Direct Relief
By: Abhishek Acharya & DJ Berchoff
Introduction
Direct Relief is a charity that focuses on helping people and areas that have been struck by natural disasters. The charity helps them by sending medical supplies and medical personnel. The charity first started off as a post-war relief charity, but now it has grown into helping with curing diseases, natural disaster relief, and post war efforts ("About - Direct Relief."). If a natural disaster strikes they will send supplies and workers to help support the community. The charity also is very good at accomplishing their goals because they have helped many people and have not failed to do so. For the future, Direct Relief is looking to be worldwide because right now it is only active in 70 countries. ("About - Direct Relief.")
Mission Statement
What is the issue/cause that your charity supports?
Direct Relief is a charity that helps countries or places that have been struck by disasters. A charity is “Propensity to share someone's property to alleviate their wants,” (Ethics 210). This quote shows what a charity is, and this is exactly what Direct Relief is. “Non-Governmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit, Direct Relief provides assistance to people and communities without regard to politics, religious beliefs, or ethnic identities,” ("About - Direct Relief."). They have helped many countries that have been struck with natural disasters by sending medical supplies that they need. Direct Relief helps people no matter what the situation is.
Direct Relief works to equip healthcare people who care for vulnerable people during or after an emergency with medical supplies, ("Emergency Preparedness and Response - Direct Relief.") They help people even though they could be in danger. According to EBSCO it states that during the 7.3 earthquake in Nepal last year, Direct Relief has spent $100 million in medical supplies and $50,000 in emergency response personnel. (PR Newswire) This shows that they really care on the welfare of others.
How did the organization begin and grow into what it is now?
The charity Direct Relief was founded by William Zimdin in 1948. In its being, it provided postwar relief to help people recover. ("History - Direct Relief") They have helped many people and it has grown a lot. In the text it states, “In 1962 Direct Relief became a licensed as a wholesale pharmacy.” ("History - Direct Relief") This shows that Direct Relief was starting to grow so they could help more people. If they did not become a wholesale pharmacy, they can not help people like they do today.
By the year 2000, Direct Relief has grown even more. They have donated more than $1.4 billion since the year 2000, (History - Direct Relief). This is very important because it means that through this money, they have saved many people’s lives. It is also now in more than 70 countries. ("About - Direct Relief"). This shows that they also grown more international and are helping even more people. What started out as a post war charity, has grown a lot over the years.What does your chosen charity do for the community?
Direct Relief focuses on helping out with emergencies in vulnerable areas. These emergencies are mostly natural disasters. Whenever there is a natural disaster, they send supplies to help people who have been injured. ("About - Direct Relief.") The charity has received a lot of money through donations, and they provide reports of what they use with the donations they get. They help people around the world, mainly in the southern area of the United States.
Direct Relief provides food, water, medical attention, and shelter to people who have been in emergency situations. (Burnham, 5) They accomplish these goals by using donation money. The charity has been very successful in receiving the donation money they need to have all of the emergency supplies to help people. Direct Relief helps people of all shapes and sizes when they are in need. ("About - Direct Relief.") That is what Direct Relief does for the community.How effective is your charity in accomplishing its goals?
Direct Relief has a main goal to improve the health of people affected by disasters. They have been very successful in accomplishing this goal over many years. They have 70 staff members. They also have the help of over 400 volunteers, and are governed by a board of directors. ("About - Direct Relief") They are also active in all 50 states and 70 countries. ("About - Direct Relief") Most importantly, they have assisted many people in need.
In the year 2015, Direct Relief scored as the ninth-largest charity in the United States, according to Forbes Magazine. (PR Newswire) They also had a score of 99% in terms of the charitable commitment. (PR Newswire) The charitable commitment is how much donation money goes towards the actual cause to natural disasters, disease relief, and post war efforts.
Call To Action
Work Cited
"About - Direct Relief." Direct Relief. Direct Relief, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Burnham, Gilbert, and Matt Ryan. Disaster Relief. Farmington Hills: Elizabeth Des Chenes, 2010. Print.
"Emergency Preparedness and Response - Direct Relief." Direct Relief. Direct Relief, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
"History - Direct Relief." Direct Relief. Direct Relief, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
PR Newswire. "Forbes Ranks Direct Relief Among Nation's Ten Top Charities." EBSCO. Points of View Research Center, 2015. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
PR Newswire. "Nepal Earthquake: Direct Relief Offers $100 Million in Medical Inventory, Commits Initial $50 Thousand Cash to Emergency Response." EBSCO. Points of View Research Center, 2015. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Roth, John K. Ethics. Revised Edition ed. Vol. 1. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2005. Print.
"Direct Relief: Humanitarian Medical Aid." Direct Relief. Direct Relief, 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.