By MICHAEL MOSS

Published: February 20, 2013

On the evening of April 8, 1999, a long line of Town Cars and taxis pulled up to the Minneapolis headquarters of Pillsbury and discharged 11 men who controlled America’s largest food companies. Nestlé was in attendance, as were Kraft and Nabisco, General Mills and Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Mars. Rivals any other day, the C.E.O.’s and company presidents had come together for a rare, private meeting. On the agenda was one item: the emerging obesity epidemic and how to deal with it. While the atmosphere was cordial, the men assembled were hardly friends. Their stature was defined by their skill in fighting one another for what they called “stomach share” — the amount of digestive space that any one company’s brand can grab from the competition.

James Behnke, a 55-year-old executive at Pillsbury, greeted the men as they arrived. He was anxious but also hopeful about the plan that he and a few other food-company executives had devised to engage the C.E.O.’s on America’s growing weight problem. “We were very concerned, and rightfully so, that obesity was becoming a major issue,” Behnke recalled. “People were starting to talk about sugar taxes, and there was a lot of pressure on food companies.” Getting the company chiefs in the same room to talk about anything, much less a sensitive issue like this, was a tricky business, so Behnke and his fellow organizers had scripted the meeting carefully, honing the message to its barest essentials. “C.E.O.’s in the food industry are typically not technical guys, and they’re uncomfortable going to meetings where technical people talk in technical terms about technical things,” Behnke said. “They don’t want to be embarrassed. They don’t want to make commitments. They want to maintain their aloofness and autonomy.”     .....read more

So Many Ways To Give

HFF provides over $1 million in funding and volunteer assistance each year to more than 80 organizations worldwide. These funds help feed more than 16,000 children in over 40 countries on a daily basis.

Cash Gifts

A gift by cash, check, or credit card is the most common and convenient way to give to HFF. Gifts may be made outright or pledged over a period of up to five years. Checks should be made payable to "Herbalife Family Foundation." If you prefer, you may charge your gift through most major credit cards.

If you wish to designate the use of your gift, you may do so at the time you make the gift by enclosing a brief note letting us know which area of support we should apply your gift.

With a minimum US $25 donation, you can also celebrate a special event by sending an inspiring Tribute Card to honor a friend or loved one.

Please make a gift now though HFF secured website. 

Royalty/Production Bonus (Herbalife Independent Distributors only)

As your Herbalife business grows you will begin to receive additional income. You can request a specific amount from these income streams to be donated to HFF monthly or for a one-time occasion. You can also donate uncashed bonus checks by signing the back and sending it to the HFF office.

Just download the following form if you would prefer to fax or mail your request to the HFF office.

Download the Automatic Deductions Form.

Stocks, Bonds, and Appreciated Asset Gifts

A gift of appreciated securities such as stocks, mutual funds and bonds can provide attractive benefits and are a great way to give.

An owner of closely held stock may give the stock to HFF and receive important financial benefits. Closely held corporations are corporations whose stock is owned by family members and/or by business associates. The stock is private in that it is not publicly traded and in most cases there are restrictions on the transfer of the stock to third parties.

Donors considering a gift of closely held stock must not enter into a prior written agreement with either the closely held corporation or a potential third-party purchaser. The transfer should be an arms-length, independent transaction. Donors who make gifts of appreciated assets should consult with their attorneys or tax advisors.

In an outright gift of closely held stock, the donor typically transfers stock to HFF. To determine value, the donor must have the stock appraised by an appraiser who is knowledgeable in establishing the value of closely held stock. HFF then redeems the stock to the corporation and receives a check for the redemption price. It is important that the appraised price reflect the redemption price. If the stock is sold within two years, HFF is required to notify the Internal Revenue Service.

The stock may also be transferred through a purchase of the stock by the closely held corporation's Employee Stock Ownership Plan. In this case, the stock is reacquired for redistribution by the corporation to its shareholders or to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Instead of redeeming the stock to the closely held corporation, HFF may transfer it to a third-party purchaser as long as there are no restrictions on the ability to transfer the stock.

A Gift of Real Estate

Over the years, most real estate has appreciated faster than the rate of inflation and, therefore, can offer great potential for a charitable gift. HFF will consider accepting a gift of a home, vacation property, condominium, apartment complex, undeveloped land, or other real estate in support of our goals. In order for HFF to accept such a gift, the property would have to undergo an appraisal at the donor’s expense to determine the donation value.

Tangible Personal Property

Gifts of assets such as cars, jewelry, and boats are also welcomed.

Life Insurance

There are several ways in which a donor may use life insurance to make a gift to HFF:

Make a Gift and Search the Web

Support HFF by using GoodSearch as your search engine. HFF receives a donation for each search you make. Click the button and learn more. Be sure to select Herbalife Family Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) ID: 840855 as your charity of choice!

With help from local staff and independent Distributor leadership, find a charity that is helping children and offers an opportunity for HFF involvement:

1. Funding for better nutrition
2. Volunteer assistance from independent Distributors and employees
3. Special projects
4. Casa Herbalife program branding

Gifts Through Your Estate Leave a Legacy

For many donors, making a gift through your estate is the most realistic way to provide a substantial contribution to HFF.

The most common ways to make a gift through your estate are:

• Specific Bequest - HFF receives a specific dollar amount, a specific piece of property or a stated percentage of the estate. This is one of the most popular forms of bequests.
• Residuary Bequest - HFF receives all or a stated percentage of an estate after distribution of specific bequests and payment of debts, taxes and expenses.
• Contingent Bequest - HFF receives part or all of the estate under certain specified circumstances.
• Trust Established Under a Will - A trust may be established that designates HFF as a partial or full beneficiary.

Charitable Trust

A Charitable Remainder Trust will pay you a lifetime income. If married, both spouses will be included as income beneficiaries. Highly appreciated stock, real estate and cash are all good assets to fund such a trust. Because the assets go to HFF at your death, you may want to consider an asset replacement option.

Gifts from Retirement Funds

Donors are invited to consider designating HFF as a partial or full beneficiary of their retirement plans.

Consult With a Tax Expert

US donors may be eligible for a tax deduction. Check with a tax professional to determine which of the following ways to give (e.g., Cash Gifts, Royalty/Production Bonuses, Stocks, Real Estate, Personal Property) may be tax deductible. Contact HFF if you have any questions or would like assistance in talking with your tax professional about your gift to HFF.

Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD

 It’s no secret that, as a nation, we’re getting fatter – recent statistics reveal that there are twice as many obese Americans today than there were just thirty years ago. And, along with extra pounds comes an increased risk for chronic diseases – like diabetes and high blood pressure – so the spiraling epidemic is bound to put further pressure on our health care system.

Obesity isn’t too picky when it comes to victims – regardless of age, gender or race, millions of people are affected. But a recently published report* from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicated that certain population groups are more affected than others.

Data gathered from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, known as NHANES, points to these disparities – obesity affects 45% of blacks and nearly 37% of Hispanics, compared with a lower prevalence rate of about 31% among whites. Not surprisingly, geographic differences were reported, too. Greater obesity rates were seen in the South and Midwest regions of the nation compared with the Northeast and the West.

The report cited three key factors that might account for the differences among populations - exercise habits, dietary patterns and attitudes regarding body weight. Compared to whites, for instance, blacks and Hispanics are less likely to take part in regular recreational activity – partly because those in minority and low-income communities may have fewer locations where they can safely engage in exercise.

It’s also been documented that in neighborhoods with large minority populations there are fewer chain supermarkets, produce stores or farmer’s markets and more fast-food restaurants – which means that fewer healthier choices are available. And, even when they are accessible, healthier foods are relatively more expensive than fat and sugar-laden fast foods.

Attitudes regarding body size also play a role in explaining differences in obesity rates - in many cultures, being overweight is not considered a negative trait. Black and Hispanic women, for example, report greater satisfaction with their body size than white women – which means they are less likely to try to lose weight. So, while white females may have more problems with poor body image and chronic dieting, minority women may be encouraging the acceptance of an unhealthy body weight and the health problems associated with it.

Finding effective strategies for combating this epidemic is critical. The CDC funds programs in 25 states to address obesity, particularly in minority populations. But the target behaviors in these programs – increased fruit and vegetable intake and more physical activity – are key strategies for everyone who struggles with excess weight.

Susan Bowerman is a consultant to Herbalife.

*Centers for Disease Control. Differences in Prevalence of Obesity Among Black, White, and Hispanic Adults --- United States, 2006—2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 17, 2009 / 58(27);740-744