Children’s Hunger Fund
Dr. Wentz has always felt passionate about helping others to lead healthier lives, but his main focus has been the plight of the orphaned and poverty-stricken children of the world. This is why Dr. Wentz has a long-established humanitarian relationship with the non-profit organization Children's Hunger Fund (CHF).
Dr. Wentz has traveled with CHF to impoverished and strife-ridden areas around the world. Witnessing first-hand the challenges faced by the children and families during these trips affected Dr. Wentz greatly and drove him to action through these experiences. Over the years he has helped fund many projects organized by CHF – sending food to refugee camps and assisting families rebuild their homes in northern Uganda, providing much needed medicine and food to orphans and impoverished children in countries such as the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Korea, Peru, and Zimbabwe, and even helping cover shortfalls for CHF when needed funds didn't materialize.
He continues to support CHF through projects such as the Wentz Medical Centers and Mercy Centers and is always seeking new ways to benefit the countless orphaned and impoverished children throughout the world.
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Dr. Myron Wentz Legacy Initiative
In August of 2020, Dr. Wentz established a Legacy Initiative with the Children’s Hunger Fund. The Legacy Initiative includes a gift of $50 million over a period of 9 years to support CHF’s 2030 Growth Initiative. The Legacy Gift will enable significant expansion of CHF’s programs currently serving orphans and impoverished children and their families in 25 countries.
Read the full announcement
Volunteer Center
Dr. Wentz donated $605,000 to Children’s Hunger Fund for the construction of a new volunteer center located at their global distribution center in California. Volunteers are able to assemble meal packs in a sanitary, humidity-controlled, and health department approved facility - for distribution through CHF’s Mercy Networks in 25 countries.
Cargo of Hope
Cargo of Hope was created in response to the expanded reach of CHF and its ability to serve the needs of vulnerable children in orphan homes and villages around the world. The initiative was largely funded through the generous contribution of Dr. Wentz in December 2013. The Cargo of Hope accomplished a great deal, including:
- Providing 11.7 million meals to vulnerable children around the world.
- Providing food packs to aid disaster victims in Japan.
- Sending emergency food shipments to Liberia and Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola crisis.
- Supporting new Mercy Networks with food shipments in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, the Philippines, and Thailand.
- Expanding feeding programs and providing additional food shipments to Haiti, Dominican Republic, North Korea, Ghana, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Jordan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Cambodia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
- Stocking more than 20,000 food packs distributed within the United States with higher protein and vitamin-fortified food items.
- Distributing a total of 60 truckloads of nutrient-rich food shipments and supplements, consisting of:
- 24 truckloads of assorted beans (cranberry, pinto, navy, white, seven bean mix).
- 23 truckloads of vitamin-fortified meal packets (soy/lentil/rice).
- 6 truckloads of oatmeal (180,000 pounds).
- 100,000 pounds of assorted protein bars and nutritional supplements.
- 120,000 pounds of bulk food items and protein drinks.
- 80,000 pounds of dried fruit.
The lives and health of children in orphanages and impoverished areas were significantly impacted with this initiative.
Learn about the Cargo of HopeThe Wentz Medical Centers
In conjunction with the Children’s Hunger Fund, the first Wentz Medical Center and Laboratory was established in Gaba, Uganda, in August 2005. This facility provides both comprehensive medical care for children—many of whom suffer from malaria and HIV/AIDS or have been orphaned by these diseases. Since its inception, the Wentz Medical Center has grown from serving 5–15 patients a day to 50–80, and from one clinic to three—with the addition of two rural satellite clinics. Learn more about the Wentz Medical Center in Uganda
In 2008, Dr. Wentz created a similar Wentz Medical Center in Cambodia. The primary function of this facility is to provide medical and dental care for more than 6,000 orphan children in their 106 orphan homes throughout the 24 provinces. Additionally, another 18,000 children and adults from local villages are served annually.
In honor of Dr. Wentz, a medical center, was established in Malawi in 2011 through the generous donations of many USANA Associates.
Dr. Wentz’s newest project in Nepal is being built in Kathmandu Valley in partnership with Himalayan Mission. When completed, the 4-story Medical Clinic and Mercy Center will provide a laboratory, pharmacy, exam rooms, medical imaging, orphan care, education center, kitchen, feeding center, and administrative offices.
Wentz Prenatal & Child Development Center
There is much child and maternal malnutrition in many parts of Rwanda, with over 50% of children chronically malnourished. Dr. Wentz gladly donated the funds needed to build The Wentz Prenatal and Child Development Center, located within the Dream Medical Center in Kigali, providing comprehensive pre-and post-natal care and education. The center was dedicated in May of 2018.
Watch the Wentz Prenatal and Child Development Center dedication video.Wentz Mercy Centers
Dr. Wentz has pledged an initial five million dollars to establish Mercy Centers throughout the Children’s Hunger Fund Mercy Network (in 25 countries). This initiative provides pastors with capital grants to build structures on their property to provide secure storage space for food packs, bulk food, nutritional and medical supplies; kitchen space to prepare daily hot meals; classroom space for orphan care programs; and to accommodate mobile medical brigades. These structures also function as community centers for the Mercy Network pastors to benefit more children and their families.
Centers in Romania, Albania, and the Dominican Republic have been completed and are already benefiting the children and families of their communities and centers in Nepal, Myanmar, Peru, and Haiti are currently in the production phase.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Children's Hunger Fund recognized Dr. Wentz with their first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for his philanthropic efforts. The award honors individuals who, through their efforts and generosity, empower the nonprofit organization to deliver hope to suffering children around the globe. This award was presented to Dr. Wentz during CHF's 25th Anniversary Banquet at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. More information.
Children’s Champion Award
In honor of Dr. Wentz' continued support for CHF, the organization presented him with the Children's Champion Award in March 2006. The Children's Champion award recognizes those who have used their positions of influence in government, business, and charity to provide for the welfare and needs of children.
