XANGO Goodness is working harder than ever right now, thanks to the dedication and generosity of Distributors like you. We’re proud to share some of what we’ve been able to achieve through our ongoing partnership with Operation Smile.

Our most recent OpSmile mission to Mae Sot, Thailand, brought in medical volunteers from six countries for a week of treatments that created new smiles for 130 children and adults. This mission was extra special because Mae Sot is right near Thailand’s border with Myanmar (formerly Burma). Though Thailand offers good healthcare, Myanmar lacks the medical infrastructure to address all of its citizens’ needs. Many of the week’s patients were the ethnic minority Burmese who traveled across the border for help they could never get in their own country. Some families walked for days to reach the site.

A few individual stories:

• One patient arrived at the medical mission who had been born without a nose. After being cleared for surgery, he soon found out that he would be in the hospital for a week or more. With tears in his eyes, he told the staff how he must rush home for the harvest, which represents a year’s pay for him. Local board members were touched and quickly hired someone to harvest the fields for him so he could receive the care he had needed for so long.
• When serious flooding threatened the viability of the mission, in-country volunteers were so committed that they literally packed up their houses and families and brought them to the site so the work could go on.
• As one young boy was being wheeled out of the recovery room after surgery, he asked the nurse to stop. He then slowly raised his hands and put his palms together in a “wai,” the highest gesture of gratitude in Thai culture. The medical volunteers said that this one gesture gave them the motivation to go on a hundred more missions.

Please remember that every day you work to grow your XANGO business and every dollar you donate to the XANGO Goodness Foundation changes a life. Thank you, XANGO Nation.

All the coverage of the famine in the Horn of Africa has led many to wonder what they can possibly do in the face of such heartbreaking disaster. A hundred and fifty thousand people in and around Mogadishu, Somalia alone are seeking refuge. The news—especially the bad news—has the tendency to overwhelm us. But the XANGO Meal Pack program is offering a simple, actionable plan.

We recently sent our first shipment in a series that will deliver more than a quarter of a million meals to Mogadishu, feeding 8,568 people for a month. Meal Pack porridge contains calories and essential vitamins for those suffering from malnutrition, hunger and illness, allowing their bodies can begin to recover or in some cases even prepare to digest more complex foods.

Many wonder what becomes of their Meal Pack after they donate it. Is it dropped out of an airplane? Is it shipped to a warehouse? Do people who need it know how to use it?

XANGO’s partner, AmeriCares, and associated nonprofit relief organizations send representatives with the Meal Pack shipments to take care of all the details. This is happening in Mogadishu. While they meet Meal Pack recipients one-on-one, health educators—

• show them how to mix up the porridge with boiled, potable water.
• train mothers on principles of nutrition and childhood development.
• hand out ration cards to keep track of the distribution of meals.
• record each child’s weight and mid-upper arm measurements to track healthy growth.

And the kids get to sit down to porridge while mom receives training and her allotment of Meal Pack.

It’s because of tens of thousands of donating Distributors that XANGO can offer this most basic form of service to children and families in need. Our most heartfelt thanks for reaching outside yourselves and making the world a happier, healthier place.

A group of motorcycle riders met as the sun rose in Mexico City to participate in a Distributor-sponsored Wheels for Meals ride. The event was organized to help promote the purchase of XANGO Meal Packs for children in most need.

20K Erick Castrejon got the 60 riders together the night before at a local BMW motorcycle dealership and handed out Meal Pack order forms. Some of the riders were XANGO Distributors, some were XANGO Customers, and all of them were amazingly generous—the ride led to 300 Meal Pack orders!

They rode six hours on a beautiful, blue-sky day from the heart of Mexico City to the surrounding mountains. A fresh outdoor lunch replenished the riders in the middle of their scenic trek

During the ride, the team came upon a car that had smashed into a center barrier ahead of the riders. Established XANGO motorcyclist and 500K Dwayne Dyer’s favorite moment from the trip was watching the riders immediately stop to help the car’s four women passengers. “The Wheels for Meals crew made sure they were okay, lifted the vehicle off the road and waited with the women until help arrived, about an hour later.” The spirit of XANGO Goodness ran deep with this group.

That generosity is the heart and spirit of the Mexican people and XANGO is proud to number these big-hearted folks among our ranks!

Founder Kent Wood has hosted some important people in his office at XANGO Headquarters—government heads from countries around the world, professional athletes, entertainers and other celebrities, million-dollar earners—but none of them were more impressive than a first- and a third-grader that visited this afternoon.

Rebekah (8) and Sapphira Smith (6), sisters from Centerville, Utah, dropped by with their parents, XANGO Distributors Melissa & Jacob, and their two little brothers, Zachariah (4) and Lazarus (2), so that Kent could talk to them about a remarkable thing they did this Thanksgiving. He wanted to hear firsthand the story of their baking and selling pies to raise money for XANGO’s Meal Pack program.

“We made pecan, apple, raspberry, banana crème, chocolate crème, coconut and pumpkin pies,” Rebekah said. Why did they do it? “We just felt like it,” Sapphira said, confounding the naïve question. “So poor kids can eat,” Rebekah added.

“I made sure they washed their hands and kept their hair pulled back,” Melissa said, “but they thought it up and bought their own ingredients. This was their idea.”

Even little Zachariah got into the spirit of things, handing out fliers to more than 200 homes. “He was the marketing arm,” Kent surmised.

With Mom’s help, Rebekah and Sapphira made 27 pies in a single day to raise enough money to buy three Meal Packs. Kent, the numbers man, informed them that was enough to feed 50 kids in need. Sapphira even got to try Meal Pack once when she was sick. “It was great! It tasted like milk, but sweeter.”

Most impressive of all, Melissa and Jacob didn’t sound surprised as they helped their kids tell their story. Proud, sure, but not surprised. The girls already have a thriving cookie business, you see, that helped them pay for a trip to Disneyland last year. They’re already planning next Thanksgiving’s pie sale, too, because they want to help one child smile for the first time through the Operation Smile program.

Here’s a huge thanks from XANGO to the Smith Family. Melissa and Jacob, congrats on doing whatever you did to raise such amazing kids. Sapphira, Zachariah and Lazarus (who we’re pretty sure will be running the numbers next year), thanks for inspiring us to do a little more this holiday season. We’ll try to live up to your example.

You already know how much we love Best Buddies. We’re honored that the feeling is mutual.

Best Buddies presented XANGO (via Dave Webb) with the distinction “Corporate Partner of the Year” during a fundraising dinner last night at This is the Place Heritage Park. This phenomenal program creates one-to-one friendships for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and XANGO has been proud to support them for seven years.

“XANGO has been a key partner for Best Buddies and the many young adults and families it serves,” said Best Buddies State Director Kristine Pepin. “Without this company’s generous volunteers and financial contributions over several years, more than 850 Utah-area high school and college-aged youths would not have received the peer mentoring and friendship that has helped them to lead more fulfilling and productive lives.”

XANGO employees and Founders have at least as much fun as our Best Buddies at the yearly fundraising 5k runs, and we love putting on other events with them at our Headquarters in Lehi.

“Our friends at Best Buddies make a lasting impact on all of us at XANGO and teach us the value of sharing our talents and resources to help lift others,” said Founder, Chairman & CEO Aaron Garrity in a message of thanks. “We are better People because of our association with Best Buddies, and we’re humbled and honored to receive this award.”

Nine years ago today, XANGO sold its first case of XANGO® Juice. That sale marked the beginning of XANGO’s historic rise within the direct sales industry and gave birth to the company’s charitable commitment. That tradition continued today, appropriately, with our Best Buddies here to celebrate with us. Despite the cool weather the festivities were hot – hundreds gathered for a 5K run/1K walk, a magic show by Bobo the Clown and a carnival staffed by employee volunteers.

XANGO racers came out in force, joining XANGO Founder Joe Morton to run and mingle with the Best Buddies. For some, this was their very first time running a 5K!

For the 7th consecutive year, XANGO employees took the opportunity to show their support for Best Buddies. Many individuals and teams raised hundreds of dollars each to keep this valuable program up and running and offering so much to the people it serves.

There was a fantastic spirit in the air. Every one was laughing through chattering teeth and felt a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie that only comes from doing good by our fellow human beings. (Oh, and bagels and hot chocolate. Camaraderie comes from those things too.)

Thanks again to all those who participated in the run, the fundraising, the planning and the execution, and to the Distributors who have built a company that can serve programs like these!

“When Beverly exited the stage, she left a new kindness, softness and gentleness in the air. And into that still, calming atmosphere, Aaron Garrity performed, to Distributors’ delight, Linda Perry’s classic ‘You’re Beautiful’ (made famous by Christina Aguilera). The song just could’ve used another verse—anything to extend the moment.”

{from the recap of GO! 2011 General Session 3}

Beverly Hollister delivers facts, figures, stories and visuals about the good XANGO is able to do through the Meal Pack program. A branch of XANGO Goodness, Meal Pack brings sustenance to those on the brink of starvation in areas affected by natural disaster, poverty or famine.

The XANGO Goodness Foundation seeks out the underprivileged of the world, particularly children in need, and works to lighten their burden. Many thanks to our Distributors who donate so generously.

If you’re defined by the company you keep, this company’s keeping just fine.

Founders Joe Morton, Bryan Davis and Kent Wood attended the 5^th annual Breakfast for Smiles this morning, representing XANGO as one of the primary sponsors of the Utah chapter of Operation Smile. The event featured key members of the media and many local dignitaries.

Operation Smile co-founder and executive chairman Dr. Bill Magee shared a few experiences from his years of selfless service. “All people are really asking for is dignity,” he said. “Your support of Operation Smile gives children the chance to live with dignity.” He asked Joe, Bryan and Kent to stand and thanked them for XANGO’s ongoing sponsorship. He lauded our Miles for Smiles 5k during Convention and thanked 100K Select Justin Brice and 1K Lloyd Loberger for their individual fundraising efforts.

We’re proud of our association with an organization like Operation Smile, thrilled to have the chance to join them in doing pure good. We’re grateful for the dignity they lend, not only to those who receive their life-changing surgeries, but to each of us who supports the cause as well. Here’s to many more years of spreading wellness together.

Sr. VP of Business Development Beverly Hollister gives a “State of XANGO Goodness” address, with touching stories of lives changed through your charitable efforts. Among many other things, XANGO provides large-scale disaster relief in places like Thailand, New Orleans and Japan; we donate to and assist Operation Smile as they brighten the lives of children all across the globe; and we deliver life-giving Mealpack to those suffering from starvation—all thanks to our Distributors. Finding ways to help the less fortunate is written into XANGO’s DNA, and we’ll keep giving as long as there’s a need.

Bright Dark and early, the runners, the supporters, the givers, and the leaders of XANGO Nation arose and stepped out on an empty street corner in Salt Lake City for another round of fundraising and merrymaking at the GO! 2011 Miles for Smiles charity race and service event.

Nearly 300 runners lined up for the fun run in downtown Salt Lake City at 6 a.m. local time, including Founders Joe Morton and Kent Wood, who reserved the their spots alongside Lloyd Loberger, recipient of last night’s inaugural XANGO Goodness Foundation Humanitarian Award, presented during General Session 2.

And as they started off on their 3-mile Goodness mission, 100 other volunteers started their work of assembling more than 3,000 smile kits to support the patients of Operation Smile as they prepare to take on a frightening surgery. Surgery done in love is still surgery, and our Distributors can smile knowing that their kits will help these little patients through.

Within 20 minutes, runners were crossing the finish line to rejoin the happy crowd. They were also beginning to see the first signs of daylight. Nourishment was provided, so as the gathered givers stood to applaud the top finishers, they held bananas, muffins and Gatorade in their hands. Below are the top finishers:

MEN
Diego Casteñada (Mexico)—19’30″
Brandon Kendrick (USA)—20’24″
Premier Select Marco Olvera (Mexico)—20’55″

WOMEN
Stacy Lothe (USA)—21’03″
500K Select Patricia DeGuzman (USA)—22’15″

Team Dynamix won the fundraising competition, collecting over $1,100 as a team. Another $800 were gathered in on-site donations just this morning. The generous offerings of XANGO Nation are really starting to add up at GO! 2011 from in-store donations, Black & White Gala auctions and Miles for Smiles registrations. Thanks to your contributions and the work of Operation Smile, the world will see many new smiles in the coming year! Thank you.

The GO! 2011 Black & White Gala served first as a wonderful welcoming out party for the top Distributors of XANGO Nation, second as a refined evening of socializing among friends spread out across the world, and third as a charitable function to raise funds for the XANGO Goodness Foundation and Operation Smile.

A huge part of the successful fundraising was made possible by local Utah artists who each hand-painted a bottle of XANGO® Juice for the charity auction. We would like to recognize the artists for their artistic work and humanitarian contributions:
__________________________________________

Kristine Stones Keele

Kristine Stones Keele graduated from Brigham Young University in art. Kristine’s watercolor studies, featuring Utah’s petroglyphs, have been showcased in several regional Native American art shows, as well as in the Springville Art Museum. For over a decade, Kristine conducted classes where she guided numerous art history tours, community groups, as well as petroglyph researchers into remote locations in Utah’s deserts. Once on site, Kristine explained the art language system behind the ancient rock writings and pictographs of Utah’s Fremont Indians and other ancient inhabitants.

Kristine’s hand-painted bottle features an actual pictograph found in Nine Mile Canyon of the Utah Fremont Indians.

Kristine’s bottle went to 100K Selects Gordon, Sr. & Gabriella Morton
__________________________________________

Wendy Jacobs

Wendy Jacobs graduated with a BA from BYU. She serves on the Lehi City Art Committee and is a member of the Utah Valley Artists Guild. Wendy likes to be involved in local art shows and festivals, where she has won many awards for her oil paintings. While she has added sculpting to her list of artworks, her favorite medium continues to be oil.

She loves Utah and all it has to offer, including snow skiing, camping and inland surfing. Together, with her husband, they raise their six children to also love and appreciate this great state. Their oldest child just left for college at SUU and their youngest just began Kindergarten.

Wendy’s bottle went to 200K Select Marco Galbiati
__________________________________________

Roldan Din

Roldan Din’s work focuses on change. He tries to capture transitions unconsciously by creating tangible pieces over periods of time. His works are impulses of the moments he is in. Roldan feels that collectively they are layers of time passing and of movements from one state to another. He is not interested in positioning an idea or image because he believes in the more meaningful dialogue between a piece of work and its viewer. So, in that sense, his works are always abstract.

Even the identifiable imageries in his paintings and photos are not fully calculated nor staged. The real people, places and things in his work exist within the context of time, places, cultures, relationships, intentions, hopes and dreams, and are, therefore, only representations of something bigger and more complex. He does not offer enlightenment but only a view of his own personal journey.

Roldan’s bottle went to 100K Select Raúl Villegas Villa
__________________________________________

Scot P. Olson

Scot Olson is a fine artist, sculptor, and designer with years of experience in the fine art and design fields. With a studio in Syracuse, Utah, he has been involved with cutting-edge color technology his whole career.

Scot believes abstract art contains mystery and loves when one person views his art and envisions one thing while someone else will view the same artwork and envision something entirely different. Scot believes an abstract art piece will encompass bold elements of design. He truly feels that abstract art is the best style of art to help people personally connect to an artwork.


Scot’s bottle went to 500K Selects Ed & Sandi Cohen
__________________________________________

Brent Godfrey

Brent Godfrey uses the painting process to translate objects, figures and landscapes into physical metaphor. Combining varying degrees of abstraction and representation, he explores identity and memory, interpersonal relationships, societal structures and global connections.

Raised in the United States (Utah), Godfrey graduated, cum laude, before completing a master’s degree and expanding his painting studies in Italy. He has participated in international museum and gallery exhibitions and mounted significant solo shows. His paintings have garnered awards and been published broadly.

Brent’s bottle went to 200K Select Marco Galbiati

In recent weeks the United Nations has declared the famine in the Horn of Africa to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. After ongoing civil war and two years without rain, the continued violence and failure of crops and livestock has forced tens of thousands of Somalis to flee their homeland for refugee camps in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. On a journey that can take weeks, families are walking as far as 50 miles through desolate and harsh terrain to reach help.

The U.N. Children’s Fund estimates that more than two million children in the Horn of Africa—50% of those arriving in the refugee camps—are malnourished and in need of life-saving action.

Many of you have inquired as to what XANGO is doing to help in this situation. Thanks to your generous donations, and to our partnership with AmeriCares, we are able to send supplies that will help relieve some of the suffering in this part of the world. We are grateful to say that the first of three shipments of XANGO Meal Pack will leave XANGO’s Utah warehouse this week en route to centers aiding refugees in Somalia and Kenya.

Our hearts go out to the millions of people in the Horn of Africa in need and we pledge our help in this time of great suffering. We also thank you, our Distributors and partners, for your heart-felt concern and for taking action in the true spirit of Goodness.

Click here to read more.

The Utah Council for Crime Prevention (UCCP) held its 13th annual McGruff Summer Classic golf tournament to raise funds for drug and crime prevention programs in Utah this past Monday.

It was XANGO’s 9th year as a tournament sponsor (fitting for a company that’s been around 9 years), and XANGO Founders Aaron Garrity and Kent Wood came out, joined by 200K Lance Schiffman and Brian Santiago to golf among the 80 teams who signed up for a competitive round at the Alpine Country Club. They placed 3rd in their group.

Silent auctions and online auctions ran alongside the event, giving bidders the opportunity to purchase vacations, tickets to sporting events, and even a special place at the Late Show with David Letterman—all in support of one of XANGO’s favorite causes.

It was a beautiful day for everyone involved, including the XANGO volunteers on-site. Plenty of money was raised from all sides, and McGruff himself was there to proclaim it a success!

Start Convention off right by joining us in our “Operation Smile” efforts to improve the lives of children worldwide. This year we will be hosting a “Miles for Smiles” 5K run on Saturday, September 17th, where all proceeds from the run will go to the “Operation Smile” organization.

Each attendee at Convention can take part in event by either signing up to run the course itself for $35 per runner, by sponsoring other runners, by making a donation, or even by helping put together kits for the Operation Smile kid during the race itself.

Any of these gestures would be sure to be appreciated by those whose lives will be forever changed by much needed surgeries. We appreciate each persons contribution and participation. For more information on the “Miles for Smiles” Convention 5K, including donation and participation details, follow the link below:

XANGO Miles for Smiles