$90,000 donated by Nature's Sunshine Products

American Red Cross
For Immediate Release
October 11, 2005

865 N. Freedom Blvd.
Provo UT 84604
MountainValley.redcross.org

Contact: Garr Judd
Phone: (801) 373-8580
Cell: (801) 362-3272
garr@mtnvalleyredcross.org

$90,000 Donation

PROVO, Utah—In response to the destructive hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., a Provo-based nutritional supplement company, presented a check of $90,000 to the Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts.

Executive Director Garr Judd said this gift is the largest he has seen during his career at the Mountain Valley Chapter.

“It has been more than a month since Katrina first hit, and it just amazes me how deep the generosity in our community, nation and world goes,” he said. “This donation will be a driving force to aid those who suffer from the devastating hurricanes and will be helpful as we work through obvious financial and logistical challenges.”

The large donation to the hurricane relief effort came about due to the tremendous interest of Nature’s Sunshine’s distributors who were gathered in Salt Lake City for Nature’s Sunshine’s annual convention, which was held during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The distributors in attendance expressed a desire to help, not only as individuals but as a company as well.

“I was impressed that our Managers and employees wanted to help the victims of the recent hurricanes,” said Doug Faggioli, president and CEO of Nature’s Sunshine. “I appreciate the willingness of our Managers and employees to give so freely to such a worthy cause. We decided to match 100 percent of what they were able to donate.

Gene Hughes, one of the founders of Nature’s Sunshine, echoed Faggioli’s sentiments. “Our NSP Managers and employees have gone the extra mile to show our compassion to those in need,” he said. “Thanks to the American Red Cross for helping us help those in need.”

Since hurricane Katrina hit, the American Red Cross has provided more 3.2 million overnight stays in 1,088 shelters and evacuation centers across 25 states and the District of Columbia. It has provided almost 21 million hot meals to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide immediate emergency assistance, including food, shelter and mental health services, to the victims of all types of disasters. American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by the generous, voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.

Note to the Editors:
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.