Direct Relief

Direct Relief
Founded Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
August 23, 1948 (1948-08-23)[1]
Founder William D. Zimdin, Dezso Karczag [2]
Type Charitable Organization[1]
95-1831116
Legal status 501(c)(3) organization[1]
Focus Disaster Preparedness and Relief Services[3]
Location
Coordinates 34°26′14″N 119°50′36″W / 34.43734°N 119.8432121°W / 34.43734; -119.8432121Coordinates: 34°26′14″N 119°50′36″W / 34.43734°N 119.8432121°W / 34.43734; -119.8432121
Area served
International[3]
Key people
 Thomas Tighe, President and CEO[1]
John Romo, Chairman of the Board of Directors[1]
Revenue
$898 million [5]
Employees
59 full-time[6]
Website https://www.directrelief.org
Formerly called
 Direct Relief International

Direct Relief (formerly known as Direct Relief International) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a stated mission to “improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care."[1]

The organization is headed by an independent Board of Directors and President and CEO Thomas Tighe.[6]

History

In 1945, William Zimdin, an Estonian immigrant to the United States and businessman, began sending thousands of relief parcels to relatives, friends, and former employees in Europe the aftermath of World War II.[2] In 1948, Zimdin formalized his efforts with the establishment of the William Zimdin Foundation.[7] Dezso Karczag, a Hungarian immigrant assumed management of the foundation following Zimdin's death in 1951. Karczag changed the organization's name to 'Direct Relief Foundation' in 1957.[7] The organization assumed the name "Direct Relief International" in 1982, and "Direct Relief" in 2013.[8]

Operations

Between 2000 - 2014, the organization's operating budget averaged roughly $11 million.[9] Over the same period, it reported delivering more than $1.6 billion in medical resources and supplies in the U.S. and the world.[10] Medical supplies come largely through in-kind donations by hundreds of pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The organization manages logistics and distribution through enterprise systems that include SAP, Esri, and in-kind transportation support from FedEx.[3][9][11]

Emergency preparedness and response

Relief Efforts

April 2015 Nepal earthquake: In response to the Nepal earthquake, delivered via FedEx charter 118,000 pounds of medical aid, which included 6.2 million defined daily doses of medications.[12]

Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa: As of February 2015, delivered 40 shipments of medical aid worth $25 million to roughly 1,000 hospitals and clinics in Liberia and Sierra Leone.[13] On September 20, 2014, the organization chartered a 747 carrying 100 tons of supplies for Ebola-hit regions .[14]

Hurricane Sandy: Provided medical supplies to community clinics, non-profit health centers, and other groups in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, and mapped pharmacies, gas stations, and other facilities that remained in the New York City area despite power outages.[15]

2010 Haiti earthquake: In the six months following the Haiti earthquake, provided more than 400 tons of emergency medical assistance worth more than $57 million. [16]

Use of Technology

  • Using Esri technology, launched a Global Aid Map in 2011 to visualize channels of aid and medical material distributed during emergencies in real time.[17]
  • Working with Palantir Technologies, used communications data integration systems to coordinate and enhance emergency response during critical moments following a disaster.[18] The organization has also used civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to respond to disaster.[19]
  • Working with technology companies Palantir and Esri, pre-positioned medical supply modules with safety-net health facilities in socially vulnerable areas, flood zones and hurricane paths.[20]
  • Provides Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers in the U.S. with emergency medical packs designed in collaboration with the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (Cal EMSA).[21]

Disease prevention and intervention

  • In 2013, launched a program in partnership with Basic Health International to screen and treat women in Haiti for cervical cancer.[22]

Maternal and child health

  • Provided midwife kits to hospitals and midwifery schools in Sierra Leone, Somaliland, and Nepal.[23]
  • Increased support to Edna Adan University Hospital for treatment and care for women with obstetric fistula. This included the construction and equipping of an operating theater and the development of a training curriculum for midwives and nurses.[24]
  • In July 2011, developed the Global Fistula Map (in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and The Fistula Foundation,) developed.[25][26]
  • In 2012, teamed up with Last Mile Health to launch a Childhood Pneumonia Program in Liberia.[27]

Charity reviews and awards

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Charity Navigator - Direct Relief". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  2. 1 2 Graffy, Neal (January 1, 2010). Historic Santa Barbara: An Illustrated History (1 ed.). San Antonio, Texas: Historical Publishing Network. p. 177. ISBN 9781935377146. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Guide Star - Direct Relief Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved 11/7/2014
  4. ↑ "GuideStar Exchange Reports for Direct Relief". Archived from the original on 2014-12-28. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Audited Financial Report FY 2015" (PDF). directrelief.org. Direct Relief. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Charity Review, Direct Relief". www.give.org. Better Business Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 MARTELLE, SCOTT (19 May 2002). "A Medical Supplier Without Borders". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2014-12-20. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Meagher, Chris (21 June 2013). "Direct Relief Drops 'International' from Name". The Santa Barbara Independent. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  9. 1 2 Brumback, Elijah (November 7, 2014). "The Business of Aid: Direct Relief Adopts a Corporate Strategy". Pacific Coast Business times. Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Wood, Max. "28 Worthy Charities and Causes". www.askmen.com. AskMen. Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  11. ↑ Carr, David (3 July 2014). "Hurricane Arthur Vs. Data Visualization: Supplies Riddle". InformationWeek. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Michelle Corbet (May 11, 2015). "FedEx delivers nonprofit relief supplies to Nepal". Nepal Earthquake Response. FedEx. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Joe DeCapua (February 10, 2015). "Shifting Focus in Ebola Countries". News / Africa. Washington, D.C. Voice of America. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  14. ↑ CGI Members, Direct Relief Ship Medical Supplies to Fight Ebola Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved 10/3/2014
  15. ↑ Gina Potthoff (October 13, 2013). "Mapping Technology Helps Direct Relief Pinpoint Its Assistance One Disaster at a Time". Noozhawk. Malamute Ventures LLC. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  16. ↑ Esri Staff (2014). "Interactive Map Helps Speed Aid to Haiti" (PDF). Case Study. Esri. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Direct Relief Scales GIS to Serve Those in Need Around the World". Directions Magazine. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Hurricane Sandy Disaster Response". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  19. ↑ Nosta, John. "Move Over Amazon, Direct Relief Is Already Making Life-Saving Deliveries". www.forbes.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Calm before the Storms: Direct Relief Employs Data Analytics and Visualization Technologies to Expand Global Hurricane Preparedness". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  21. ↑ "State Partnership- California Direct Relief USA" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  22. ↑ "Basic Health". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  23. ↑ "Direct Relief Maternal & Child Health" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  24. ↑ "Partnering to Improve Maternal Health and Access to Obstetric Fistula Treatment". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  25. ↑ "Global Fistula Map". Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Direct Relief Women Celebrate Mother's Day with Benefit in Support of Maternal, Child Health Care". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Last Mile Health Partners". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "10 of the Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of". www.charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  29. ↑ Fast Company Staff (February 10, 2015). "The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies Of 2015 In Not-For-Profit". Fast Company Magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  30. ↑ "The 50 Largest U.S. Charities, Direct Relief". www.forbes.com. Forbes. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  31. ↑ "CECP Excellence Award Winners". CECP.co. Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Flash Poll: In States Expanding Medicaid, Community Health Centers Report More Patients, Fewer Uninsured". PR Newswire. PR Newswire. Sep 4, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  33. ↑ "Direct Relief Receives President's Award for Outstanding Use of GIS". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  34. ↑ Cervenka, Rachael (June 3, 2013). "Oklahoma tornadoes: California-based nonprofit donates medical supplies". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  35. ↑ "DRUCKER NONPROFIT AWARD WINNERS CHOSEN". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.

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