SALT LAKE CITY, March 8, 2012 -- USANA Health Sciences, Inc., a global nutritional supplements company, today announced the opening of its new charitable foundation, the USANA True Health Foundation. The organization will offer basic necessitates, such as nutrition, clothing, shelter, medical assistance and health education to those who are suffering or in need.
"The primary motivation for the creation of this foundation is the never-ending quest for more efficient, economic, effective ways to improve the health and living conditions of people around the world," said Elaine Pace, president of USANA True Health Foundation. "Our goal is to meet the urgent needs of deserving populations and assist them with active compassion whenever the situation demands, to provide whatever is needed." Donations made to the foundation can be assigned to one of two funds: the General Fund and the Children's Hunger Fund. Charitable gifts made to the General Fund will be used to support areas of great need around the world, aid in rapid disaster relief, and assist wellness organizations such as HealthCorps, founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz, to combat childhood obesity and educate children about nutrition and fitness. HealthCorps is the first among many organizations that USANA True Health Foundation intends to support through its General Fund.
Contributions to Children's Hunger Fund will aid the non-profit organization, which has a long-standing partnership with USANA. For more than a decade, USANA and CHF have helped alleviate the suffering of children in impoverished regions across America and around the world. To date, the organization has received over $11 million in resources through USANA.
"USANA Health Sciences will be paying all administrative costs related to operating the foundation," said Dave Wentz, USANA's chief executive officer. "One hundred percent of every dollar donated to the organization will directly benefit those in need. Our goal is to maximize all donations to help as many people as we can."
Donations can be made through www.USANAfoundation.org in the form of a one-time pledge, continuous, automatic contributions, or a variety of monetary programs, to the fund of the donor's choice. All donations made by taxpayers in the United States and Hong Kong are tax-deductible. Residents of other countries should check with their local tax professional to determine whether their donation is deductible.
Based on pledges and donations to date, the foundation expects to raise more than $3 million within the first year of operations.