Herbalife Family Foundation Donates $25,000 to Establish Oklahoma’s First Casa Herbalife Program

The Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF), a 501 C(3), non-profit corporation dedicated to improving children's lives by helping organizations provide healthy nutrition to vulnerable children, today announced a $25,000 donation to The Center for Children and Families (CCFI), a non-profit organization committed to helping vulnerable children in Oklahoma. In 2013, the Herbalife Family Foundation provided approximately $360,000 in funding and assistance to its 13 Casa Herbalife programs across the United States, bringing nutrition to more than 3,100 children in the U.S.

The donation was announced today at a special event featuring Norman City Mayor Cindy Rosenthal; State Representative Bobby Cleveland, R-Cleveland County; Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland, R-Norman; children from Wilson Elementary School; executives from HFF and CCFI; and will support CCFI’s efforts to improve the lives of children in Cleveland County and surrounding communities. Specifically, the funds will go towards renovating and enhancing the kitchen and dining area that sits adjacent to the Youth and Family Center. Once completed, the kitchen will be used seven days per week and serve more than 1,800 children and parents each year. The gift will also allow CCFI to expand its existing partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

As part of the collaboration, the region’s vulnerable youth will have improved access to better nutrition and be placed on a path to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle.

“Spreading the word about the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle is crucial to the health and vitality of our community,” said Norman City Mayor Cindy Rosenthal. “We applaud and thank The Herbalife Family Foundation for investing in our community and selecting Norman as the site of its first Casa Herbalife Program in Oklahoma.”

“I commend and salute the efforts and investment The Herbalife Family Foundation is making in bringing the opportunity for good nutrition to the children of Oklahoma. It is critical our children are given access to healthy eating options for their long term health and that of our entire community,” said Rep. Jon Echols, R-Cleveland County. “We encourage more companies like Herbalife to join us in helping our children to live healthy, active lives.”

“Since 1969, we have partnered with schools, neighborhoods, donors, public agencies, and families to offer programs that help Oklahomans struggling with a range of life situations,” said Erin Barnhart, mission advancement director, CCFI. “Thanks to the Herbalife Family Foundation, we are confident that our efforts to give children of all walks of life better access to healthy nutrition will be bolstered through this donation.”

“A primary focus of the Casa Herbalife Program is to improve the nutrition and lives of vulnerable children everywhere,” said Ibi Fleming, HFF board member, senior vice president and managing director, Herbalife North America. “Our collaboration with CCFI is a natural fit for us as their mission is so closely aligned with ours. We are hopeful today’s donation will help children in Norman live more active, healthy lives.”

The Casa Herbalife Program was established in 2005, to help bring good nutrition to children living in orphanages, using after school centers, and other non-profit facilities around the world tasked with helping under-served young people. After the initial financial grants made by HFF, the organizations receive local financial and volunteer support from Independent Herbalife members as well as Herbalife employees.

To date, HFF supports over 100 Casa Herbalife programs globally and serves the daily nutritional needs of more than 120,000 children around the world through annual grants to NGOs and charities that cater to vulnerable children.

About Herbalife Family Foundation

Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) is a 501 C(3), non-profit corporation dedicated to improving children's lives by helping organizations provide healthy nutrition to vulnerable children. HFF supports more than 100 Casa Herbalife programs globally and serves the daily nutritional needs of 81,000 children around the world through annual grants to NGOs and charities that cater to vulnerable children. Additionally, HFF often supports relief efforts in response to natural disasters. For more information, visit www.herbalifefamilyfoundation.org.

About Center for Children and Families

At the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI), we offer strength-based programs and services to aide and educate families coping with abuse, neglect, divorce, separation, teenage pregnancy, a lack of quality out-of-school care, and/or other adverse experiences.

Since 1969, CCFI has partnered with schools, neighborhoods, donors, public agencies, and families to provide education, prevention, and treatment services for families because we believe that every boy and girl deserves to grow up safe, nurtured and loved.