Vitamin Angels mission is to help at-risk populations in need – specifically pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five – gain access to lifesaving and life changing vitamins and minerals.
Roughly 30% of the global population lacks access to health services National healthcare systems provide substantial services to combat under-nutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) reaching, on average, 70% of those in need. However, despite their best efforts, roughly 30% of the world’s population goes unreached due to a variety of complex factors related to geographic location, socioeconomic status, infrastructure, environment, social norms, discrimination, and education.
Vitamin Angels focuses its efforts on this 30% by strategically partnering with qualified local nonprofit organizations – our Field Partners – who serve these vulnerable populations. Through this ap-proach, Vitamin Angels compliments the efforts of existing national health services and reaches those who need nutritional services the most.
Vitamin Angels focuses on the following areas where they can make the greatest impact:
Prenatal vitamins
In the United States a significant number of pregnant women do not meet the basic requirements for many vitamins and minerals they need through the foods they eat alone. While most pregnant women in the US take a multivitamin to help meet their increased need for nutrients 30% do not leaving them vulnerable to the risk of dietary inadequacies. Vitamin Angles partners with over 300 organizations spanning across all 50 US states. These organizations include community health centers, WIC sites and family planning organizations.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) VAD occurs when intake of vitamin A-rich foods is insufficient to meet the body’s needs. For infants and young children whose minds and bodies are rapidly growing and developing, vitamin A is essential. VAD may lead to night blindness (xerophthalmia), complete blindness, as well as weakened immune systems making it harder for children to fight off life-threatening illnesses.
Deworming
Soils transmitted helminths (STH), also known as intestinal worms, are one of the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities. Children under five years of age are vulnerable to STH infections because they are in a period of intense physical and mental development.
Supplementary Feeding
It is estimated that one in four children in the UK are from low-income households and are at risk for food insecurity and micronutrient deficiency. Vitamin Angels works in the UK to provide healthy supplemental food packages, free of charge, to select nurseries serving children who are at nutritional risk.
Vitamin Angels is pleased to be a recipient of its 9th consecutive 4-star rating, the highest value-score available, from Charity Navigator (CN), the nation’s premier charity evaluator. Vitamin Angels is among the top 3% of charities to receive this designation 9 consecutive times, revealing the organizations commitment to upholding sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way.
With over 93% of expenses, cash, and gift-in-kind going towards programs and services, Vitamin Angels reached nearly 70 million undernourished pregnant women and children in 70+ countries around the world, including the U.S., in 2019.
Amidst COVID-19, donors can also be confident that their support has a direct impact on the health of at-risk mothers and children as Vitamin Angels is continuing to implement its programs and services (as long as it is safe to do so) to protect the most vulnerable populations around the world during this health crisis.
About Vitamin Angels
Founded in 1994, Vitamin Angels is a global public health organization working towards ending malnutrition worldwide by distributing life-changing vitamins and minerals to at-risk mothers and children under five in the U.S. and around the world. In 2019, Vitamin Angels provided vitamins and minerals to nearly 70 million mothers and children in more than 70 countries, including domestically in the U.S. Both Charity Navigator and GuideStar give Vitamin Angels their highest marks for financial transparency. To learn more, visit www.vitaminangels.org.
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