VQ Cares: Expanding Access to Nutrition Through Industry Partnerships

In this episode of Supplement Source, host Jeff Ventura (Council for Responsible Nutrition) sits down with Gregory Drew, VP of Innovation at Vitaquest and a leader of the company’s VQ Cares initiative. Together, they explore how Vitaquest is tackling health equity by manufacturing and donating high-quality multivitamins through partnerships with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), as part of CRN's Access Initiative.Greg shares the program’s origin story, its ambitious first-year goal of donating over $500,000 worth of supplements, and how Vitaquest is inviting ingredient suppliers, service providers, and peers across the dietary supplement industry to join the effort. Listeners will come away inspired by how VQ Cares is not just a philanthropic project, but a scalable model for how industry collaboration can make a lasting impact on communities nationwide. About the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)  The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973 and based in Washington, D.C., is the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry. Bringing together manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and service providers, CRN unites its member companies around a shared commitment to science, transparency, and responsible business practices—advancing a strong, credible marketplace that supports consumer health and industry growth.In an increasingly complex regulatory and media environment, CRN serves as the industry’s front line—shaping science-based policy, defending market access, and countering misinformation. Through strategic advocacy, self-regulatory leadership, voluntary guidelines, and evidence-based communications, CRN ensures that responsible companies are recognized, protected, and positioned to innovate and compete. Learn more at crnusa.org and follow @CRN_Supplements on X and LinkedIn.