Goleta Magazine 2022-2023 - 12

NON-PROFIT
DIRECT RELIEF
Thomas Tighe, President & CEO in the warehouse.
Improving Lives Worldwide
Opposite, top left:
Distribution of boxes
filled with medical
aid. Top right: Direct
Relief warehouse
showcasing the
country flags served
globally. Bottom left:
In-person distribution
of aid. Bottom
right: Aerial view
of the Direct Relief
Headquarters.
THE SOUTH COAST-BASED
non-profit, Direct Relief, is widely
known for its humanitarian efforts
providing emergency medical assistance
and disaster relief throughout
the entire United States, as well as
90 other countries across the world.
The organization works directly with
communities to aid them in improving
community health,
informing
emergency response efforts, and
increasing the resiliency of at-risk
communities.
Direct Relief has been working to
assist and improve the lives of
individuals and communities
confronted by hardship and
disaster since its founding in
1948. Originally called the
William Zimdin Foundation,
after
its
founder, Direct
Relief began as a non-profit
with the goal of providing
postwar assistance to those struggling
to recover from the aftermath
of World War II. As Direct Relief's
capacity grew, so did its mission. In
1962 Direct Relief refined its work in
providing medical aid to high-need
communities worldwide, becoming
a licensed wholesale pharmacy and
developing strict internal protocols
for products, inventory control, and
the qualifications of trained health
professionals on the receiving end
of aid shipments. This led to a strong
collaborative relationship with U.S.
healthcare companies who continue
to support Direct Relief's efforts
with donations of medical resources.
Disaster relief and preparation are
also important parts of Direct Reliefs
work. The organization doesn't only
focus on how best to respond in the
wake of a disaster, but they also
work to develop and design specialized
products targeted at specific
community needs and disaster
responses. Direct Reliefs work in
disaster response includes, but is not
limited to, wildfires, earthquakes,
hurricanes, tornadoes, and health
crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Direct Relief not only tailors its work
to best fit the type of disaster, but
they also acknowledge that the
characteristics of each disaster, as
well as the community needs associated
with it, are specific to the local
area and circumstances.
Direct Relief realizes that health
equity goes beyond health care. The
organization works to help all communities
in need through partnerships
with local groups, recognizing
that race and ethnicity, housing situation,
employment status, and other
factors play a major role in individual's
health outcomes. Direct Relief's
For more information, visit directrelief.org
12 GOLETA MAGAZINE SBSCChamber.com
http://www.directrelief.org http://www.SBSCChamber.com
Goleta Magazine 2022-2023

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