Direct Relief International furnished a record $190 million (wholesale value) worth of medical material aid in their Fiscal Year 2006 and is in excellent
fiscal shape, according to the organization's annual report released this week, and is now California's largest private non-academic charity.The $190 million represents a 59 percent increase
in aid compared to FY 2005, and a 235 percent increase from five years ago. This increase meant Direct Relief had the resources to help 338 partner organizations around the world to provide 23.9
million courses of treatment.Direct Relief furnished this support with the same efficiency that has led both Forbes and Consumers Digest to name it one of the United States'
most efficient charities, using less than one percent of all public support for administrative costs and expenses. "The year stretched our organization to respond to both the chronic
health emergencies around the world and those caused by natural disasters. In the midst of these events, Direct Relief was fortunate to be able to expand significantly our assistance to help more
people than at any time before in our 58-year history," said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO.The annual report, available at www.directrelief.org, details the organizations
finances for the period from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 and describes the work being done with Direct Relief-supplied aid in the ongoing program areas of primary health care, maternal and child
health, and HIV/AIDS. Anecdotes and pictures throughout the report bring to life the success stories of Direct Relief partners from urban Los Angeles to rural Uganda in providing necessary care.The report also contains special sections on emergency disaster aid provided for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Pakistan/Kashmir earthquake, and the Asian tsunami, with breakdowns of the material
aid and cash grants distributed.Geographically, African partners received the plurality of Direct Relief's aid with $33.3 million. Domestic partners were next with $32.3 million, that number
heavily buoyed by Direct Relief's support efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Partners in Mexico and Central America, along with the Caribbean, also received more than $30 million in
specifically-requested aid to their respective regions.Donor generosity in FY 2006 allowed for the significant expansion of financial assistance to strengthen local health efforts in areas
affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and the earthquake in Pakistan. Using funds designated by donors for those specific tragedies, Direct Relief was able to disburse
$10.2 million in cash grants to rebuild health facilities, initiate mobile medical services, and kick-start health services at the local level in several dozen communities.Direct Relief is
committed to transparency in its operations, and, along with the annual report which has been published yearly since 2000, also holds an annual shareholders meeting in Santa Barbara.About
Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara, CA-based non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically
needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers throughout the world. Direct Relief distributed over $200 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants
to more than 300 healthcare facilities and organizations in 56 countries serving 23.9 million people. Forbes recognized Direct Relief for the fourth consecutive year as one of only eight non-profit
organizations in the United States that is 100 percent efficient in fundraising.
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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
