A Child's Vision, a Vitamin Vision, a World Vision Discovered at Natural Products Expo East

SANTA BARBARA, CA--(Marketwire - November 11, 2008) - With a live rock band and standing room only, this year's "Celebration of Angels" event was not only a celebration, but a testament to Vitamin Angels' passion and focus.

Vitamin Angels hosted their annual fundraising gala in Boston to coincide with the Natural Products Expo East. This year's event took place at the opulent Harvard Club and transported guests beyond the comfortable confines of America, to a remote village in Guatemala. Over 350 executives were given the chance to see the world through the eyes of one of the malnourished children Vitamin Angels helps.

In addition, special guests and supporters, Tom Tolworthy, president and chief executive officer of The Vitamin Shoppe and Michael Funk, chairman of United Natural Foods Incorporated were on stage to support Vitamin Angels in raising over $1.1 million.

"Vitamin Angels' passion is knowing that vital nutrients save lives," says Howard Schiffer, founder and president of Vitamin Angels, whose primary focus is saving children around the world from going blind due to vitamin A deficiency. "We chose the call to action 'Be an Angel, Save a Life' not as a hopeful goal but as a literal reality. We are saving lives everyday by connecting essential nutrients with the children who need them most."

Three years ago, Vitamin Angels launched their most aggressive campaign to date, Operation 20/20, which has an end goal of eradicating childhood blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency worldwide by the year 2020.

Last year, vitamin A supplementation was recognized by the United Nations Children's Fund as one of the key strategies responsible for cutting early childhood deaths to below 10 million in 2006, which is a "first" in modern history. Vitamin Angels' key focus is providing vital nutrition to children in need internationally and domestically.

"Three years ago we made a promise to the natural products industry to reach 4.5 million children, today we are reaching 7 million children and next year we plan to expand that to 10 million children," says Schiffer. "All the donations will help continue to expand our efforts to reach children no one else is reaching and with vital nutrients, save millions of children's lives."

Vitamin Angels is an intricate part to the worldwide hunger solution and with the support of many concerned individuals is currently connecting essential nutrients with the children who need them most in more than 40 countries around the world. Next year's Celebration of Angels will be held during Expo East in Boston. For a complete list of Vitamin Angels donors, more information about Vitamin Angels and how to reserve your seat for next year's event go to: www.VitaminAngels.org.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Miranda Jarrell 727-848-1618 ext. 205 Pitch Inc.