Vitamin Angels Will Reach More Than 18 Million Children Thanks to Promotion with Walgreens

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Dec 11, 2013, 04:00 ET

$4.6 Million Contribution Enables Dramatic Program Expansion

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vitamin Angels, a non-profit organization distributing vitamins and minerals to children and mothers in need, will be able to expand its programming efforts greatly as a result of a recent collaboration with retailer, Walgreens. Thanks to an exceptionally successful in-store and on-line promotion, Walgreens and its customers raised more than $4.6 million for Vitamin Angels. With a cost of just 25 cents per year to provide lifesaving vitamin A to an at-risk child, Walgreens contribution will make it possible for Vitamin Angels to reach more than 18 million children.

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"We are thrilled to be able to expand our programs thanks to Walgreens support," said Vitamin Angels founder and president, Howard Schiffer. "While the promotion was under way, I was visiting our programs in India and the Philippines. I saw firsthand that the work we're doing is changing children's and women's lives in a powerful and profound way. Our program in the United States is helping children and women through food banks and free clinics all over the country."

In 2013, Vitamin Angels will reach 30 million children in nearly 50 countries, including the US, with lifesaving and life changing vitamins and minerals. The support from Walgreens will allow the organization to work toward reaching its goal of 40 million children in 2014.

"Walgreens mission is to help people get, stay and live well, and we are thrilled to be able to support the Vitamin Angels' cause by providing the necessary support to reach millions of children and mothers in need," said Robert Tompkins, group vice president for health and wellness at Walgreens.

During the months of September and October, Walgreens stores nationwide spread the word about their collaboration with Vitamin Angels. For each participating item sold during the promotion, Walgreens donated 25 cents—the cost for Vitamin Angels to reach one child for one year with lifesaving vitamin A. Approximately 350 items from more than 20 participating vendors were eligible during the program, including Walgreens brand, Finest Nutrition. Select products from the following brands were also eligible: Centrum, Finest Nutrition, Renew Life, Nature's Bounty, Swisse and Nature Made.

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,131 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 750 locations throughout the country.

About Vitamin Angels

Vitamin Angels helps at-risk populations in need—specifically pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five—gain access to lifesaving and life changing micronutrients. In 2013, Vitamin Angels is working to reach 30 million children in nearly 50 countries with the vital nutrients they need as a foundation for good health. In the U.S., Vitamin Angels is working to reach 70,000 children under the age of five, new mothers, and pregnant women with daily multivitamins in 2013. Vitamin Angels has received six consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit www.vitaminangels.org.

CONTACT: Kim Saam, 971-544-7471

SOURCE Vitamin Angels