MORRISTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FLINTSTONES Vitamins, the number one children’s vitamin brand choice of pediatricians, has been inspiring parents to make their children part of the “ten million strong and growing” since the iconic jingle made its commercial debut nearly 30 years ago. Today, in line with their storied heritage, the makers of FLINTSTONES Vitamins announce that they have teamed up with Vitamin Angels to launch 10 Million Stronger, a charitable initiative aimed at delivering essential vitamin A to 10 million children worldwide suffering from vitamin A deficiency – a major underlying cause of child mortality and blindness – in hopes of also giving them the chance to grow up strong and healthy.
To kick off 10 Million Stronger, in its inaugural year, the maker of FLINTSTONES Vitamins will donate $300,000 in 2012 to Vitamin Angels (www.vitaminangels.org), helping to fund essential vitamin A for more than 1 million children in need. Via the FLINTSTONES Vitamins Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FlintstonesVitamins), 10 Million Stronger also encourages the community to get involved through donations as well as raising awareness of the initiative.
“We’re proud to say that generations of children have been raised on FLINTSTONES Vitamins and we hope that by bringing attention to this important cause through 10 Million Stronger, the FLINTSTONES Vitamins community will be inspired to join our effort and help us realize our goal of reaching 10 million children in need worldwide,” said Barton Warner, Vice President, Marketing, Bayer HealthCare.
While vitamin A deficiency is serious and potentially fatal, it can be prevented. Two high-dose vitamin A capsules can provide one child with sufficient vitamin A for one year. This alone can reduce under-five child mortality by about 24% in populations at risk of vitamin A deficiency. It can also help prevent and reverse one of the most severe effects of vitamin A deficiency, xerophthalmia, a disorder of the eye that can lead to permanent blindness. A donation of just 25 cents will protect one child from vitamin A deficiency for one year.
Vitamin Angels, a non-profit organization, reduces child mortality worldwide by providing essential nutrients with infants and children under five. Their mission is to mobilize and deploy private sector resources to advance availability, access and use of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, among at-risk populations in need. Essential nutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.
“Vitamin Angels is thrilled to partner with FLINTSTONES Vitamins,” says Howard Schiffer, Founder and President, Vitamin Angels. “We share a common goal – to help nourish children around the world. And thanks to FLINTSTONES Vitamins’ generous donation, we’ll be able to provide vitamin A to more than a million additional children in need.”
To learn more about 10 Million Stronger, make a donation or help raise program awareness, please visit www.facebook.com/FlintstonesVitamins.
About FLINTSTONES™ Vitamins
The makers of FLINTSTONES™ Vitamins have over 40 years of experience in children’s nutritional science and FLINTSTONES™ Vitamins is pediatricians' #1 brand choice for children's chewables. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D and C, which are important for children's long-term health and development. FLINTSTONES™ Vitamins are available in 10 different formulas and two different forms: FLINTSTONES™ Complete Gummies, FLINTSTONES™ Complete Sour Gummies, FLINTSTONES™ Plus Immunity Support Gummies, FLINTSTONES™ Complete Plus Omega-3 DHA Gummies, FLINTSTONES™ Plus Bone Building Support Gummies, FLINTSTONES™ Complete Chewables with 600IU of Vitamin D, FLINTSTONES™ Plus Immunity Support Chewables, FLINTSTONES™ With Iron Chewables, FLINTSTONES™ Plus Bone Building Support Chewables and My First FLINTSTONES™ Chewables. For more information, visit www.FlintstonesVitamins.com
Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2011, the Group employed about 112,000 people and had sales of €36.5 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.7 billion, R&D expenses to €2.9 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 17.2 billion (2011), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec. 31, 2011) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at www.healthcare.bayer.com.
The Consumer Care division of Bayer HealthCare is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Bayer’s Consumer Care division is among the largest marketers of over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements in the world. Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Bayer® Aspirin, Aleve®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bactine®, RID®, Phillips’® Milk of Magnesia, Midol®, Alka-Seltzer®, One A Day® vitamins, and FLINTSTONES™ vitamins in the United States, and, globally, Aspirin®, Flanax®/Apronax®, Talcid®, Rennie®, Canesten®, Bepanthen®, Bepanthol®, Supradyn®, Redoxon®, Berocca®, Cal-D-Vita/Elevit® and Vital 50 Plus®.
About Vitamin Angels®
Vitamin Angels® is dedicated to reducing child mortality worldwide by advancing availability, access and use of essential micronutrients, especially vitamin A, among at-risk populations. In 2012, Vitamin Angels® will reach approximately 25,000,000 children in over 40 countries, including the US, with the vital nutrients they need as a foundation for good health. Vitamin Angels has received five consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit www.vitaminangels.org.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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