and once you see these children’s faces, you’ll see what inspires us!

WHAT VITAMIN ANGELS HAS BEEN DOING IN MARCH

India - This has been an exciting month for Vitamin Angels. Our President Howard Schiffer has just returned from a trip to India where he conducted four vitamin distributions. Vitamin A and anti-parasitics were distributed in Varanasi, Mawle Nagar, Chennai and a village outside Calcutta. This trip was a huge success. 

We want to thank everyone who helped make this trip possible; Ms. Sonali and friends in Mumbai, Mr. Milind Shah and colleagues, Mr. Arulmony Thangaswamy, and everyone associated with Believers Church, Dr. Ravi Prakash Pandey, Marilyn Tam with the Us Foundation, Dr. Ashok, Sanjay, Ambika and Swamiji, Shri Satuwa Baba, H.H. Sai Maa and everyone from Humanity in Unity, Dr. Doshi with Gujrat Blind Relief & Health Association, Dr. Sethuraman and Dr. Guru from MMHRC. We also want to thank Matt Kettmann, and Karen Raterman who accompanied Howard on his trip and in the distributions.  THANKS!!

Dominican Republic - This month Vitamin Angels provided children’s multi-vitamins to the Federal Department of Education, Office of Student Welfare, School Feeding Program. Our vitamins as well as those from LDS Humanitarian Services will be distributed to over 800 schools. We are now reaching 55,000 children in DR. All of the schools we will be reaching are located in rural districts where the poverty level is so low that it is impossible for children to receive an adequate diet at home.  

Nicaragua - This month Vitamin Angels arranged a distribution with a clinic in Nicaragua. The clinic is located in a dump of the largest city in Managua where a community of 1500 people live in harshest of environments. Among the many issues facing this community is malnutrition, disease, HIV and child prostitution.  The majority of the population is under 18 and have little expectation of a life after their teen years. Vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets were distributed and caregivers at the clinic discussed the importance of healthcare.

Honduras -This month Vitamin Angels received a heartfelt thank you from the UCSB Global Medical Brigades who just returned from a trip to Honduras. Even though their trip was only a week the team saw over 2,500 patients and felt the impact of their work, noting that their lives were changing as well as those of the people they were helping.

Pure Fruit Technologies

Last year Vitamin Angels received a large donation of products from Pure Fruit Technologies and this month, with the help of Hope in Action, Mango-xan and other products were distributed in Missouri, Oregon, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Mangosteen is a deep purple fruit and when steeped in hot water is used to alleviate digestive distress, support the immune system and increases energy and stamina. Mango-xan was included in food boxes which were distributed to economically-challenged families during a Christmas dinner in St. Louis, Missouri.

Vitamin Angels has Officially Moved!

We are very proud to announce that Vitamin Angels is now operating from a new and greatly expanded office space in Santa Barbara, California. Our new office is located at 915 De La Vina Street. We are thrilled about the quick expansion of our organization and are excited about our new working space!

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

MARCH RETAIL PROMOTIONS

WEGMANS | Back to Top

When you purchase choice products from Wegmans a portion of the proceeds will go directly to support Vitamin Angels. Look for our logo on certain products such as Newman’s Own pretzels and Health Valley cereal bars.

GENUINE HEALTH | Back to Top

Vitamin Angels is working with Genuine Health retailers across Canada.

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. 

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 March!
Gematria, Natural Alternatives International, Inc. Northwest Natural Products, Inc. Reclamation LLC, Santa Cruz Nutritionals, Tishcon Corporation, Wellements, LLC and National Enzyme Company. 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. Jeff Hilton and everyone at IMG; our amazing interns Sarah, Eric, 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 3/1/08 - 3/31/08) | Back to Top

NEW DISTRIBUTIONS IN MARCH!

1. India- Vitamin A and anti-parasitics were distributed at four different locations.
2. Dominican Republic - children’s multi-vitamins were provided to the Federal Department of Education and were distributed to over 800 schools containing 76,000 children.
3. Pure Fruit Technologies - products were distributed to Missouri, Oregon, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
4. Nicaragua- Vitamin A and anti-parasitics were distributed to a community whose homes are located in a dump in Managua.
5. Honduras - The UCSB Global Medical Brigades team saw over 2,500 patients in 1 week and felt the impact of their work including distributions prenatal multivitamins and deworming medications.

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.