Univera Associates' Donations Increase 30% Following Convention 2009

LACEY, Wash. (October 23, 2009) –  Univera Serve First™, a public charity dedicated to eradicating hunger among the most 'at risk' members of society in America and around the world, announced today that donations from Univera Associates have increased 30 percent since the company's annual convention this past June in Seattle, Washington, helping to fortify the charity's ongoing partnership with non-profit Vitamin Angels.

The funds will continue to provide nourishment to schoolchildren at Ruleville Elementary School in Ruleville, Mississippi, through a program Serve First initially started in 2007. 

"Univera Serve First was our charter partner for what has evolved into Vitamin Angels 'Thrive to Five' campaign, which focuses on reaching children under 5 years old and pregnant women in our own country and around the world," said Vitamin Angels Founder and President Howard Schiffer. "Serve First's commitment to help reach children in the Mississippi Delta has now grown into a campaign in over 50 major cities and 22 countries around the world."

This year, Univera Serve First is also working with Vitamin Angels’ “Operation 20/20” initiative, which is focused on providing eyesight-saving vitamin A to lactating women, infants, and children around the world. This program currently reaches about 10 million infants and children, and another 500,000 new mothers annually in 23 counties on three continents.

"The support of the Univera Associates [through Serve First] has assured that not only will these children not go blind, but we are actually increasing their survival rates by 23%!" said Schiffer.

Rich Razgaitis, Board Director for Univera Serve First, said, "We are so grateful to Univera's Associates who, through their generous contributions to Serve First, are helping to alleviate some of the suffering in America and around the world. We are confident that moving forward, we can continue to ensure that vital nourishment and nutrition are reaching those most in need."

About Serve First™:
Univera Serve First (www.servefirst.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing hunger among the most vulnerable in America, Canada and around the world. Its past efforts included providing nutritional support for schoolchildren in rural Mississippi and young refugees in northern Thailand. The effort is rooted in the humanitarian concerns of Univera founder Bill Lee in working to serve those who live on the margins – the underprivileged and often forgotten members of our communities.