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Michael Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Herbalife announced that he will embark on a tour of the United States beginning next week to promote the company and its health benefits as well as the opportunity that working for Herbalife can provide.

The tour will take Johnson all across the country, to seven cities in total. Johnson hopes the campaign will draw attention to the opportunity for supplemental and part time income especially during these hard economic times. The tour will also showcase and promote Herbalife products as well as make the public aware of the health and nutritional value of the Herbalife brand products.

At each stop Johnson will host seminars to discuss the company and the products. These seminars are free to the public.
Johnson, who has a great reputation as an extremely hands-on CEO, is excited about the tour and the chance he has to reach people all around the country. “With our nutrition products and income opportunity, people have an opportunity to come out of this recession in better-than-ever shape physically and financially,” Johnson said in a statement

The tour will visit the following cities:
Dallas, January 19
Phoenix, January 20
Los Angeles, January 21
Chicago, January 27
New York, January 28
Miami, January 29
Sacramento, January 30

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Herbalife has just finalized an agreement with the Mianyang Municipal Education Bureau to form a relief fund to help the children affected by the Sichuan Earthquake earlier in the year.

The earthquake killed and injured thousands of people. Many of those affected by the earthquake were children whose homes were badly damaged and destroyed.

The fund established by the partnership, called Warm Foundation will help meet the needs of children from over 300 families who are struggling with financial problems in Mianyang City due to the disaster. Each family will receive around 1000 yuan from the fund annually for the next couple years.

So far, the fund has given warm coats to children in the city as they prepare for the winter. “The fund is established on the donation of our more than 1000 employees in China, representing our good wishes and warm regards to the people affected by the devastating earthquake,” said a spokesperson of Herbalife South China division.

Herbalife China was established in 1998, with its executive offices located in Shanghai. The company grew quickly in the region and they hope to give back to the people of China by helping them rebuild. A company spokesperson spoke about the close relationship the company has with China and its desire to help the people, “We are glad to have the opportunity to help the local government’s aid the families and children affected by the earthquake and would like to see more people to join us in the efforts.”

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Michael O. Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Herbalife was honored last week by A Place Called Home. Johnson was one of several people honored by A Place Called Home, a non profit youth center, at its 15th annual “Gala for the Children.”

A Place Called Home was founded in 1993 by Debrah Constance, to provide at risk youth with a positive, safe environment where they can learn valuable life skills. The organization also provides a safe haven for youth to keep them free of the influences of drugs and gangs.

Johnson received the Debrah Constance Humanitarian Award, named after the organizations founder, for founding the Casa Herbalife Program to help children around th world receive proper nutrition. Johnson founded Casa Herbalife in 2005 and today there are 40 Casa Herbalife programs in location all over the world, with plans for 15 more to be up and running by the end of 2009. A place Called Home was the first Casa Herbalife partner charity.

The event was held at the Beverly Hilton, other honorees included Adam Fogelson, president of marketing and distribution of Universal Pictures and Sheila and John Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE. Hosting the event was American Idol judge Randy Jackson and the even also included a performance by Idol finalist Syesha Mercado.

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Chief Financial Officer Richard Goudis will present at the Morgan Stanley Thirteenth Annual Global Consumer & Retail Conference on Tuesday, November 18 at 3 p.m. ET. The event will be held at the New York Crowne Plaza Times Square.

Morgan Stanley has scheduled a live webcast of the presentation. The webcast can be accessed on the investor relations section of Herbalife’s Web site.

I expect this to be an interesting conference given the state of the economy and the significant decline in Herbalife’s stock (NYSE: HLF) this year - down more than 50%.

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