Vitamin Angels: Providing Essential Nutrients Around the Globe

Vitamin Angels has been on a mission to combat global malnutrition since 1994. Their primary goal is to provide Vitamin A and multivitamins to infants, children, pregnant and lactating women in third-world countries. At present, Vitamin Angels supplies micronutrients to thirty countries on three continents.

Vitamin Angels has been particularly active in Haiti since the devastating earthquake ripped the country apart in January 2010. In partnership with Hope for Haiti, Vitamin Angels shipped over one million multivitamins during the initial Haiti disaster relief effort.

Since the earthquake, Vitamin Angels has partnered with Love a Child and continues to provide essential nutrients, vaccines, and Albendazol; a treatment for parasites. Love a Child was granted permission by the Haitian Minister of Health to build a vaccination center in the "Quest" Zone where project villages are located. In addition to dispensing vitamins and parasite treatments, Love a Child provides food, water, and medical treatment to displaced Haitians.

The African proverb of "it takes a village to raise a child" holds true not only in Haiti, but around the globe. According to Bread for the World; "In 2008, nearly 9 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. One third of these deaths are due directly or indirectly to hunger and malnutrition."

The World Health Organization (WHO) states; "Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections." WHO presents the sobering fact that nearly half a million children with Vitamin A deficiency become blind each year, with half of them dying within a year of losing their sight.

Vitamin Angels founder and former executive of Natural Products Industry, Howard Schiffer, have created a network of partner "villages" to help malnourished children and their mothers. Corporate sponsors include Vitamin World, PharmaChem Laboratories, Nordic Naturals, Purity Products, NOW, Garden of Life, Emergen-C, Douglas Laboratories and many other vitamin and health product manufacturers.

Schiffer's Vitamin Angels program has created numerous volunteer opportunities where individuals and corporations can join together to improve nutrition for children and mothers around the globe.

Over the years, Vitamin Angels has provided Vitamin A supplements to Afghanistan, Belize, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Gaza, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, Pakistan, Uganda, Vietnam and many other poverty-stricken nations.

While malnutrition statistics appear overwhelming, solutions exist that allow every American the opportunity to make a difference. Individuals can engage in personal fundraising events; shop with Vitamin Angels sponsors; volunteer at local events; and share the program through social networking sites such as Facebook and SocialVibe.

Individuals can also join Vitamin Angels teams and participate in fundraising activities such as bake sales or athletic activities such as running, walking, biking and swimming marathons. Those who don't have time to participate in fundraising activities can make cash donations directly to the non-profit organization or any of the Vitamin Angels fundraising groups.

Last, but not least, individuals can create personal fundraising pages using templates provided at the Vitamin Angels website. Events can extend for a few months to a year or longer. Fundraising goals can be reached by donating a portion of sales earned through affiliate marketing, Ebay, Etsy, Café Press, book sales, article marketing, lemonade stands, yard sales, and just about any other creative way to raise money. Personal Vitamin Angels fundraising pages can be promoted at local events, through social marketing, email marketing, Classified ads, and word-of-mouth advertising.

If you are looking for an important fundraising event, consider joining forces with Vitamin Angels. Volunteer opportunities are available for people of all ages. This program is perfect for elementary and high school students, college campuses, and small business owners, as well as large corporations.

Everyone can get involved. For just a few hours of time, you could literally save the lives of hundreds of children. Are you ready to join the village and help raise a happy, healthy child? If so, visit www.VitaminAngels.com today!

Sources:

Vitamin Angels - www.VitaminAngels.org
Love a Child - www.LoveAChild.com
Bread for the World - www.bread.org
World Health Organization - www.who.int/nutrition/topics/vad/en/
SocialVibe - www.SocialVibe.com