As Executive Director V Rita Crosby and Corporate Director Mary Martha McCune sat in the plane waiting to depart from the breathtaking landscapes in the city of Quito, Ecuador, they couldn’t help but think back on the orphans who, in just three short days, had managed to steal a place in their hearts and forever change their outlook on life.

It all started when CEO Frank L. VanderSloot announced at Convention 2009 that he wanted to send some Marketing Executives to Ecuador to visit the Melaleuca-sponsored orphanage, Santa Lucía Children’s Home, to meet the children in person and see for themselves how much the Melaleuca Foundation is helping the orphans. Rita, without thinking, threw her hand up and blurted out, “Pick me!” She had done this solely as a reflex and had no idea Frank could hear her. But he did. He looked directly at her and said, “Okay, Rita. You’ll be one of them.” Needless to say, she was thrilled.

“I had two aunts who ran an orphanage and the orphans would often spend their summers at my parents’ farm,” says Rita. “It was an endearing part of my life and I feel so much tenderness and love for orphanages.” Rita and Mary Martha traveled to Ecuador last March and spent the first day visiting three different orphanages. The tour guide wanted to show them the difference between the Melaleuca-sponsored orphanage and the others.

The other orphanages were clean and organized, but lacked the joyful atmosphere that Santa Lucía Children’s Home offered. The children at the other orphanages were not outgoing and hardly smiled at Rita and Mary Martha. But when Rita and Mary Martha arrived at Santa Lucía Children’s Home, the children were all lined up with huge smiles on their faces, awaiting the opportunity to welcome their guests with big hugs. Through this experience, Rita and Mary Martha discovered just how important the Melaleuca Foundation is. They saw an enormous difference between the orphanages and the importance of the family structure at Santa Lucía Children’s Home.

“One thing that really stood out for me was the joy the children displayed,” says Rita. “They are very happy and had huge bright smiles all the time. And the nuns who run the orphanage were so devoted to the children. They were very hands-on and loving. They’d carry the children and laugh and tease them. There is a reason why Melaleuca chose this orphanage.”

Before the Melaleuca Foundation gained sole sponsorship, CEO Frank L. Vander- Sloot and his wife, Belinda, started sponsoring the orphanage in 2004 after one of their children volunteered at the orphanages for a few months. Frank and Belinda flew to Ecuador to pick up their child and fell in love with the orphans.

“What impressed us about the Santa Lucía Children’s Home was the family setting the children are put in,” Belinda told listeners at Convention 2010. “We love sponsoring the orphanage through the Melaleuca Foundation and would love to be able to support two or three more orphanages with the same setup.”

The orphanage divides the 40 children into four households. Each “family” lives in an apartment with a “housemother” who takes care of the children. Through this organization, the children learn self worth and a sense of belonging in which they call each other brothers and sisters. As Rita and Mary Martha walked through the orphanage, the children would often come out of their apartment door and exclaim, “Come to our family!” or “When are you coming to our family?”

Rita and Mary Martha brought some children’s books and toys for the children to play with. Rita loved reading the books with the children, expressing, “There’s nothing better than cuddling up with a child and sharing a book with them.” Mary Martha loved watching the children play with balloons for the first time.

“They were fascinated with balloons,” she says. “They have nothing, and are so happy and appreciative of it. And when they have balloons, they are really happy—they were a hoot! The children really need a monthly supply of balloons.”

It was an eye-opening experience for Rita and Mary Martha to hear about the hardships the orphans have experienced throughout their short lives.

“Most of the children at the orphanage are taken from abusive homes, found alone in the streets or dropped off at the orphanage because their parents couldn’t afford to keep them,” says Mary Martha.

The Melaleuca Foundation is the sole sponsor of the Santa Lucía Children’s Home and donations are made by Melaleuca Marketing Executives to pay for everything the children need—including food, clothing, medical care, facility maintenance and more. “I was honored to represent Melaleuca,” says Rita. “The Melaleuca Foundation is changing the direction of many children’s lives in a very positive way.”

Rita and Mary Martha left Ecuador, and the children they’d grown to love, after a few short days with them. But, though the trip was short-lived, the memory and impact of the trip will remain forever in their hearts.

“It was totally mind-boggling,” says Mary Martha. “I had an inkling of what to expect but I just didn’t know it would affect me the way it did. For at least two months after the trip, I could think of nothing else—the kids, their situation. Words cannot describe how eye-opening it was.”

When Rita and Mary Martha returned from Ecuador, they started a fundraiser to raise money for computers at the orphanage. The fundraiser has been very successful and the children should receive these computers within the next two months.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCoZl3rYlNs

For more than 10 years, Melaleuca’s line of exceptional skin care and cosmetics products has gone by the name Nicole Miller. During that time, the formulas, packaging design, catalogs, and other components of the brand have been developed and owned by Melaleuca. Nicole Miller’s contribution was limited to her name and logo. but now the time has come to build behind a new name with the same formulas, science, and packaging. A name that will become a billion-dollar brand owned exclusively by Melaleuca. that name is Sei Bella.

You will see Nicole Miller phased out and Sei Bella phased in. Initially, only the name will change. The formulas, packaging, and pricing will remain the same. the future, however, will bring more innovative changes and all-new products.

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Partial Video Transcript/Summary: Melaleuca Nicole Miller is now Sei Bella. Women of true beauty are found everywhere. True beauty is defined less by where you live and more by how you live. It is timeless. Far older than our generation. True beauty is found in nature, and is naturally found in you. It is as much about who you are on the inside as what you look like on the outside. Today is the day for you to celebrate your true beauty. To discover naturally effective proven skin care and cosmetics that create your look: classic, compelling, unashamedly unique, today the Sun rises on Melaleuca Sei Bella: a full line of skin care and cosmetics crafted for you: the woman who understands true beauty.

Today is your day. Make it as beautiful as it can be! Sei Bella -- You are beautiful.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=38SxUjTylWA

This is a huge accomplishment for Melaleuca and for Frank. This company’s track record of success over the past 25 years is a reflection of his leadership, his vision and his passion for enhancing lives. It demonstrates the company’s stability and it bolsters our confidence in Melaleuca’s future.
Rafael & Monica Rojas
Melaleuca Corporate Directors V

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T hrough the ages and across the globe, the finest botanicals on the planet have always been available for those seeking health, restoration, and beauty. From African wild lands to tropical rain forests, Melaleuca has traveled the globe to discover the most powerful, the most treasured of all skin-nourishing botanicals, combining them in a superior medley that will bring the secrets of the ancients to you.

From the African Savannas…

Across the wooded savannas of western Africa, the wild karité tree dots the land. Since Cleopatra’s dynasty the secrets of this tree have been known and embraced. Even when other plants wither and waste in the African sun, the karité tree blossoms and grows. The most prized gift from what the natives call “The Tree of Life” is a rich, smooth emollient known as shea butter. This exotic butter deeply and softens skin, while its natural protective properties hinder the signs of aging—plus it smells amazing. It is one of the most revered and valued natural butters.

…Across the Tropics of India…

Cultivated for more than 6,000 years, towering mango trees brought sustainable life to the ancient Indians and Hindus. Although known for their tangy tropical fruit, mango trees offer more than a juicy treat—they offer the secret of youthful-looking skin. A highly prized butter is extracted from the mango seed that naturally moisturizes skin while its nurturing properties help restore elasticity and rejuvenate skin. This hard, white butter is filled with antioxidants to protect against environmental damage and keep skin looking youthful and radiant.

…To the Jungles of South America…

Hidden in the fertile basins of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers grows the cacao tree. The tree’s beans were so precious that ancient Aztecs and Mayans cultivated the tree in Mesoamerica and used the beans as currency. The ancients developed a complex process that allowed them to use different extracts from the beans. They discovered that using the extracted cocoa butter on skin had an amazing effect. While chocolate is loved for its creamy smoothness, it also possesses beneficial flavonoids and antioxidants—nurturing ingredients shared by cocoa butter. This rich emollient soothes dry, chapped skin and promotes skin elasticity while creating a protective barrier against the environment to keep skin soft.

…We Bring You ButterSilk^™

Although each of these exotic butters has similar properties, each also offers different and valuable benefits to those who use them. We have carefully blended these prized butters into an indulgent cocktail for your skin, an exclusive combination known as ButterSilk. Shea, mango, and cocoa butters work synergistically to moisturize and restore dehydrated skin, to protect it against sun and wind, and to help reverse the hands of time.

TO FIND THE SECRETS OF THESE BEAUTY BUTTERS, you don’t have to brave the rains of South America or weather the winds of Africa. Simply reach for Body Satin^™.  While ButterSilk^™ nurtures and moisturizes, other natural botanicals do their part to pamper and protect skin:

Blue Lotus Flower	Blue Lotus Flower: A natural bioflavonoid revered by the ancient Egyptians for its skin-firming effect.
Pentavitin®	Pentavitin®: Derived from wheat, this natural moisturizer and skin defender often called the “moisture-magnet” helps skin stay hydrated.
White Tea	White Tea: A revitalizing botanical that combines with vitamins C and E to protect skin against environmental damage.
Antioxidant Agents	Antioxidant Agents: Vitamins C and E protect skin against environmental damage.

With unique and effective combinations of nature’s best botanicals, you’ll love the benefits of the prized ingredients found in Body Satin that naturally cleanse, moisturize, and nurture skin.

Melaleuca Body Satin

The simple allure of velvet skin. A soft touch that lingers. A radiant complexion that lights up a room. Body Satin unlocks the secrets of ButterSilk, granting you the secrets of the ancients. Discover how simple beauty can be.

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“When I get done with a workout, I need something with electrolytes.  Sustain Sport really helps me fill that void.” -- Nick Symmonds

Nick Symmonds won another nail-biter at this year’s U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championship. After leading the pack through the last 200 meters, Nick broke away with about 100 meters to go. But nipping at his heels was his long-time rival Khadevis Robinson.

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“I saw the orange [of Khadevis’ jersey]; I wasn’t sure who it was,” Nick says. “I didn’t want to mess around too much, so I just gave it everything I had for about 50 meters.”

By the time they reached the finish tape, Nick’s final surge was just enough to pull ahead of Khadevis for the win.

“Nick ran an amazing race,” Khadevis said. “He’s stronger than I anticipated. I really thought I could outkick him.”

While he was thrilled to take the win and earn the right to represent the United States at the World Championship, Nick received one reward from the race organizers that he won’t be taking home: Gatorade®.

“I really like Sustain® Sport,” Nick says, “that and the Access™ Bar. Those Melaleuca products in particular have made a big difference.”

While Nick’s race lasted a mere two minutes, Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan circled the track for more than a half-hour in the women’s 10,000-meter event. By the halfway mark, the front three girls, Shalane, Amy Begley and Katie McGregor had left the rest of the field behind. But after 25 minutes, it was down to Shalane and Amy.

“I just left it to a kick, and that gives you a 50-50 chance of winning,” Shalane said. “Amy and I decided that we were going to make a good solid race out of it.”

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“I felt really strong,” Shalane says. “I’ve been doing a lot of distance work. I’m looking forward to sharpening up [for the World Championship] in the next month or so. Maintaining my muscle mass will be essential through this phase, so I use Proflex™ before and after my workouts.”

Sheena Tosta is back at the track and already chasing the best times in the world. After leading the Olympic women’s 400-meter hurdle race in Beijing and finishing with a silver medal, Sheena proved once again that she has world-beating speed at this year’s U.S. Track and Field Championship.

“I’ve been struggling with the wind all week, [but] today I got my stride together,” Sheena says. “The goal was to finish top three and earn a spot on the U.S. World Championship Team. I accomplished that and ran a good time considering it was very windy.”

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“The biggest thing for me and my training has been recovering from workouts,” Sheena says. “At the World Championships, I will have multiple days of competition in a row, so I am training hard for multiple days in a row, which breaks down my muscles. So I have to build them up quickly to be ready for the next day. I’ve been eating Proflex™ Bars and taking Phytomega® to help reduce inflammation.”

Sheena followed up her second place at the National Championship with a second place at the Golden Gala international race in Rome, Italy, in July.

Note: There are more  videos of Melaleuca’s Athletes at the Melaleuca YouTube Channel)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=05PvQcWgQAM

“Well before Melaleuca, it’s an interesting story -- we spent a number of years in corporate America. And my husband and I promised each other that only five years of working in corporate America. Because we saw how we were raised -- middle class -- we had a good life but there was a lot of stretching in terms of finances. So we wanted to be entrepreneurs and really figure out how to get ourselves out of the rat race. And you gotta be care what you ask for; because right at the five year mark I was downsized. And so I had the grandiose idea of opening up an upscale ice cream and coffee cafe -- called Dreams of Cream. And ironically that dream was a nightmare! Oh my goodness, we spent over $50,000 just opening up the shop. We had eight employees so we had a lot of overhead, a lot of inventory.

So we were really looking for something, so initially when I first heard about Melaleuca I wasn’t interested. I thought “Oh no, home based business, why would I do that? You know I have an MBA in Marketing” or “I’m too smart for that.” But our first year we made over $140,000. Our second year, we made over $477,000. This is our sixth year and now we’ve made over $1.4 million dollars with Melaleuca.

We would have never been able to make that in corporate America. And definitely would have been able to make that with our little ice cream and coffee cafe! So six years ago when we started our Melaleuca business, we had friends in corporate America and home based businesses say “Really?” and we said “Absolutely!” And now we get phone calls from those folks and we’re seeing people growing in our organization coming from the traditional business experiences, from corporate America; coming from sales backgrounds where they can really leverage a company like Melaleuca to be able to change their lives. So we encourage them -- now is the time to make a difference in your life!”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=64ljRadb52E

Introducing Alloy for Men. Alloy is the fusion of many things. Natural ingredients and nutrients are carefully blended to create leading edge products that help you look and feel your best. Alloy Shave gel quickly foams into a rich lather. Natural oils lift the beard while three natural lubricants protect skin to deliver the most comfortable shave possible. Daily shaving can strip the skin of natural moisture. Alloy After Shave’s trio of skin conditioners, healing ingredients, and supplement strength nutrients restore and revitalize the skin.

Wake up to the fresh clean scent of alloy when you shower. Alloy Body Wash produces a generous lather making it suitable for cleaning from head to toe.

Keep that shower fresh feeling all day with Alloy anti-persperant and deodorant. This advanced formula provides 24 hour wetness and odor protection to keep you cool and confident day or night. Alloy for Men, the fusion of strength and style.  by Melaleuca

Melaleuca Expanding – Frank VanderSloot CEO

As Melaleuca continues to expand across the globe, its manufacturing facilities are also expanding to meet the demand. Just shortly after opening its state-of-the-art, 153,000 square-foot distribution center in Idaho Falls, Melaleuca announced a similar, 222,000 square-foot facility in Knoxville, Tenn., in the fall of 2008. Melaleuca also operates a manufacturing facility in FengPu, FengXian, Shanghai, China and distribution facilities in eight other locations around the world, including China, England, Taiwan, Japan, Austrailia, Korea and Singapore.  Last month, Melaleuca announced yet another groundbreaking of a $6 million, 38,000 square-foot “powder plant” that will be responsible for manufacturing all of Melaleuca’s increasingly popular instant powder drinks.

As Melaleuca’s line of instant drinks—including Sustain Sport, Attain, Access, and Proflex—have become increasingly popular, Melaleuca CEO Frank L. VanderSloot announced it was time to expand the company’s facilities to meet the increased demand.

The new building, which will be located next to the new Distribution Center in Idaho Falls, will take about 12 months to complete. Over the past four years, Melaleuca has spent over 122 million in expanding its manufacturing, distribution, and corporate facilities. The demand for Melaleuca’s wellness products has continued to increase as Melaleuca has refused to participate in the “recession.”

From KPVI NBC News: “At a time when many companies are slowing down, one internationally known business is moving forward in a big way. Melaleuca announced today that it’s breaking ground on a new manufacturing building.”

“When this plant is finished, all of Melaleuca’s instant powder drinks will be made here and shipped around the world.”

More at:  Melaleuca Expanding

Frank VanderSloot

From the April 2009 LIA

Thanks to compassionate caregivers at the Santa Lucia Children’s Home, miracles happen every day with the orphaned and abused children there. Under the watchful eyes of working angels, these children in Quito, Ecuador, have been given a second chance at leading rewarding lives alongside people who love them.

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Lucia Jumbo has dedicated more than two decades of her life in service as a caregiver and a House Mother.

For that reason, the Melaleuca Foundation pays tribute to the caregivers and honors their accomplishments in enhancing the lives of these special children. One shining example of devotion comes from a woman named Lucia Jumbo, a central figure at the orphanage because she’s dedicated more than two decades of her life in service as a caregiver and a House Mother. Although she’s specifically responsible for the eight children who live in House #4, the orphanage’s volunteers say she has unofficially become a mother to all. She possesses a gift that allows children to sense her genuine empathy and understanding for them.

“What I love most about the children at Santa Lucia is their affection and overwhelming tenderness for each other,” Lucia said. “I learn so much from them. They not only teach me, but they teach one another. They truly are a joy to be with, and I adore caring for them.”

Lucia lives in House #4 with the children – Andrés, Fernando, Gabriela, Gustavo, Irene, Isabel, Jefferson and Yoselyn. She’s a believer in teaching them the necessary life skills to prepare them for the future. And like many mothers across the world, she prepares breakfast for her kids every morning, helps the older ones get ready for school and cares for the little ones during the day. How exhausting!

When asked about her favorite memory at Santa Lucia, she described the arrival of an 18-month-old toddler named Fernando nine years ago.

“When Fernando came to the home, I knew this little boy was special. But I was terrified to see that he was nothing more than skin and bones. He was completely malnourished. “It didn’t help that he was frightened by most people, especially strangers. He would act like a cat—biting them and clawing with his nails. For some reason, though, he never did that with me.

“Immediately after his arrival, I took Fernando to the doctor. The doctor looked him over and told me his health was so poor he had only a week to live. I wanted to do something, so I continued to ask him questions. As a last resort, the doctor reluctantly gave me feeding instructions to help Fernando get the nutrition he obviously needed.

“I followed the doctor’s instructions faithfully and had faith in God to help this little boy. After weeks of treatment, he miraculously started getting chubbier! Today, Fernando is a healthy little boy who is thriving in the fourth grade! We’ve been together ever since. Fernando is truly a miracle.”

Lucia could share dozens of stories about other miracles that have occurred at Santa Lucia. She says it’s truly a safe haven for children and a place of physical and emotion healing.

How wonderful it is to know that your support is helping Santa Lucia’s extraordinary caregivers give some of the most underprivileged children on Earth a second life. With this in mind, the Melaleuca Foundation invites you to make a small monthly donation. It doesn’t require a huge sacrifice—just a few dollars—every little bit helps. Please join us in supporting these children by visiting www.melaleuca.org or by calling 1-800-282-3000.