Live on air, an eclectic group of content creators will play through their favorite video game series at breakneck speeds while encouraging audience participation and engagement. Players will compete blindfolded, wearing oven mitts on their hands, and sharing a single game controller – incentives that will challenge them to show off their gaming knowledge while bringing lots of laughs to the broadcast audience.

The event will feature popular game series including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Elden Ring, Pokémon, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Additionally, viewers can expect exciting outdoor sports segments and music performances.

Founded in 2017, the Colosseum event series is an e-gaming initiative by Direct Relief aiming to unite communities for good. Each Colosseum event brings together some of the most entertaining online creators to produce a show for their combined audiences while encouraging viewers to learn more about Direct Relief’s humanitarian efforts.

Over the past six years, Colosseum communities have donated more than $2.3 million to help improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

Visit the site for more information and to tune into the event.

The post Direct Relief’s Colosseum Races into a Weekend of Gaming for Good appeared first on Direct Relief.

Buoyed by an Avengers-like coming together of 20 popular streamers, The Runaway Guys (TRG) event is known for its fun, unpredictable, and authentic atmosphere as well as the genuine friendships that exist among its on-screen participants.

As in years past, viewers can expect video game streams – Among Us, Mario Party Superstars, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Banjo-Kazooie are all on the agenda – live music, skits, and interactive opportunities. It will be streamed live starting Saturday, February 26 at 10 a.m. Pacific time and running for 12 hours each day through Feb. 28 at Twitch.tv/protonjon.

Last year’s event raised over $400,000, which was the sixth-highest amount raised in 2021 for an event broadcast on the Tiltify streaming platform. This year’s event will almost certainly push the total amount raised by TRG for Direct Relief to over $1 million since 2018.

“I’ve always really liked the fact that the gaming community is always so eager to help people out,” said Emile “chuggaaconroy” Rosales, a founder of the TRG. Rosales has 1.26 million subscribers on YouTube and his videos have been viewed 1.2 billion times on that platform alone.

“Our community donates to this cause, and we do too… I think it’s awesome, I’m always so impressed with it,” Rosales said.

Fellow TRG streamer Tom “Tom Fawkes” O’Grady said “it feels unbelievable” to have been part of TRG’s charitable efforts. “The meat of it is that we just wanted to help raise money. We never thought it would get this far.”

Asked how he and his friends have managed to build such a dedicated community, Rosales said it is because viewers can see that the on-screen performers are actually having fun.

“We are all friends in real life. It’s not just us doing a job together. Everyone here is passionate about this. No one just walks off after it’s done,” he said.

O’Grady said that what he was most looking forward to over this weekend was the “comradery” after two years of having to stream at home due to the pandemic. This year’s event will see talent gather in three locations.

“We are what appears on the label. We’re just a group of friends playing video games. We like interacting with each other and having a grand time,” said O’Grady.

In addition to Rosales and O’Grady, Jonathan “Proton Jon” Wheeler, Timothy Lloyd “NintendocapriSun” Bishop NintendoCapriSun, who founded TRG with Rosales are expected to participate in the stream, as are notable streamers JoshJepson, MasaeAnela, FamilyJules, and others.

Video game-based charity streams have become a substantial source of philanthropic giving over the past few years, with the advent of platforms like Twitch, where streamers can broadcast themselves playing video games or chatting, and Tilify, which provides a platform to help streamers accept donations.

In 2020, Twitch streamers and viewers donated over $83 million to charities, following $145 million in donations from 2011 to 2019, according to the Amazon-owned company. Direct Relief has received over $15.5 million since 2016 from tens of thousands of donors from the video game community.

Rosales said that he encourages viewers to give whatever amount they feel comfortable with. To this end, there is a segment called “$3 Train” where viewers who donate at least $3 have their name read out during the stream. The streamers also create other ways to make viewers part of the event.

“Our whole thing is that we have donation incentives for weird and wacky things you can make us do. I always say that the difference between being an entertainer or not is that the entertainer will eat the bug for charity,” he said.

Regarding the cause, Rosales said he and his friends chose Direct Relief due to the transparency of the organization as well as the ability to understand what donations would be used for.

“I’ve always liked what a tangible charity Direct Relief is. We can say. ‘Here are hard numbers for what was done in response to flooding or a hurricane, here are the hard numbers for what was given,” Rosales said.

Even as TRG gets bigger each year, Rosales and O’Grady said that viewers can expect the same kind of show that they have come to expect since it began.

“We have a good thing going and we don’t try to bite off more than we can chew. We know what we can be and try to do that really well,” said Rosales.

“It’s going to be 12 hours per day with pure music and gaming pandemonium,” added O’Grady, who said that the event will maintain its interactive nature, with audience members given the ability to change what happens in-game on and on stream.

“You can make a jump (we do) in a video game infinitely harder or infinitely more hilarious,” he said.

The post Top Charity Gaming Stream On For This Weekend appeared first on Direct Relief.

Video games, specifically video game live streams, have become a significant source of fundraising for nonprofits. In 2020, Twitch streamers donated over $83 million to charities, following $145 million in donations from 2011 to 2019, according to the Amazon-owned company. Direct Relief has received over $15.5 million since 2016 from tens of thousands of donors from the video game community.

This came as a surprise to documentary director Jeremy Lethco, 35, when his friend and producing partner, Andrew Stewart, told him and Director of Photography Austin Grebenc about it.

“We had to do a double-take. We told him to say it again,” Lethco said, referring to Stewart’s report that big money was being raised for charity on video game livestreams. Despite having grown up playing video games, Lethco said he had not stayed up to date on the industry and how popular watching other people play video games had become.

The three South Carolinians decided to jump into the world of video game charity events to try and figure out how they could tell a story about that world concisely – a challenge due to the mass of streamers and viewers now participating. One motivating factor, according to Lethco, was a desire to use their talents similar to the gamers they were now following.

“Are we using the thing we love to do the most good we can, like these guys and girls are?” Lethco recalls asking himself.

After hours of watching various genres, they settled on the Kaizo community, and specifically David ‘GrandPOOBear’ Hunt. Kaizo, as is defined in the opening frame of their eponymous short documentary, is a Japanese word defined as “revise, modify, re-arrange” and refers to a “genre of difficult, fan-made video games.”

Difficult, here, is a bit of understatement: think Super Mario Bros. levels with ball-of-fire lines extending across the whole screen, hidden blocks across chasms, and seemingly infinite enemies. Hunt is one of the best players in the world, not at just surviving such levels, but doing them quickly, in a type of gameplay called speedrunning.

Hunt fundraises for Direct Relief as well as other nonprofits. After reviewing the disaster relief work Direct Relief is involved with, Lethco reached out to see about including footage showing how the funds were being used.

Then-VP of Emergency Response and International Programs Andrew MacCalla offered to take them on a tour of Direct Relief’s work in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.

Lethco said the documentary intentionally starts as two seemingly disconnected stories – video game streams and humanitarian aid – and then brings them together throughout the 19-minute show.

In the Bahamas, other contrasts emerged for the production team as well.

He said his reaction to the devastation after Dorian was, “just shock… it was entire parts of these towns that hardly resembled civilization, they looked more like landfills, with the rubble, trucks, bulldozers and cars, boats,” and that it was “like whiplash” to go every day from the impacted parts of the island to where they were staying, which was mostly spared.

Lethco said he was inspired by the people working every day to repair the damage and that he and his team were “blown away with the transparency and openness we got from them [Direct Relief].”

Confronting assumptions in gaming and beyond

Making the documentary forced Lethco to confront views ingrained in him from childhood.

“I just think there was something stigmatized about playing video games… they were always a distraction or waste of time, procrastinating tool—something you did as opposed to a more ‘noble’ pursuit, like learning to play the piano or reading a book. For adults, it’s seen as shirking responsibility or escaping their reality.”

“If we don’t confront the opinions we have as children, we carry them to adulthood,” he said. “I had compartmentalized them as a waste of time, and here they are used it to do an incredible amount of philanthropic good.”

The story also reframed his perception of who gives to charity. He said that the typical profile is someone older, more affluent, and either giving from the bottom of their heart or for tax purposes.

Lethco said the relatability and accessibility of video game streams could explain their appeal to younger donors. Viewers feel connected to the streamer since they can interact via chat. The donation amounts are often relatively small—$5, $10, or $20—and are affordable to more people. And donations come with the opportunity for recognition by the streamer in front of their audience and community.

“If my friend starts a project, I want to be supportive of my friends, and in streamer communities, they feel like friends. If Leonardo DiCaprio is saying call in and give, I don’t know that guy, that’s just some celebrity they hired, but if it’s my favorite streamer, I feel like I know him, and I’ll support him because I want to belong and conform my behavior to the in-group,” said Lethco, who said he was also caught up in this community aspect and felt like Hunt was already his friend when they first met.

Lethco hopes his documentary sparks a conversation among people who are not as familiar with video game charity streams. He also reflected on the project’s impact on him, more broadly.

“I thought I understood video games, and then you learn that there are entire massive aspects to this that you were completely unaware of, and I would venture that’s true in other areas as well.”

“There are probably incredible things going on that we don’t know about. It’s helped me keep my mind and eyes open a little more,” Lethco said.

Kaizo has premiered at Santa Barbara Film Festival, Bend Film Festival, Manchester Film Festival, and Docs Without Borders Film Festival. It is available to view at: https://www.kaizofilm.com.

For more information on Direct Relief’s response to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, visit https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-dorian/

The post Beyond Galas: Documentary Sheds Light on Video Game Charity Events appeared first on Direct Relief.

The post Connect Podcast – Episode 4: Pokéthon Gives Back by Catching Them All appeared first on Direct Relief.

TabetaiCooking’s Twitch channel: https://twitch.tv/tabetaicooking
Direct Relief Cooking Sessions, August 2-7: https://www.directrelief.org/sessions

The post Connect Podcast – Episode 2: “Cooking Easy Things The Hard Way” For Good appeared first on Direct Relief.

For the first episode, Jitsu, a gaming content creator who focuses on Monster Hunter and horror games, and Annie Vu, Direct Relief’s Manager of Program Operations speak with Amarica Rafanelli about live streaming antics, digital fundraising, unusual donation incentives (such as getting a tattoo for charity), and Annie’s donation-funded work, which includes responding to emergencies and managing requests for medical aid.

The post Connect Podcast – Episode 1: How Far Will Gamers Go to Support Charity? Jitsu May Have Found the Limit appeared first on Direct Relief.

“With this donation to Direct Relief, we hope to not only highlight the inequities that exist in healthcare in South Florida’s minority communities, but to begin to close the gap,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations.

The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has again highlighted the severe inequities that exist in the United States among persons of different races, as persons of color have experienced disproportionately higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death from the virus. The most recent CDC surveillance data reports that Black or African American persons COVID-19 infection rates are 2.6x higher, hospitalizations are 4.7x higher, and deaths are 2.1x higher compared to White, Non-Hispanic persons.

To launch the partnership and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, HEAT legend Glen Rice, TV Host and Courtside Reporter Jason Jackson, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kionne McGhee joined the Miami HEAT Dancers, Burnie the mascot and HEAT staffers on Friday at Community Health of South Florida, Inc.’s Doris Ison Health Center to serve meals to its 400 frontline healthcare workers and 150 patients. The meals were prepared by World Central Kitchen.

“CHI Is honored to receive donations, lunch and this festive visit from Direct Relief and the Miami HEAT,” said Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. CHI CEO. “I know our staff will be delighted with the gifts and recognition. They have selflessly devoted themselves to patient care throughout this pandemic.”

Continue reading at NBA.com.

The post Miami Heat Donates $1M, Partners With Direct Relief to Address Healthcare Gap Among South Florida’s Minority Communities appeared first on Direct Relief.

Here are some of the stories you might have missed about these heroes around the world, plus a few extra stories about gamers, climbers, and world-class athletes who contributed as well.

Remembering Maria, Puerto Ricans Jump into Bahamas Response

Hurricane Dorian was one of the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricanes ever recorded, with maximum sustained winds over 185 miles per hour. It took over 70 lives and did catastrophic damage to Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. Puerto Ricans could relate — they went through their own disaster with Hurricane Maria in 2017. Led by a pediatric oncologist, a group went, street by street, through the island’s villages, treating people too unwell or immobile to travel to one of the clinics.

Read more.

In the Heart of Appalachia, One Group Works Overtime to Reduce Overdoses

The opioid crisis in the United States continues to take tens of thousands of lives per year. In Virginia, a small band of locals have taken the initiative to help reverse overdoses and prevent deaths.

Read more.

On the Frontlines of Samoa’s Measles Epidemic

Measles, once thought to be well under control, has reemerged as a public heath threat around the world, due in part to lower vaccination rates. One pediatrician traveled from Hawaii to help health officials vaccinate against the disease.

Read more.

Cyclone Idai Destroyed Their Hospital. These Two Doctors Never Stopped Treating Patients.

Cyclone Idai was a historic tropical cyclone that took more than 1,300 lives in southeast Africa. These two 27-year-old doctors went back to work the day after it hit their hometown of Beira, Mozambique, and never stopped serving their community.

Read more.

Fistula is Devastating. This Doctor Is Working to End It.

Obstetric fistula is a particularly awful birth complication that often results in the death of the baby and lingering, alienating health issues for the mother. Bangladesh is trying to prevent all cases by 2030, and this doctor is doing all he can to help the cause.

Read more.

His Patients Fled Violent Conflict to Uganda. He Followed Them.

The global refugee crisis continued during 2019. In South Sudan, one doctor followed his patients after they fled to Uganda.

Read more.

After the Camp Fire, Paradise Residents Got Sicker. So Local Nurses Founded a Clinic.

Last year’s Camp Fire in Paradise, California, was the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history, killing 85 people and doing more than $16 billion in damage to property. Since that time, a family of nurses came together to start a nonprofit so they could better help those left behind by recovery efforts.

Read more.

A Year of Disasters Brings Another Year of Response

If you’ve ever wondered what’s it’s like to be humanitarian worker in a disaster zone, you can hear about it firsthand in this podcast segment.

Listen here.

And some stories you might have missed about climbers, gamers, and big time athletes who are all doing good in their own ways:

One of them was even willing to climb the highest peak (literally) to support Direct Relief’s mission of delivering essential medical aid to vulnerable people around the world.

Read more.

From Tornadoes to Hurricanes, Gamers Rush to the Rescue

Esports and video games make up the fastest-growing entertainment sector in the U.S. Gamers are also rising as a philanthropic community. This year alone, over 6,000 of them donated to Direct Relief for a total, as of December 19, of $1 million.

Read more.

Carlos Delgado, Major League Legend, Steps Up to Bat for Puerto Rico’s Kids

And finally, some community service insights from former MLB star Carlos Delgado, who was working to ensure pediatric patients have access to health care.

Read more.

The post ICYMI: Good Things Happened in 2019 appeared first on Direct Relief.

It might also be the future of philanthropy. To wit: Direct Relief has received over $9 million from the gaming community since 2016, via 53,382 donors as well as other corporate sources.

As reported by Direct Relief earlier this year, on Twitch, the largest website for video game streaming, gamers have donated $145 million to charity since 2011, including $42 million last year alone, according to figures sourced from the Amazon-owned company.

Donations on Twitch come from fans of these burgeoning celebrities during charity events, often set up as marathons, where a gamer or team of gamers will play for an extended period of time.

Direct Relief’s Gaming initiative, led by MC Moffit and Brooke Malone and catalyzed by Steve Lange, organize charity events with various existing gaming communities of all sizes.

“We see how they can integrate charity into what they already do on Twitch,” Moffit said.

At the heart of this movement are influential gamers, who ask their audiences to help support a cause.

Here are three individuals who have used video games to help raise millions of dollars for charities that support those in need around the world.

Tim “Trick2g” Foley, 35

Foley is known for his prowess in League of Legends, the world’s most popular esports game. Since first streaming about a decade ago, Foley has built a huge fan base, including 225,000 followers on Twitter and 145 million views on Twitch.

Now streaming for between 6-8 hours per day, having scaled back from his pace of 10-12 hours — or more — Foley said that, in the early days, “the thought of making money as a [streamer] was crazy… I was just good at banging on a keyboard and talking a lot of smack.”

Foley’s childhood included two brushes with disaster: he survived the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, having gotten out on a boat, and Hurricane Andrew in Florida.

“We got back to the house and everything was gone,” he said about returning to the family’s military housing in the Sunshine State.

But Foley said those experiences were not the basis of his commitment to charity streaming.

“My Pinoy blood in me, I love giving and sharing, it’s just how I was raised. My mom taught me the right way,” he said.

And on his charity streams, Foley said, the positivity cuts both ways.

“There’s definitely a different vibe in charity streams. I stream everyday, there’s a bunch of trolls. If you let that get you… but when you do a charity stream, they just get behind it,” he said.

“Whenever I’d charity stream, it would just help me,” Foley said, adding that he struggled with getting into the “right mental state” for some time. “People just give you positive energy.”

“I know it’s kind of weird throwing money at a video streamers and it’s kind of crazy, but we have that influence and we use for good. I don’t want credit. I don’t want none of this… I feel like I don’t deserve it, I feel like the community gives back.”

About Direct Relief, Foley said, “I just feel for it, man, they’re at the front lines of all the hurricanes down south.”

Foley said he plans to continue charity streaming, along with his regular programming.

“The hurricane stuff is just never ending… We’re doing all we can. I wish we could do more.”

David “GrandPOObear” Hunt, 34

David Hunt is a speedrunner, a part of the video game community that competes in racing through games, like Mario Bros., as quickly as possible.

Amongst speedrunners, some of the most vaunted events are those put on by Games Done Quick, organizers of charity speedrunning marathons that have raised over $24 million.

“I became enamored, this is very early on in streaming, with not just the skill that everyone was putting on, but the fact that they were all doing it for a much bigger cause than their individual competition,” Hunt said. “It was just insane to me that gamers could raise a million bucks.”

Hunt said he has been a gamer since his older sister received a Nintendo console as a gift in 1988. However, his passion as a kid was snowboarding, and he moved from Michigan to Colorado, and then to the Lake Tahoe area in hopes of making a career out of it.

But a collision with a skier put him in the hospital for 3 months with infections, broken bones and torn ligaments.

During his recovery, a friend asked if he wanted to watch him play “Halo” on Twitch.

“Why would I watch you play Halo?” Hunt remembers asking. Yet, he quickly found himself “going down a rabbit hole,” on the platform. Two days later, he was streaming. Today, he is sponsored by Red Bull and has over 260,000 followers across social media.

”With charity streams, there is a lot of enthusiasm for everyone around, the feeling of being a part of something bigger, especially when those numbers start to really add up,” he said.

“It feels kind of hard in today’s age to see, but doing good feels good, there’s way more people out there doing good than doing bad. It’s almost like a selfish thing in some sense, which is ironic. It brings an extra level of fun,” he said of charity streams.

Hunt said he can relate to the mission of Direct Relief on a personal level, and encouraged other gamers to consider hosting a charity stream as well.

“Most of the times in life, we’re all going to hit a rock bottom moment, and we all need a little help, the fact that Direct Relief provides it to people at a time when it feels hopeless is very meaningful to me,” Hunt said, adding that he appreciated how Direct Relief stays focused on its core mission “They don’t try to do what other organizations do. Plus, they’re one of us, gamers.”

“Go out and do a charity stream, every little bit helps,” he said.

Jonathan “ProtonJon” Wheeler, 34

Jonathan Wheeler is a jack of all trades, streaming his play across multiple games, depending on what his audience requests.

He got involved with Direct Relief after Moffit and Malone reached out to him. At the time, they were working on Zeldathon, a marathon in which all Zelda games are played.

“It seemed like a good cause, it seemed worth it,” he said. But Wheeler wasn’t sure what the response would be, so he set what he thought was a reasonable goal: $5,000.

“In less than 10 minutes, we already doubled that,” he said. “I was completely blown away. It was super heartwarming. I was just completely blown away and I felt blessed by it, honestly.”

Wheeler’s first game was Pong, and he grew up playing Nintendo games. He started streaming to deal with a “bad break up,” he said. It has led to hundreds of thousands of followers and tens of million of views.

“I thought it would be a big deal, didn’t think it would be a worldwide competition and sell out stadiums,” he said, referring to esports—professional video gaming competitions.

Wheeler, who is also a game collector, encouraged others to give charity streams a go, regardless of their follower count.

“Just do it. There’s really nothing stopping you, if I’m honest, there’s no real loss if you start, because if you start and fail, you have no shame, you still tried to something for a good cause,” he said.

“Growing up, I was always told video games were not going to amount to anything, it’s just a silly hobby. So many people have turned it into a job and done wonderful things because of it,” Wheeler said.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing, don’t let others stop you.”

The post Gamers Raised Millions for Charity in 2019: Meet Three Leading the Way appeared first on Direct Relief.

While community health centers fill a crucial gap in the U.S. health care system, they often lack the resources and staffing needed for more specialized treatments, which can result in their patients going without such care.

But a new, nonprofit start-up is changing this reality by providing a way for highly experienced physicians to share their knowledge with community health center providers via, one-on-one or small group calls, webinars, and mentoring. The MAVEN Project, which stands for Medical Alumni Volunteer Expert Network, works to connect doctors with other doctors so that expertise can be shared among providers.

MAVEN volunteers have been trained at top medical schools, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, UCSF, and UCLA, and have an average of 20 years of professional experience. MAVEN covers more than 40 specialties across adult, pediatric, and primary care.

“Through our services, we’re really able to help local providers do all they can, so that only those patients that truly need that in-person visit to a specialist makes that heroic effort, and everyone else can be treated at their local clinics,” said Dr. Lisa Bard Levine, CEO of The MAVEN Project.

“The challenge for these communities is the referral,” she said of health center patients seeking referrals to specialty care. “…We give community health center providers the resources to care for these populations, so they can avoid the conditions getting worse and emergency room visits.”

Breaking Down Barriers to Specialty Care

Because many specialist physicians will not see uninsured or Medicaid patients, wait times can be extremely long for those who do. Challenges are also myriad for patients, including taking time off work for appointments, finding childcare, transportation, and the cost of the visit.

Such challenges were noted in a 2017 University of Washington study that found life expectancy can differ by more than 20 years in the United States, depending on socioeconomic, racial, behavioral, and other factors, one of which is access to healthcare.

Overall, the 2018 CDC National Health Interview Survey found that approximately 13 million Americans went without medical care because of cost and almost 23 million Americans delayed accessing health care due to cost. For certain racial groups, as many as 12% of all respondents said they did not receive care and up to 14% of respondents said they delayed it.

In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, a 15-year life expectancy gap exists for babies, depending on which neighborhood they grow up in, according to the Miami Herald. Dr. Fred Anderson, a family physician and associate professor at Florida International University who called himself a “super user” of MAVEN, is part of a mobile care program that treats about 1,000 uninsured patients annually.

“It’s been wonderful for those of us who work with the underserved and dedicate our careers to them. They (MAVEN) go above and beyond to send us resources and I felt intellectually enriched by the engagement. It strengthened our ability to better care for our patients,” Anderson said.

Levine said MAVEN is doctor-to-provider instead of doctor-to-patient because it allows doctors to carry their experience across state lines, something that would not be possible with a doctor-to-patient setup, since each state has their own licensing schemes for such interactions. Additionally, she said, it allows clinics to maintain their procedures and enhance the care they provide without significant change to their operations.

“Initially, we tried direct-to-patient, but this caused clinics to change their operations. For instance, if a patient is there, they might be forced to add more staff, for instance a translator,” she said.

At Manet Community Health Center in Quincy, Massachusetts, Kathleen Neimann, a nurse practitioner, has also been able to take knowledge gained from her MAVEN calls and apply it to her patients.

“I feel like I can get my questions answered,” she said.

Neimann said that many of her patients are all but unable to see a specialist for their illnesses.

“It’s a great way to manage conditions in the interim,” she said.

Niemann said one of her patients has rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and is dealing with addiction, as well as homelessness. Neimann said she was able to coordinate with MAVEN regarding how to treat his arthritis. After sharing basic notes about the patient, she was given direction on lab tests and treatments she had not been aware of, as well as guidelines on prednisone dosage, a medication the patient needed to manage his health.

“Prior to MAVEN, I would have been too nervous to continue administering prednisone, so without MAVEN, I just would have encouraged him to try to see a rheumatologist,” she said. “But the risk with that is that if the pain is not well controlled, there is more risk of relapsing.”

“It makes me feel more confident in the treatment plan, because I know that there’s a MAVEN volunteer who has had a lot of experience, decades in some cases. To hear that input from someone who is so knowledgeable, makes more confident in following the plan,” Neimann said.

Despite the value for many cases, both Anderson and Neimann pointed out that MAVEN is not always a replacement for a specialist’s in-person care, and that it should be seen as both a means to essentially triage patients, as well as a means of professional development.

“Sometimes that consult doesn’t fully satisfy the need for cardiology expertise, so we do have those circumstances where it is helpful, but they still need to see a cardiologist,” Anderson said, using heart-related issues as an example.

Direct Relief has committed to supporting six clinics to participate in MAVEN for three years. The partners include two clinics in South Carolina, one in California, and three in Florida. All of the clinics were chosen to help them with recovery and resiliency after natural disasters, including Hurricanes Michael and Florence, as well as the Camp Fire.

Beyond the knowledge, Anderson said that MAVEN provides him and his team with other, harder-to-quantify benefits as well.

“Doctors are overworked, health care providers are overworked, and when working with underserved communities, it can be hard to see the struggle to get the care they deserve,” Anderson said. “It really invigorates us, we find it tremendously rewarding and tremendously professionally satisfying,” he said, adding that working with MAVEN volunteers also helps boost morale.

“Personally I felt like I’ve become a better doctor,” he said.

Additional reporting contributed by Rose Levy.

The post Narrowing the Gap Between Vulnerable Patients and Specialty Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

Today, they’re joined in this crucial effort by an increasingly powerful community, one that has members throughout the world and is responsible for enabling a multibillion dollar industry: gamers.

In sharp contrast to the stereotypes some associate with gaming, video game players comprise one of the newest movements to help in the wake of tragedies.

On Twitch, the largest website for watching people play video games — also known as streaming — gamers have donated $145 million to charity since 2011, including $42 million last year alone, according to figures sourced from the company.

“If anything has surprised me, it is how many people want to donate. For an event raising, say, $2 million, you will see like 50,000 plus donors,” said Andrew Schroeder, Director of Charity Partnerships at Twitch, a department he started in 2014. Schroeder said the video game community, especially streamers and those who follow them, has always been interested in using their platforms to help those in need and that finding common causes provides an additional way for them to connect.

“I think the ability for fundraise for a mission they believe in just brings them together even stronger,” said Schroeder.

Aaron Fowlow, 36, better known as Stereorage82 online, has seen this happen firsthand. Based in Newfoundland, Canada, he set up a charity streaming marathon by himself last year and decided to go for it again this year, along with four friends, on his channel.

“I do not have the biggest reach, but the community I have is tremendous. They pull together especially for my charitable efforts. It’s not about me, as I cannot do it alone,” he said.

The marathon began at 12 p.m. EST, on Friday and will go for 24 hours, benefitting Direct Relief’s work for Missouri communities impacted by the recent tornadoes.

“I have friends in the state of Missouri. I have been there myself, having spent three months of my life there. It is a beautiful state, with wonderful and generous people,” he said. “I felt the urgent need to organize something this weekend.”

Direct Relief has a dedicated gaming department, which supports gamers in supporting causes that speak to them.

“Any time that the gamers have needed some kind of request fulfilled to make their events more effective, whether it’s been venue space or needing to build some product online, they help provide it,” said Schroeder about Direct Relief.

It helps that the team running the department are gamers themselves and understand the community from a grassroots level.

“The main thing is what do millennials like to watch? It’s video games: people who are better than them and can teach them tricks or who are super funny,” said MC Moffit, who co-started the gaming effort at Direct Relief with Brooke Malone in explaining the appeal of watching other people play video games.

And a lot of people do. Last year, a report from Goldman Sachs stated that “the audience on YouTube & Twitch is larger than HBO, Netflix & ESPN combined.”

On Twitch alone, users watched 355 billion hours of content in 2017, which is an increase of 22% from 2016, according to the same report.

Despite the new format of gaming, Moffit said the appeal of charity gaming is reflective of previous successful appeals.

“It is not much different than the past with telethons, where there are entertainers asking you to make a pledge while you watch a singer, but it’s just watching it online,” said Moffit, who has raised $2.2 million through Zeldathon, a charity video game marathon he has been running for 10 years, and about $400,000 for Direct Relief so far.

In assessing why gamers, who skew younger, have been so generous, Schroeder said it’s a natural extension of an online-based community aspect.

“Each generation expresses themselves very differently and being able to interact with people around the world is something that speaks more closely to gamers and people who use the internet a lot in general. That connection really drives people wanting to give to each other more,” he said, adding that gaming stream allow people to easily give amounts they feel comfortable with.

As he prepared during the last hours before going live, Fowlow said the root of the gaming charity marathons is indeed the same as past concepts — except that one need not be a celebrity in this new kind of show.

“I am a 36-year-old disabled man from Canada. I just want to do good by the world, in what I enjoy doing, video games. I am not a pro, just an average dude,” he said.

To watch the streaming marathon, click here.

The post From Tornadoes to Hurricanes, Gamers Rush to the Rescue appeared first on Direct Relief.

Those wanting to help following a tornado have several options. They can donate to disaster relief organizations in their area, volunteer with the relief effort, or help individual friends or family members by offering financial, practical, and emotional support.

Working with Disaster Relief Organizations

1. Focus on working with local organizations to help most directly. One of the most effective ways to help tornado victims is to donate to local disaster relief organizations. Local organizations are familiar with the community and what resources are already available locally. They are also motivated to help their local community by making sure that any resources donated to them are put to good use.

2. Check with other types of organizations in the area that may be helping.  In the wake of a disaster like a tornado, many different kinds of local organizations will often step up to help. Check with non-disaster relief organizations in the area, such as schools, libraries, homeless shelters, animal shelters, food banks, churches, and social service organizations to find out what they are doing and how you can get involved.

• For example, in the wake of the recent Lee County tornado in Alabama, churches, grocery stores, schools, and animal shelters in the area gathered donations of supplies and money for the community.
• Check the websites of local news outlets to find out where you can donate.

3. Research charities before you work with them. Before you donate to any charitable or relief organization, look them up through a watchdog organization to find out if they are reputable. Do a search for the organization you’re interested in online and look for reviews and ratings from groups such as:

• • CharityNavigator
  • CharityWatch
  • GuideStar
  • The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance

4. Look for national disaster relief networks that offer local aid. Many national disaster relief organizations have local branches that can provide direct help on the community level. Research reputable national disaster relief networks and see if there are any local branches in the affected area.

5. Give money if you can. In the wake of a disaster, people need a wide variety of different types of assistance. They may need goods, shelter, medical care, or food. When you donate money to disaster relief organizations or charities, they can figure out how to use your contribution in the most effective and efficient way possible. If possible, donate money rather than goods unless an organization is specifically asking for material donations.

• • Monetary donations allow rescue organizations to purchase goods locally without having to worry about shipping costs and quality control checks. They can also tailor their purchases to the exact needs of members of the community.
  • For example, after the tornado that recently hit El Reno, Oklahoma, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) branch is looking for donations of cash and gift cards to help residents purchase food, gas, and other necessities.

6. Donate items only if they are needed. Donating goods, such as clothing and canned foods, can also be helpful in the wake of a tornado. However, first check with the organization(s) you’re working with to find out exactly what is needed. Otherwise, aid organizations can end up overwhelmed with material donations that they are unable to use.

• • Call the organization you’d like to donate to or check their website to find out what kinds of donations they are taking.

7. Ask about ways to volunteer. As an alternative to donating money or goods, you may also be able to volunteer your time. Contact rescue organizations in the affected area and find out what kinds of help they need. You can also reach out to National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at  to find volunteer opportunities.

• • Don’t jump in and try to help with search and rescue efforts or other potentially dangerous activities on your own. It’s important to work with an existing volunteer organization that has already identified safe and effective ways to help out.
  • Ways to volunteer may include making calls for donations, cooking meals for survivors, delivering supplies, or getting involved in search and rescue operations.

Supporting Individual Tornado Victims

1. Try to contact friends and family affected by the tornado. If you know someone who’s been affected by a tornado, try to get in touch with them as soon as possible to find out if they are okay and what they need. You may be able to contact them by phone or over their social media accounts, but if not, there are a variety of resources that can help:

• • Try calling local law enforcement to see if they have information about your loved one.
  • Check the American Red Cross Safe and Well System and search for people you know who may have been affected.
  • Search for your loved ones using FEMA’s National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System.
  • Call 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) for help locating missing children, or visit the Unaccompanied Minors Registry.

2. Give financial support if you can. In addition to dealing with the immediate trauma and damage caused by the tornado, many victims find themselves in severe financial difficulty long after the disaster is over. If you want to help someone affected by a tornado, consider helping them out with a little money if you are able to do so.

• • If you can’t give much money yourself, look into starting a crowdfunding campaign to help your loved one meet their needs.
  • You can also help connect them with disaster-related financial assistance resources, like the U.S. government’s disaster relief program at DisasterAssistance.gov.

3. Offer shelter if you’re able to. Tornadoes can cause devastating damage to people’s property, destroying homes, leaving large areas flooded or without power or water, or creating hazards such as downed powerlines and structural instability.  If you know someone who’s been left homeless after a tornado or needs a place to stay while repairs are being done, consider taking them in for a while.

• • If you can’t provide shelter yourself, you may be able to help connect survivors with temporary shelter options in their area. For example, in the U.S., you can text SHELTER and the person’s zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find nearby options.
  • You can also help connect them with disaster-related financial assistance resources, like the U.S. government’s disaster relief program at DisasterAssistance.gov.

4. Help them replace lost items. After a tornado, your friends or loved ones may be faced with the task of replacing some or all of their furniture and appliances. Ask them which items they need and whether you can help by purchasing some of those items for them.

• • Work with them to create an online wish list so that you and other friends or relatives can purchase the specific items they need based on the list.

5. Be emotionally supportive. The emotional aftermath of a tornado or other natural disaster can be devastating. In addition to needing practical help, many tornado victims will need emotional support to help them cope with the stress of what they’ve been through. Reach out to loved ones affected by the tornado and let them know you are there if they need to talk.

• • Common signs of disaster-related distress include feelings of anxiety, fear, disbelief, or emotional numbness, difficulty concentrating, changes in energy or activity levels, and difficulty sleeping. Some people also have physical symptoms such as headaches, body pains, and indigestion.
  • If someone you know is experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis after a tornado, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress hotline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
  • Natural disasters like tornadoes can be especially traumatic for children. If you know a child who’s been through a tornado, you can help them by encouraging them to talk about how they’re feeling and letting them know that their feelings are normal and valid. Getting them involved with helping family members or their community can also help them feel more positive and in control.

Editor’s note: This article was authored in partnership with wikiHow, the world’s largest “how to” site, and also featured here on the wikiHow website.

The post How to Help After a Tornado appeared first on Direct Relief.

In speedrunning, players compete for the fastest time to complete all levels of a game. The world’s best players, their skills honed by hundreds of hours of play time, might complete an entire game in under an hour while a typical player might finish in days, weeks, or even months.

Calithon 2019 is taking place at Direct Relief’s new headquarters and warehouse. The 155,000 square-foot facility is the largest distribution hub for humanitarian medical aid in the United States. Direct Relief is among the world’s largest providers of humanitarian medical aid, providing medical aid to recipients in 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states last year.

Calithon is being broadcast live on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/calithon, where viewers can donate to Direct Relief. Calithon broadcasters hope to raise as much as $50,000 for Direct Relief.

“We’re excited and humbled to bring the West Coast’s premier speedrun event to Direct Relief, where our players will get to see and hear first-hand how their game-playing skills are helping people in need around the world,” said Calithon founder Jeff Yochum.

Calithon began today at 4 pm PDT and continues through 10 pm on Sunday, Mar. 17. The speedrunning marathon (originally named Californithon) has been held annually since 2015. A mini-documentary about the event is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYblFdmYAH0.

Video gamers and live-streamers on platforms including Twitch, Tiltify and Humble Bundle now comprise Direct Relief’s largest supporter base.

The post North America’s Fastest Video Gamers Start Speedrunning Marathon at Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

“I want to donate it,” Mae told her grandmother, Patti Weber.

Mae’s response came just months after visiting Direct Relief in 2017, at the age of six, to volunteer with her grandmother. The pair joined more than a dozen volunteers to assemble feminine hygiene kits for distribution to parts of the world where such resources are limited, causing girls to miss as many as two months of school each year while disrupting the professional lives of women.

With support from Day for Girls, a local organization dedicated to creating a more dignified and sustainable world for girls, Mae and others assembled 180 sanitary kits that day. Drawstring bags, two pairs of girls’ underwear, travel-size soap and much more were carefully packed with the intention of keeping girls in school longer – regardless of the time of month. To date, more than 1 million women and girls in over 125 countries have received the kits as part of the organization’s larger effort to support their potential and value as agents of social change.

Moved by the kit’s impact to equip and empower girls globally, Mae left the volunteer event eager to do more.

“It’s been just over a year since Mae started raising money for Direct Relief,” said Patti, remembering the day in December 2017 when the two started baking goods from scratch. That was Mae’s first of many bake sales to come over the course of 2018.

Fresh out of the oven, warm cookies and festive cupcakes were transported to the curb outside of Patti’s house. There, Mae seized the opportunity to encourage neighbors and friends to buy sweets for a cause she was passionate about.

“I was always shy as a little girl, but Mae isn’t that way,” said Patti. “She would wave her hands and call out to people to encourage them to buy something.”

Often buyers would ask Mae to keep the change when they learned how she planned to use the money.

“Once someone gave me $20,” Mae recalled with a big smile.

In addition to raising money for Direct Relief, Mae also educates neighbors and friends about the importance of feminine hygiene for girls across the globe.

“Her focus is always about keeping girls in school,” Patti explained.

On Tuesday, January 22, Mae and Patti visited Direct Relief’s headquarters in Santa Barbara to deliver a check.

“I hope that you can use this money,” Mae wrote in a card to staff.

A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Mae for her extraordinary commitment to improving the health and lives of girls worldwide.

The post Motivated to Keep Girls in School, 7-Year-Old Raises Funds for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

At Zeldathon, gamers at an undisclosed location in western Pennsylvania will play The Legend of Zelda series non-stop from 4:00 p.m. EST today straight through to 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 2.

Zeldathon will broadcast live on Twitch (https://zeldathon.net/), where as many as 600,000 people per day have watched previous Zeldathon marathons.

Zeldathon’s organizers hope to raise as much as $200,000 for Direct Relief, says Zeldathon Co-Founder Matthew “MC” Moffit.

“In this Zeldathon, you’ll see a lot more fun things happening on screen, making it exciting to watch at all hours,” Moffit said Thursday as the final preparations were underway. “We want to put on a good show, have everyone enjoy themselves, find a good reason to donate, and maybe get a prize.”

Video gamers and live-streamers are among Direct Relief’s main sources of support. This year alone, Direct Relief has received more than 34,000 donations through platforms that include Twitch, Tiltify and Humble Bundle.

Since 2009, Zeldathon has raised more than $2 million for charities, including $600,000 for Direct Relief.

The post Earth’s Most Legendary Zelda Marathon Begins for Charity appeared first on Direct Relief.

Perhaps inevitable that the marketing phenomenon of “Black Friday” for holiday shopping deals begat “Small Business Saturday,” which in turn spurred “Cyber Monday” and then “Giving Tuesday,” a day urging people to make a charitable contribution to a nonprofit of their choosing.

Making a charitable donation is a purely voluntary act of generosity, and if people are motivated and able to participate in Giving Tuesday, that’s great. But that’s true of any gift of any size on any day – it’s always inspiring. And motivating. And it’s meaningful in a way that transcends our ability to hashtag or bumper sticker or, really, even convey thanks in a manner that’s deserved.

Particularly over the past year and recent days of historic humanitarian emergencies, Direct Relief has the rare privilege of seeing extraordinary, unexpected, and even breathtaking acts of generosity and giving from people just trying to help others less fortunate than they are and trusting Direct Relief to do just that with their money.

For that, we are extraordinarily grateful, and we work hard every day to honor those acts of giving, with deep appreciation and knowledge that such voluntary acts of generosity fuel every single thing Direct Relief does.

We love the idea of Giving Tuesday, but something important seems easily lost in the shuffle if the wonderful act of charitable giving becomes distilled to “give more, now” – similar to what can be lost if thoughtful gift giving gets supplanted with shopping excess.

That’s why, this #GivingTuesday, we’re also celebrating #GratefulTuesday – to recognize you and everyone else who gives so much, and those with whom we work in all 50 states and around the world. It’s all for the simple purpose of helping people overcome big challenges to their health and often lives so they can experience the joys of life and a chance to fulfill their potential.

@DirectReliefhas the rare privilege of witnessing extraordinary acts of generosity on a daily basis. That’s why this #GivingTuesday is dedicated to those who give so much of themselves to help others. #GratefulTuesday https://t.co/mKbHPzMCu6

— Direct Relief (@DirectRelief) November 27, 2018

If no one else knows or cares that, for Direct Relief, #GivingTuesday is also #GratefulTuesday, that’s just fine.

We want you to know.

Thanks for being part of Direct Relief.

The post #GratefulTuesday: Dedicating This #GivingTuesday to Those Who Give appeared first on Direct Relief.

During its most-watched portions, the “Mario Masters Colosseum” event live stream had around 10,000 viewers simultaneously watching.

The event started on October 29, and gamers streamed live via the online platform, Twitch, from noon to midnight each day for the next four days. Viewers watched as each gamer tackled challenges in the game, and donated as different challenges were achieved.

When the group reached $100,000, cheers broke out.

“I feel like it was the most incredible moment of my life, and I’m incredibly proud and pumped to have been a part of it,” said one gamer, who goes by the handle GrandPOOBear.

Gamers were so excited about meeting the goal, they extended the marathon another few hours to raise an additional $7,000.

The event was coordinated by MC Moffit and Brooke Malone of Direct Relief’s Gaming initiative.

“Everyone is overjoyed,” Moffit said.

Since beginning work at Direct Relief, “we now have raised over $1.5 million with gamers individually, separate from any corporate partnerships,” Moffit said.

Direct Relief’s next gaming effort, Zeldathon Response, will begin on December 27, 2018, when the six-day marathon of The Legend of Zelda game begins. The marathon will be broadcast live at Zeldathon.net.

Visit Direct Relief’s Gaming page to download a toolkit with full instructions on how to begin raising for Direct Relief.

The post Gaming for Good: Gamers Raise More than $100,000 for Charity appeared first on Direct Relief.

While striving to secure shelter and sustenance, their already precarious situation is compounded by threats of extreme weather, including monsoonal rains and cyclones that pound Bangladesh every year.

What’s more, medical care for the Rohingya is extremely limited, with few places for women and children to receive medical treatment.

Though the Rohingya are fighting back against these overwhelming odds, parents need health facilities to receive their children when they are sick and soon-to-be mothers need regular care and potential life-saving treatment when giving birth.

That’s why Direct Relief is raising support for the Hope Foundation, a local health organization providing critical care to the Rohingya.

When Rohingya communities began fleeing into Bangladesh, Hope Foundation was already providing free health care at its established maternity hospital on the outskirts of Cox’s Bazar, more than an hour’s drive from the nearest refugee camp.

Seeing the urgent medical needs among the newly arrived refugees, Hope Foundation rapidly scaled up its operation, establishing maternal health clinics across the camp as well as a field hospital.

Hope foundation is continuing to provide basic care and maternal health services across its healthcare facilities, but funds are urgently needed to complete construction on the field hospital, purchase medical equipment, and maintain and expand services to Rohingya families in Bangladesh.

It’s important to note that several international groups are providing health services to the Rohingya community and doing a great job; however, donations to the Hope Foundation support a local solution and will help ensure access to health care for Rohingya and Bangladeshi long into the future.

Over the next several weeks, Direct Relief will match every donation made to Hope Hospital on Facebook, up to $100,000.

The goal of hosting the fundraiser on Facebook is to leverage Direct Relief’s initial commitment into additional support for Hope Hospital.

Facebook has waived all processing fees for fundraisers hosted on the platform, meaning Hope Hospital will receive 100 percent of the donations made to the fundraiser.

The post A Facebook Fundraiser for Rohingya Mothers and Children appeared first on Direct Relief.

During Californithon, which was broadcasted live from March 17-19, gamers performed live “speedruns” of some of the most famous video games of all time. In a speedrun, the goal is not only to complete the game, but to do it as fast as possible. To improve their times, the players will breakdown the games to best optimize the route, as well as perform glitches to skip parts of the gameplay.

In one of the featured games, players “darbian” and “SuperSonic71087_” competed in a race of the original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System. They both saved the princess in less than eight minutes, impressing the live audience of over 2,000 viewers.

Donors from across the world tuned in to watch over the weekend. Encouraged by commentators speaking on the broadcast, they contributed to the fundraiser, with the knowledge their money would be used to help bring medical aid to those who need it worldwide.

As the weekend wrapped up, their donation total flew past their $10,000 goal, leaving those attending in person moved by the support provided.

Direct Relief thanks everyone involved with Californithon, from the gamers, to the organizers and the donors of the event.

Direct Relief is continuing to push forward in the world of video games with their new initiative, Direct Relief Gaming. Gamers are encouraged to start their own fundraisers, with open support and tools available to help make them a success.

The post Californithon Gaming Marathon Raises More than $15K for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

Capturing and Honoring Donor Intent

Direct Relief developed the new system to help it better honor the intent of its donors. While contributors who make large donations offline often direct how their money is used, online donors and those making small donations to charities have traditionally had less discretion. Under Direct Relief’s new system, online donors giving even the smallest amounts can direct their contributions to the programs that most inspire them.

A bedrock principle for nonprofits with respect to donations is to honor donor intent,” says Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “It’s simple. We can’t honor a donor’s intent unless we allow them to express it. That’s why we built this.”

Beginning Dec. 7, Direct Relief’s donation page has offered contributors a set of sliders to allocate their funds according to any combination of their preferences. The current options include “Where Needed Most,” Emergency Response, U.S. Programs, and International Programs.

When selecting Emergency Response, donors can choose to further divide their funds among relief programs for the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Hurricane Matthew – Haiti, Zika Virus Outbreak, and Direct Relief’s Rapid Response Fund. As new emergencies arise, Direct Relief will be able to update the list quickly.

Initial results during the critical year-end giving period suggest a strong positive reaction to the new system. Both the new donor-directed and pre-existing interfaces were tested between Dec. 8 and Dec. 20. Among those using the donor-directed interface, 37 percent of people initiating a donation completed the process, compared to 26 percent using the pre-existing interface. Direct Relief experienced 179 percent increase donations over the same timeframe.

Direct Relief expects the donor-directed interface will better allow it to fund its work, not just on immediate crises but also on a range of lower-profile yet critical interventions throughout the world. A large portion of donations to disaster relief agencies comes in response to natural disasters. Direct Relief has long-committed to donors that when they designate their funds to a particular emergency, 100 percent will solely be used for that emergency. Now, donors have the option to allocate a portion of their contribution to ongoing programs as well, including those that focus on maternal and child health and support community health centers in low-income and rural areas.

Borrowed from a Video Game Company

Direct Relief developed the new donation interface after being unable to find existing charity software that provided the flexibility it was seeking. It was inspired by a San Francisco-based video game company called Humble Bundle that lets its customers decide how much to pay for software and how to divide payments between Humble Bundle (the distributor), the software developer, and a charity. Humble Bundle customers have donated more than $1 million to Direct Relief since 2014.

Direct Relief plans to make the software code available at no cost to other nonprofits that wish to use it. For charities that choose to do so, the software could help alleviate a persistent source of friction: the amount of money they spend on fundraising. The new software allows donors to decide how much of a contribution should be dedicated to fundraising. Currently, Direct Relief has locked the fundraising slider at zero percent, as a generous bequest supports all of Direct Relief’s fundraising costs.

The post Direct Relief Puts Spending Decisions into Donors’ Hands appeared first on Direct Relief.

It’s all part of the Pokéthon Eclipse event, during which gamers will gather to play the games throughout a 48-hour video game marathon. The group is hoping to raise $10,000 for Direct Relief’s efforts around the world.

The event has been timed with the release of the Pokémon Sun and Moon games, which have been highly anticipated this year. Earlier in 2016, Nintendo released its Pokémon Go app, which garnered massive popularity among fans. This week’s game releases will be for the Nintendo 3Ds, and will be made public Friday at 12 a.m. EST, at the same time Pokéthon will begin.

The latest Pokéthon event is one of multiple gaming marathons that have raised money for Direct Relief. Gaming and charity have proved a natural partnership, and the gaming community has raised nearly $5 million over the past five years for Direct Relief’s efforts around the world.

When a gaming marathon is held, a live broadcast allows viewers to tune in and watch as the featured gamers play. The audience is able to see the screen that the game player sees while playing, and the broadcaster of the game asks those viewers to make a donation to a charitable cause, which can unlock more challenges or other games.

Friday’s Pokéthon event is similar to Zeldathon, which took place earlier this year. That gaming marathon raised more than $230,000 for Direct Relief.

Among those leading the Direct Relief Gaming initiative are Matthew “MC” Moffit and Brooke “Kampy” Malone, whose efforts over the past seven years have raised over $1 million for charities worldwide, including more than $336,000 for Direct Relief alone.

Moffit met the gamer behind the Pokéthon event, who goes by the handle “AWildAbra,” by watching Abra’s Pokéthon marathon back in 2013.

The pair bonded over their love of gaming marathons with Abra eventually joining to Direct Relief’s gaming efforts.

“His amazing attitude towards charity was the driving factor into us inviting him to raising for Direct Relief Gaming,” Moffit said.

“I truly believe that this event will do great in raising for Direct Relief, as the drive for charity is very powerful with the team.”

For those wanting to tune in, Pokéthon Eclipse will be launching Thursday night at 9 p.m. PST on https://www.pokethon.net. The event will also be streamed on gaming broadcast site, Twitch.

The marathon will run for the following 48 hours, through Saturday night and early Sunday morning, depending on time zone.

Gamers can also visit https://www.directrelief.org/get-involved/gaming/ to download a toolkit with full instructions on how to begin raising for Direct Relief, as well as follow updates on Direct Relief Gaming efforts at the Twitter account, https://twitter.com/DirectRelief_G.

The post Pokéthon Gaming Marathon to Capture Donations for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

Her fundraising page can be seen here.

It all started with uncharacteristic silence at the family’s dinner table earlier this week.  The family had been talking about Hurricane Matthew, which was then about to make landfall in Haiti.

“We talked about Haiti and Cuba and how their buildings weren’t as strong as some of ours here in the U.S. and there were probably people there that didn’t know the storm was coming,” Madeline’s mother, Erin, recalled.

Erin, a certified National Weather Service SKYWARN spotter, said weather conversations are commonplace in their home. When Madeline asked about what might happen in the wake of the hurricane, her parents were honest.

“We told her people may lose their homes, school belongings, access to food, medical aid and clean water, and unfortunately, some their lives,” Erin said.

The family talked about how people in their home state would also lose a lot and be without power for a long time.

“Madeline got very quiet, which is a rarity for her as she is a very charismatic child, and then told us how bad she felt for the people the hurricane was going to hit,” her mom said.

After dinner, Madeline went to her room. When she returned, she announced that she wanted to help fundraise for Hurricane Matthew victims.

The third grader had done other fundraisers for school, and she and her mother sat down to examine which organizations were helping those in need.

After some research, the pair chose Direct Relief as the organization to benefit, wanting to make sure as much funding as possible went to people in need.

After posting a fundraising page on the fundraising site, Mighty Cause (formerly Razoo), Madeline got her elementary school involved and even made a presentation on their morning news broadcast to spread the word.

For each dollar donated to Madeline’s page, Direct Relief will be able to send more than $30 worth of supplies and medicines to hurricane victims, leveraging partnerships with medical and pharmaceutical companies.

As they raise money, the family is also enduring the storm themselves. They live in Tampa and don’t have to evacuate, though they will get tropical storm force wind and rain.

“We are heartbroken over what is about to happen to our state,” Erin said Thursday.

They are taking in friends who live in the path of the storm, however, and have family and friends in Georgia and South Carolina that are also in the path of Hurricane Matthew.

In the meantime, Madeline is doing her part to help others.

“Her empathy for others is beyond amazing and she has a heart of pure gold,” Erin said.  “It does not surprise me that she wants to help others in need.”

To donate to Direct Relief’s hurricane efforts, click here.

The post Moved by Hurricane Matthew’s Impact, 8-Year-Old Raises Funds for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief Gaming will provide tools, advice and incentive for gamers worldwide to raise funds for Direct Relief.

Online gaming and charitable donations may seem like an unusual pairing, but the gaming community has raised nearly $5 million dollars over the past five years for Direct Relief’s efforts around the world.

Viewers – many of whom are gamers themselves – tune into online broadcasts as gamers play a video game with live commentary. Some of these broadcasters will ask their viewers to donate to a charitable cause, occasionally unlocking more difficult challenges or more games for their broadcast.

Helping lead this month’s launch of the Direct Relief Gaming initiative is Matthew “MC” Moffit and Brooke “Kampy” Malone, whose efforts over the past seven years have raised over $1 million for charities worldwide, including more than $336,000 for Direct Relief alone.

“We are extremely excited to bring our knowledge and skill of charity gaming broadcasts,” said Moffit. “Direct Relief does amazing things worldwide, and it is our absolute pleasure to help them begin to interact with a new generation of potential philanthropists.”

The 23-year-old was first introduced to the concept as a teen, when he noticed that many of the best gamers asked their online viewers to donate to charity. Moffit decided to use his influence to do the same, and contacted Direct Relief about partnering up in 2014.

When Direct Relief was selected as the charity for Zeldathon, a six-day gaming marathon that took place earlier this year, “We were over the moon,” said Steve Lange, who manages web production for Direct Relief. He has also spearheaded the gaming partnership.

“There are so many people out there who watch people play video games, hundreds of thousands of people,” said Lange, who is a gamer himself.

The viewers make up a range of ages, but the primary demographic includes people ages 18 to 24.

“You get a really broad swath of people, in terms of demographics,” Lange said. “It’s a global audience and the viewership is huge. At any given time, there are potentially millions of people playing, and there are millions of people watching.”

Viewers are usually gamers who enjoy watching people who have considerable skill. Lange compared the concept to a person who plays recreational softball during the week, but tunes into a Major League Baseball game on the weekend to see the best of the best take the field.

Online viewers often donate $5 or $10 to a given cause during the broadcast of the game, and those micro-donations can add up.

“Sometimes they’re not so micro,” Moffit said of the amounts, adding that it’s not unusual to see generous viewers donate $1,000 or more.

Some very notable names on Twitch, a gaming broadcast website, are helping to launch the program this October. Twitch users Calebhart42, Pokéthon, The8BitDrummer, Trihex, TheNo1Alex, VGBootCamp and ProtonJon are all planning broadcasts during the month to benefit Direct Relief.

Starting in October, gamers will be able to visit https://directrelief.org/gaming to download a toolkit with full instructions on how to begin raising for Direct Relief.

For up-to-date news on when Direct Relief Gaming broadcasts are happening, visit the new dedicated Twitter account, https://twitter.com/DirectRelief_G.

The post Direct Relief Gaming: A New Initiative to Engage Gamers in Philanthropy appeared first on Direct Relief.

Since 2009, Zeldathon events have raised over $875,000 for good causes

At 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, an all-star gathering of over 60 video gamers will begin Zeldathon, a gaming marathon expected to last longer than five days, all to raise funds for Direct Relief.

At Zeldathon, gamers play The Legend of Zelda series for 120 or more consecutive hours, while broadcasting their gameplay on Twitch, the leading social video platform and community for gamers and a primary sponsor.

With a fundraising goal of $200,000, the upcoming event will offer a variety of incentives and challenges, including sing-alongs, strange food combinations, embarrassing costumes, and more – tactics that have helped grow Zeldathon into one of the world’s most successful gaming marathons for charity.

Since 2009, Zeldathon has raised more than $875,000 for charities such as Direct Relief, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and charity:water, with the latest marathon, held in December 2015, drawing 600,000 unique visitors and raising over $250,000 for the charity HelpHOPELive.

100% of funds raised through these marathons have gone directly to charity.

For more information, press assets, or to tune into the event, visit http://zeldathon.net.

The post Zeldathon Blasts Off for Charity appeared first on Direct Relief.

Edythe Kirchmaier, beloved Direct Relief volunteer and inspiration, passed away peacefully yesterday surrounded by her loving family. Edythe’s generosity of spirit, humble service to others, and joyful embrace of life’s wonders have been an inspiring example to the entire Direct Relief family privileged to know her and to people around the world. The rare and precious twinkle in Edythe’s eye sparked for nearly 108 years. It is with a heavy heart and profound gratitude for Edythe having shared so much of her extraordinary life with Direct Relief in joyful service to others that we extend our sympathies to Edythe’s family and her many friends and colleagues.

“I think if we can just love one another, there will be less pain, less fighting, more harmony.  I think we can win over all of our adversities with love.” Edythe Kirchmaier

The post Edythe Kirchmaier, January 22, 1908 ~ October 24, 2015 appeared first on Direct Relief.

The inspiring thing about philanthropy is that no one needs to donate to charity, yet they do. They donate to help people they’ve never met who live in places they’ve never visited.

And when they’ve given what they can, they find ways to give more: they sell lemonade to their classmates; they rally their office to wear jeans on Fridays;  they play Zelda for six days straight.

For all that, 100 percent of their donation – no matter its size – should count.

Digital currency such as bitcoin makes it possible. With minimal to no fees, smaller donations via bitcoin can avoid the hefty percentage that’s often lost in transaction fees through standard payment methods. This allows anyone who wants to donate to do so – whether it’s $5 or $0.05 – and ensures their donation will count.

It’s why Direct Relief is excited to partner with ChangeTip — a micropayment platform that allows anyone, anywhere, to donate any amount.

Microdonations for Micronutrients

Taking prenatal vitamins is a proven, cost-effective, and recommended protocol for pregnant women. A nine-month supply of prenatal vitamins  costs only $5 or 0.02 bitcoins. Unfortunately, access to these vitamins is extremely limited in many parts of the world.

Inadequate nutritional intake during pregnancy can greatly increase the risk of dying during childbirth, or of giving birth to an underweight or impaired infant. Vulnerable populations that live in poverty and lack access to a variety of nutritional foods are at even greater risk.

Through August 26, Direct Relief and ChangeTip are teaming up to provide 2000 expecting mothers in Liberia and Sierra Leone with prenatal vitamins.

Visit directrelief.org/bitcoin to learn about the campaign and get involved.

The post Every Bit(Coin) Counts appeared first on Direct Relief.

Paramount Pictures has announced a new philanthropic initiative led by the cast of the Star Trek film franchise and Omaze, which gives fans the chance to win a walk-on role in Star Trek Beyond, the upcoming film directed by Justin Lin. The ‘Star Trek: To Boldly Go’ campaign will support the cast’s personal selection of the following nine charities, including Direct Relief:

• Brave Beginnings, an organization dedicated to ensuring that ventilators and life-saving neonatal equipment are always available to newborns in critical need. Nominated by Zoë Saldana.
• Camp Sunshine, a place where children with life-threatening illnesses and their families can regroup, reenergize, and restore hope for the future. Nominated by Anton Yelchin.
• Direct Relief, one of the premiere disaster relief organizations that operates world­wide. Nominated by Zachary Quinto.
• Heaven Homes, an organization helping establish children’s homes and centers, while providing secure, safe and loving environments where children can be nurtured to realize their full potential. Nominated by Idris Elba.
• KidsCan, an organization that provides food, clothing and healthcare to disadvantaged youth in New Zealand. Nominated by Karl Urban.
• Koreatown Youth & Community Center, an organization serving the evolving needs of the Korean American population in the greater Los Angeles area as well as the multiethnic Koreatown community. Nominated by John Cho.
• Make-A-Wish, whose remarkable work is making wishes come true every day for children suffering from life­threatening illnesses. Nominated by Chris Pine.
• Time is Precious, an organization helping to create a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for children, which in return helps assist with their treatment and recovery. Nominated by Simon Pegg.
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization that is leading the way in advancing cures for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Nominated by Susan Nimoy in honor of Leonard Nimoy.

Direct Relief was nominated for the campaign by Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock in the movie. Since last summer, Zachary has been raising awareness of Direct Relief’s response efforts, including those in West Africa during the Ebola crisis and following the devastating earthquakes in Nepal.

“I felt like the transparency of the organization and the way 100 percent of donations get appropriated to make a difference were something that appealed to me,” Quinto told the Santa Barbara News-Press last week.

Most recently, Zachary supported Direct Relief through appearances on Celebrity Jeopardy and Celebrity Game Night, where he raised thousands of dollars to help people in need around the world access medical care.

For more details and to join the campaign, please visit http://Omaze.com/StarTrek

The post Be in Star Trek. Help People Live Long and Prosper. appeared first on Direct Relief.

Dubbed “Direct Relief Jean Day,” employees could make a $5 donation each week (or $25 for the whole month) for Direct Relief’s Nepal relief efforts that allowed them to wear jeans on Fridays during May.

“[The fundraiser] shows in a small way that we appreciate all the help and assistance they give us through the program which allows us to receive hundreds of thousand dollars over the many years they have supplied FCHC with both prescription as well as over the counter items,” wrote one of the participants.

In the last five years, FCHC has received more than $270,000 worth of medicines and medical supplies from Direct Relief to help them treat 20,000 people annually who would otherwise not be able to access health care.

“It’s amazing to see one of our U.S. health center partners helping another Direct Relief partner on the other side of the globe,” said Direct Relief pharmacist, Ruth Smarinsky. “Their effort will make a big difference for people in Nepal who are rebuilding their lives after the devastating earthquakes.”

Direct Relief is honored to support health centers like FCHC that are not only caring for people in need in their own community, but also around the world.

The post Missouri Health Center Staff Raise Funds for Nepal Earthquake Survivors appeared first on Direct Relief.

The donation makes the Seattle-based company and developer of popular games, including Destiny, the single largest financial donor to the medical aid organization’s Nepal response efforts.

“As a gamer, we spend our time pretending to save the world. It’s good to get an opportunity to save an actual part of the world through giving,” said Eddie Moreno, a Santa Barbara gamer who participated in the Bungie campaign.

The total $1,026,006.80 for medical relief in Nepal was raised when gamers purchased special t-shirts and a shader and emblem for their in-game character.

“The Bungie community’s amazing support will translate immediately and directly into help for people in Nepal who experienced a tremendous blow, are in a very difficult and more vulnerable situation now as monsoon season nears, and also have a long, tough road ahead,” said Direct Relief CEO, Thomas Tighe. “Every penny will be spent to help strengthen essential health services that were needed before the earthquakes and much more so now.”

To date, Direct Relief has sent more than 119,000 pounds of medical aid supplies to Nepali-based organizations caring for survivors of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 25 and subsequent 7.3 magnitude quake that hit on May 12. Direct Relief is preparing additional emergency shipments that will be delivered on a chartered cargo flight next week.

“It’s great to see where all of it is going. I’m proud to be one of the 50,000 people who bought a shirt,” remarked Moreno after learning more about Direct Relief’s response effort.

Bungie is a new donor to Direct Relief, however they have a history of charitable giving that dates back to Hurricane Katrina. Their executives reported that the campaign for Nepal is their most successful charitable initiative.

“When disaster strikes and aid is needed, Guardians are powerful allies to have on your side,” wrote Bungie in an update to their community. “You’re our pride and joy, Destiny Community. We’re in awe of you every day, and we thank you.”

The gamers said they look forward to more ways they can be a part of charitable efforts through Bungie’s games.

“We really hope that we get to have another opportunity like this again for a much more positive thing rather than just doing it for an emergency,” said Raul Aguirre, a Destiny gamer who was on-hand to present the check. “To all the fellow gamers out there, if you’ve donated, it means a lot.”

The post Bungie Rallies 50,000 Gamers, Raises $1,026,006.80 for Nepal Earthquake Survivors appeared first on Direct Relief.

Santa Barbara resident Bobbie Rubin was recognized as the 2015 Direct Relief Woman of the Year for her passionate support of maternal and child health around the world.

“For many women in many parts of the world childbirth is a game of chance,” said Day-Stirk, in reference to the more than 289,000 women die each year from birth-related causes.

The most consequential intervention for reducing such deaths is the presence of a trained health worker, such as a midwife, during delivery.

Direct Relief has worked with Day-Stirk and the ICM to create a Midwife Kit containing all the tools needed to compliment ICM-approved standards for midwifery training and certification.

Valued at $1,250, each Midwife Kit equates to roughly $25 per safe birth. The funds raised at the Mother’s Day event enable this life-saving program to exist.

“This means that midwives will not have to be in the situation that they are in with no equipment and no commodities,” said Day-Stirk, addressing the realities that many trained midwives face in under-resourced settings.

Following Day-Stirk’s presentation, Andrew Firestone addressed the attendees, serving as the master of ceremonies for the Stand Up and Be Counted portion of the evening.

“Childbirth doesn’t wait for an earthquake, a flood, or a typhoon,” he told the audience, referencing the role of midwives in saving lives during emergencies such as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the recent earthquake in Nepal.

This year’s event was made possible by a committee of over 25 members of Direct Relief Women and volunteers from the Santa Barbara Chapter of National Charity League, Santa Barbara City College Sigma Chi Eta, and Youth 4 Direct Relief. Direct Relief Women executive committee members Sharon Hughes and Kim Thomas served as event chairs.

The event was bolstered by financial support of event sponsors, including: Alamo Self-Storage, Allora by Laura, Daniel Gibbings, , European Wax Center, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Florabundance, Lolë Women, Montecito Bank & Trust, Morton Capital Management, Dr. Susanne Ramos, OB/GYN, Salter Family Charitable Foundation, South Coast Emergency Medical Group, Steve L Karan and Tessa Morehouse, Susan Burns Associates, Coldwell Banker Previews International, and Wyatt Technology.

The post Direct Relief Women Raise Funds for 5,400 Safe Births appeared first on Direct Relief.

Humanitarian charter a go:  Direct Relief has confirmed the donation of a humanitarian charter for Nepal. At this point, Direct Relief will use at least one-half of the plane’s capacity (102 “skids”), which may increase depending the space needed by a colleague nonprofit.

Emergency procurement of medical equipment:  As noted yesterday, when the Ministry of Health requested specific items and approved and pre-cleared their importation, they also asked for specific items that Direct Relief does not have in inventory (ventilators, fixation devices for fracture repair, imaging equipment, etc.)  Given the inflow of financial contributions, Direct Relief is procuring these items with a portion of the available funds and advised the MOHP of this.

Direct Relief’s team in Nepal met again with Ministry of Health officials to inquire if they had specific, pre-approved in-country vendors or suppliers, and if that is a more straightforward path. (We want to ensure that, if any equipment is procured, it is approved for use in the country and has a service contract and authorized techs in Nepal. This is to ensure the equipment can be repaired and serviced, if the need arises.)

Scaling plans to meet the health care needs in Nepal:  At this point, Direct Relief has revised its budgeting scenarios with the assumption of at least $1.5 million in designated funding. Direct Relief has begun an initial allocation for how these funds will be best used to assist Nepal in the most productive manner.

The availability of the charter is a huge force-multiplier. It allows Direct Relief to plan around transport costs, which are often among the largest expenses.

Direct Relief’s immediate focus includes:

• Procurement of specifically requested, high-priority equipment for the MOHP and other partners (several hospitals with which Direct Relief has been working on Fistula Repair have asked for similar types of items.)

• Emergency Airlift: Given the huge volumes of materials that Direct Relief has on hand and have been specifically requested by the MOHP and, increasingly, by partners as events unfold.  We’re working through the details now to sequence the flow of materials requested through available transport channels. The materials exceed 100 tons (200,000 lbs, most of which is IV solution) and have a high financial value (likely more than $50 million, with most of the value based on large volumes generic medications donated by Teva, Mylan, Actavis, and other generic producers.)

• Financial support to existing partners: Direct Relief is supporting the urgent requirements of existing partner organizations, including OneHeart and the hospitals with which Direct Relief has already been working on emergency obstetric care. We understand the important role they already were playing, and that they now are called upon to do even more.  These partners focus on women and children’s health, and because those particular people were already among the more vulnerable in Nepal, they are even more so now, so we believe that it’s important to shore up their programs.

Funding: The reddit community has raised more than $130,000 for Direct Relief’s earthquake response and comprises more than 30 percent of the 10,000-plus donations for Nepal.

Direct Relief’s response is only possible thanks to the generosity redditors and each person who’s lent their support.

Thank you.

Update: 4/29

Direct Relief staff met today with the Ministry of Health (M0H) in Nepal, which requested more than 320,000 lbs. (approx. 500 4x4x4 skid spaces) of medical items from Direct Relief’s available inventory. The MoH confirmed both the need for the specific items and a willingness to fast-track pre-approved items through customs. Direct Relief also met with the National Drug Administrator and the Director of International Partnership for the MoH, who both affirmed the Ministry’s need for such items and confirmed their importation requirements.

These approvals are essential at this stage of the response, as the typical bottle-necking that occurs post-disaster is occurring, and the offloading capacity at the airport, limited storage, and damaged roadways – as well as the unique topographical environment in Nepal – create significant challenges for in-country distribution.

Meanwhile in Dhading, a three-hour drive from Kathmandu, teams from Direct Relief and One Heart delivered emergency medical supplies to Besi District Hospital. While the hospital suffered only minor damage, it faces an average surge of 270 patients a day, up from 100. Undersupplied and underfunded even before the quake, the hospital is extremely low on basic medications and supplies such as antibiotics, IV solutions, and bandages. Patients, who before sought treatment for fractures and orthopedic surgeries in Kathmandu, now receive care in the hospital’s halls and outside.

With a large proportion of homes collapsed or visibly cracked, and people forced to sleep on the street for a lack of safe shelter, the team noted little improvement outside the hospital. People in remote areas are unable to reach hospitals for needed medical care, which makes doctors wary that more serious complications or outbreaks of cholera or other infections could take root.

Infusing essential medical material. Direct Relief, as one of the main channels for humanitarian medicines and supplies, is in discussions with the Ministry of Health and other agencies to provide medical material support at a national level. Meanwhile, Direct Relief has sent several emergency medical deliveries with teams bound for Nepal, with several more planned in the coming week.

Supporting local organizations. Direct Relief supports local organizations that focus on Maternal Child Health, specifically safe deliveries, and fistula repair.  Depending on the availability of funds, Direct Relief will provide the direct financial support necessary for rebuilding damaged/destroyed delivery centers and facilities.

Information gathering, sharing, coordination.  Working with NetHope members, Direct Relief developed a mobile app to conduct assessments of general facility status and capture specific health needs (screenshots below).  The app enables offline data collection (i.e. when a device is not connected to a network) and location information, which can be subsequently shared when connectivity exists.  Data will be automatically geo-tagged and published on the Esri platform.  The app and all information collected will be publically available and broadly shared.

For more information, visit reddit to read Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe’s candid “Ask Me Anything” on the response.

Direct Relief extends its deepest thanks to everyone who has supported the effort thus far.  Your support is critical to the many thousands of survivors of this devastating tragedy.

Update: 4/28

In Nepal: Direct Relief’s emergency response team is in and around Kathmandu.  They are connecting today with Doctors for You, a highly regarded partner organization that Direct Relief funded to deploy to the region.

The UN has activated its “cluster” system, which serves as the convening mechanism to (attempt to) coordinate information sharing and activities among various UN agencies with different responsibilities and assets as well as international organizations.  Direct Relief attended yesterday’s Health and Logistics cluster meetings, and then were scheduled to with the Ministry of Health to ensure Direct Relief’s resources and activities are delivered and conducted appropriately and guided by the local considerations.

Direct Relief is in regular communication with long-time partner One Heart Worldwide, a group with a strong presence in Nepal. One Heart has generously made available their facilities in Kathmandu as a temporary base of operations for the Direct Relief team.

One Heart Worldwide works in two districts of Nepal. In one area, 10 of the 20 birthing centers they staff (at Ministry of Health facilities) are utterly destroyed, and the other 10 are significantly damaged.  Overall, more than 70% of the structures in the 400,000 district had been destroyed, according to One Heart staff.

Emergency Shipments for Medical Teams En-route:  Direct Relief packed and delivered emergency shipments for two Nepal-bound medical teams yesterday, with several more in the works.  The two groups include:

• Reach Out World Wide: Eight trained doctors, firefighters, and paramedics are traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal today (Tuesday, April 27) to operate a pop-up clinic in a remote area of the disaster-affected region. Direct Relief has outfitted ROWW with more than 350 pounds of antibiotics, wound care, IV solutions, and other medicines and supplies.
• Mammoth Medical / World Wide Trekking: Four physicians and support staff are traveling to Nepal to provide surgical care to survivors of the earthquake.  Volunteers will be working out of Manamohan Memorial Hospital in Kathmandu, which is reportedly overwhelmed with patients and without internet communication. Direct Relief is shipping 250 pounds of antibiotics, wound care, and other needed medicines to support the mission.

Other activity: Direct Relief is in regular communication with roughly one dozen partner organizations based in Nepal, many of which are working to collect complete information, and other international organizations with which Direct Relief  often works such as NetHope, the consortium of Tech Companies and colleague nonprofits.

Medical Resources: Current, available inventory includes 300 pallets of materials that are likely to be needed and are being made available, include:

IV solutions (60 4x4x4 pallets total, estimated weight 108 – 120,000 lbs.):

• 48 pallets – sodium chloride .9%
• 10 pallets – dextrose/dopamine
• Two pallets – gentamicin

Hospital supplies (50 Pallets total):

• Gloves, surgical supplies, orthopedic splints and braces, IV tubing, masks, wound dressings, needles and syringes.

Rx Medications (primary care):

• Ceftriaxone INJ
• Antibiotics/Antibacterials – azithromycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
• Antifungals (ketoconazole)

Rx Medications (chronic care):

• Pravastatin and Simvastatin for managing cholesterol
• Antihypertensives – Amlodipine, Lisinopril, enalapril
• Mental health – fluoxetine, venlafaxine

OTC pain relief medications:

• Adult – 350,000 bottles (40 pallets)
• Pediatric – 170,000 bottles (10 pallets)

Hygiene/personal care items:

• Vaseline petroleum jelly, lotion, lip balm
• Bar soap (70 cases/1 pallet)
• Other OTCs: ulcers/heartburn:  Nexium (esomeprazole) and lansoprazole (total 45 pallets)

Healthcare Company Support: Direct Relief is in discussions with healthcare companies to mobilize wound care, sterile gauze, sutures and other items based on an initial assumption of 20,000 injured with an injury pattern consistent with prior earthquake events. This estimate will be refined as local partners make specific requests and a complete information becomes available, in addition to the obvious concerns about traumatic injury, infrastructure, contaminated water, power, fuel supply lines, etc.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped the effort thus far. Your support is critical, and it makes a difference.

Update: 4/27 – Direct Relief ups Commitment to $500,000 Cash for Nepal Earthquake Response

Donate Now

Direct Relief announced today an increase to $500,000 cash committed to the emergency response for the Nepal earthquake, up from the $50,000 announced initially on Saturday.

The increase reflects the urgency of the situation based on the still-unfolding information available, requests from longstanding partner organizations in Nepal, and the generous support that has been forthcoming from the public since Saturday’s quake.

As always, Direct Relief will use 100 percent of gifts designated for Nepal only for the response in Nepal.

Update: 4/26

While the situation in Nepal is still unfolding, initial assessments report more than 2,500 people killed, thousands injured, and hospitals and other medical facilities overwhelmed.

As has occurred in other major earthquakes to which Direct Relief has responded (Pakistan, Haiti, Indonesia), this quake has simultaneously created an enormous spike in need for emergency health services while destroying much of the already-inadequate health infrastructure through which such services are provided. The quake also has diminished the country’s general infrastructure (roads, power, water), which are needed to accommodate a much-needed surge in the support.

With news of the Nepal earthquake and in the subsequent hours, Direct Relief activated its emergency response effort and began contacting Nepal- and India-based healthcare partners to mobilize the resources needed to care for people in affected areas.

Direct Relief has a substantial medical inventory valued at over $100 million (wholesale), and yesterday made all of it available as needed for the response. Also, Direct Relief committed an initial $50,000 in cash — regardless of whether any specific Nepal-designated contributions are received — to jumpstart the response.

Direct Relief’s emergency response manager, Gordon Willcock, will be coordinating Direct Relief’s activities from Nepal, in concert with partner organizations and other international actors that also are responding. The general needs are evident and extreme, but on-the-ground coordination is essential to ensure that the resources being mobilized and delivered are targeted, well managed, and distributed efficiently within the very dynamic situation.

Since 2008, Direct Relief has delivered more than $1,000,000 of medicines and supplies to excellent, committed healthcare provider partners in Nepal, primarily those working to improve maternal and child health. The support has been ongoing, but also last year involved responding to massive flooding in the region.

With profound sadness for the tragedy that occurred in an instant yesterday, Direct Relief is responding as fast and expansively as possible to ensure that the effects of this disaster do not claim additional lives and to help those who have survived overcome the enormous challenges that exist and will remain for an extended period.

Those wanting to support the response can do so by making a donation here: http://bit.ly/nepal_quake

Donate Now

100 percent of donations for Nepal are used exclusively to help people in Nepal.

The post Nepal Earthquake Response Update appeared first on Direct Relief.

The packs will assist health workers and responders in their emergency preparedness and response capabilities and will also be used for street outreach and health fairs.

Modeled after Direct Relief’s Medical Reserve Corps packs, these specially designed backpacks contain supplies and equipment to meet a variety of disaster-related health needs, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and personal protection tools.

Some are designated as ongoing support for disaster-affected areas, including equipping every mobile medical unit operated by New York and New Jersey health centers as well as packs designated for clinics affected by the tornadoes in Moore, Okla. Other packs will go to Direct Relief partners across the nation who requested the packs for their outreach programs.

The ability to go to where the patient is located and provide care is a unique and essential service of health centers and clinics that is critical both in emergencies as well as routine health care.

The backpacks were organized with help from local volunteers, including students from Bishop Garcia Diego High School; a dozen nursing students from Santa Barbara City College; and employees from Vaseline and CVS Health stores, who supported the initiative.

The post 400 Medical Outreach Packs Bound for Responders Across the U.S. appeared first on Direct Relief.

Volunteer Molly Green came with her daughter and said it was very special for them to celebrate International Women’s Day together as empowering women and girls is a passion they share.

“Direct Relief has always been near and dear to our hearts and we’re so impressed with the work that [Direct Relief] does and the impact it has on the world,” said Green.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged and obstructed labor that, if untreated, leaves women with constant and uncontrollable leakage of urine and/or feces. In addition to physical injuries, many women with fistula suffer humiliation, isolation, and stigma as a result of the smell and constant leakage.

The condition can often be repaired with surgery, but many women who are eligible for surgery are placed on a waiting list. Sometimes it can take weeks and possibly even months for the women who have been identified as candidates to receive the repair surgery.

That’s why Direct Relief developed the Dignity Kits – a type of care pack for women who are awaiting obstetric fistula surgery. The kits contain cleansing spray, soap, moisturizer, maternity pads, cleansing wipes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a notepad.

These items were made available with generous donations from 3M, Covidien, Henry Schein, Neutrogena, Sappo Hill Soapworks, and individuals.

Each kit is valued at about $30 each. To support Direct Relief’s maternal and child health programs, you can make a donation here.

The post 1,000 Dignity Kits Readied for Women Awaiting Obstetric Fistula Repair appeared first on Direct Relief.

Every Tuesday, including this week, Edythe comes to Direct Relief to hand-write thank you notes to supporters, brightening the day of everyone she meets with her incredible sense of humor and quick wit.

Her lifelong example of selfless commitment to others speaks far louder than her soft voice. And her advice to stay positive, not worry about things that can’t be changed, and give back to help people who need it is a powerful reminder and sure seems to work.

Just wanted to share Edythe’s milestone with you and everyone who is part of Direct Relief and makes the work special, with the hopes it lifts your day.

Please consider sending Edythe a birthday message on yet another amazing milestone. (When she learned this week that she’s Facebook’s oldest user, she laughed and said, “Well, I’m pretty much the oldest everything.”)

The post Inspiring: Volunteer Edythe Turns 107! appeared first on Direct Relief.

Edythe turns 107 on January 22, but wanted to celebrate on a Tuesday – the day she regularly comes to the office to help write thank you letters to supporters with her fellow volunteers.

“I hope to continue coming to Direct Relief for many years to come,” Edythe told the guests.

Santa Barbara Chief of Police Cam Sanchez named Edythe “Honorary Chief of Police” for a day on behalf of the Department for being an “Outstanding Santa Barbaran” for her 40 years of service with Direct Relief as well as her clean driving record.

Additionally, Edythe learned from former Chairman of the Board Tom Cusack that when Direct Relief builds its new headquarters, there will a room dedicated to volunteer activities that will be named after her because she embodies the spirit of volunteerism.

The Santa Barbara resident garnered international attention two years ago with appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Access Hollywood Live in which she inspired the world to make a difference by raising awareness for Direct Relief’s work improving the health and lives of people in need.

As the oldest registered Facebook user, Kirchmaier’s 105^th birthday wish was to get 105,000 people to like Direct Relief’s Facebook page. She surpassed her goal and continues to raise awareness and give back to the organization.

A special thanks to Lazy Acres Market for donating Edythe’s birthday cake, the Montecito Starbucks for providing coffee, and Von’s Fairview for donating birthday balloons.

View her 107th birthday video here.

The post Chief for a Day: Celebrating Edythe’s 107th Birthday appeared first on Direct Relief.

Helping Soldiers Abroad & Citizens at Home During World War I

Edythe’s commitment to others dates back to when she was 10 years old and knit “cootie catchers” for soldiers serving in World War I. Because of dirty conditions in the trenches, the soldiers’ clothing and bodies would often become infested with lice (or cooties). The cootie catchers were a belt that they could tie around their waist when they slept at night. Attracted to the warmth, the lice would burrow in the belts which the soldiers would then burn in the morning, helping keep them free of painful itchiness and discomfort.

Right around the time Edythe (then Edythe King) was making cootie catchers for soldiers abroad, she continued to care about people in need living near her childhood home in Springfield, Ohio. She asked her mother if she could bring food in a basket to school for the poor children. Her mother told her, “there’s no one poorer than we are” but allowed Edythe to take food to school anyway. Edythe says that her mother would often provide food to people in poverty in exchange for work around the house and that this influenced her own desire to help others.

Pursuing the Emerging Field of Social Work

Edythe studied social work while attending Ohio State University, though she says in undergraduate school she was “just too busy having fun” to volunteer much. She attained her degree in 1930.

She continued to pursue studies in social work, enrolling in a master’s program at the University of Chicago in 1931. She took classes and did field work through 1934, but didn’t complete her degree because she had to help her family at home. While at U Chicago, she studied under pioneers of the emerging field, such as Edith Abbott and Jane Addams.

During her time in Chicago, Edythe lived at Howell Neighborhood House, which at the time was in the Czech neighborhood. In exchange for room and board, Edythe would spend time with the teenage Czech girls who lived there. She said she taught them things such as how to fix their hair and do their nails and makeup. She also helped them buy clothes. “They were so appreciative of anything that was done,” Edythe reflected.

Afterward, she lived at Hull House at the Jane Club, or a cooperative for working women. While there, she worked with Mexican immigrant girls whose families were receiving aid, helping them to adjust to culture in the United States.

Moving to California

Edythe took a job in the Illinois state welfare office where she met her soon-to-be husband, Joe Kirchmaier. A few years after marrying, they moved to Lompoc, California where Joe worked as a Red Cross Field Director during World War II.

During this time, they had their two children, but family duties didn’t stop the couple from finding ways to help in the community. Edythe said that because of the war, meat was in short supply and so they raised rabbits to sell to people who couldn’t afford to buy other meat. She says their family never ate the rabbits though, because it was too traumatic for the children.

They moved their family to Santa Barbara in 1948 to the house that Edythe continues to live in today. She worked at Family Service Agency, but found time to give back to her kids and community. Edythe served as a leader for the high school youth group at the First Presbyterian Church, where she is still a member today. She was also a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop.

Volunteering at Direct Relief

After Edythe and Joe retired, they saw an ad in the newspaper seeking volunteers to serve abroad for Direct Relief. They served two 18-month terms teaching abroad in Taiwan starting in 1976 and continued to stay involved in the organization upon their return to the states.

Though Joe passed away seven years ago, Edythe continues to come to the office nearly every Tuesday morning, hand-writing thank you letters for supporters of Direct Relief with a tight knit group of fellow volunteers. She says it is one of the highlights of her week and that “Direct Relief is like my second home.”

Join Us in Honoring Edythe

Edythe will be celebrating her birthday next week with Direct Relief. Beyond her personal contributions to the charity, including hitting her goal of getting 105,000 likes on Direct Relief’s Facebook page to raise awareness,  Edythe has inspired thousands of people around the world through appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, and the Oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul Sunday.

Her message of staying positive, not worrying about things that can’t be changed and giving back to others has touched the lives of many. Please join Direct Relief in honoring this amazing woman.

The post A Lifetime of Giving Back: Celebrating Edythe Kirchmaier at 107 appeared first on Direct Relief.

Proving that charitable fundraisers aren’t limited to bake sales and golf tournaments, the team at Zeldathon — a semiannual gathering of socially-minded  Zelda enthusiasts — has raised more than $300,000 for charities worldwide by livestreaming their gameplay of the The Legend of Zelda series.

The team is now gearing up for Zeldathon Relief, the 13th Zeldathon, which kicks off December 27 in support of Direct Relief.

Fans of the marathon can look forward to their favorite goofy challenges and songs, plus a plethora of new ones, all in homage to the legendary Zelda.

The first marathon to use the new streaming app Pullr to read and integrate donations seamlessly, Zeldathon Relief will feature an improved layout, more games, and guests such as Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe via the brand new Skype Robot.

To learn more about Zeldathon, visit their website here.

As always, 100% of funds to Direct Relief will help people in need gain access to medical care.

The post Zelda, The Legend, The Philanthropist appeared first on Direct Relief.

“It is such a rewarding thing to be able to help other people,” said longtime volunteer Sandra Williams.

Direct Relief’s Personal Care Packs contain basic hygiene items like lotion, soap, facial cleanser, hairbrushes, combs, tooth brushes, tooth paste, dental hygiene items, and other assorted toiletries. They are delivered to families and individuals in need through 32 social service agencies throughout Santa Barbara County, such as Casa Esperanza Santa Barbara.

“These hygiene kits are life-changing, they’re resources that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Jessica Wishan, managing director of the agency that helps people move from homelessness to housing. “For Direct Relief to be giving resources in their own backyard and helping decrease homelessness makes a world of a difference.”

Casa Esperanza’s Volunteer Coordinator, J.B. Bowlin, said that hygiene items like those in the packs are needed year-round, but have a special meaning at this time of year.

“These packs will be great because it will come at a time right before the holiday season… they make [the recipients] feel better about themselves and build up their spirits,” he said.

But the recipients aren’t the only ones who benefit from the packs – many of the volunteers who came out to help said they were thrilled to be able to give back to people in their community.

“It really makes life worthwhile to be able to give back and help other people. We’re all so fortunate and yet we don’t realize it. I think it’s our responsibility to help others,” said Sandra.

This program is made possible by products donated from Chattem Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Prestige Brands, Magno-Humphries Inc., and Sappo Hill Soapworks as well as generous support from Chumash Casino, Trader Joe’s of Goleta, the Union Pacific Foundation, and Wood-Claeyssens Foundation.

Watch this message of thanks from Casa Esperanze staff to the volunteers who packed the kits that help their clients.

The post Volunteers Pack 3,000 Care Kits for Neighbors in Need appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief is eligible for a $100,000 grant through Hospira’s (Mission: Care)²  program but we need your vote! These funds will support our 1,200 safety net health center and clinic partners in all 50 U.S. states who help people access the medical care they need.

Watch and vote for Direct Relief’s video about the safety net support program.

The organization with the most votes will receive the additional $100,000 grant. You can vote once per electronic device during the voting period, which runs through 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 12.

The post Your Vote Needed: Help People in the U.S. Access Health Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

This Tuesday — as every other — Direct Relief was honored by its centenarian volunteer, Edythe, who drove through the rain to the office  to write thank you letters to generous supporters from around the world.

This Tuesday also saw giving on a grand scale with a campaign launched by Etsy in support of Direct Relief and three other nonprofits: Room to Read, Women for Women, and The Nature Conservancy.

To celebrate the day of giving, Etsy donated $100,000 to the four organizations, and is encouraging its global community of artists and craftspeople to join in the campaign.

Anyone can participate in Giving Tuesday and support Direct Relief’s efforts to bring urgently needed medicine and care to people in need by visiting  Etsy’s Crowdrise page.

The post #GivingTuesday: Giving is Good Medicine appeared first on Direct Relief.

These generous developers included Grapefrukt, Ludocity, Glitchnap, SLMN, Coffee Stain, and developers from Mojang such as TheMogMiner and Kris Jelbring.

People were asked to donate an amount of their choice in exchange for all of the games created during the event. 100% of proceeds will benefit Direct Relief’s work to stop Ebola. A big thanks to all the developers, the Humble Bundle community, and everyone who purchased one of the bundles.

If you have a cool fundraising idea, be sure to let us know. Email our team at info@directrelief.org or leave a comment below.

The post Games Against Ebola: Developers for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

1. Visit the CrowdRise website

2. Click on the “Fundraise for this Charity” button

3. Select “Start a new fundraiser”

4. Tell us about the fund

Fundraiser Title
Enter a descriptive name that will be used as the initial title for your fundraising web page. If you would like the funds you raise for Direct Relief to fund a specific program, make sure to mention that in the name (example: Johnson Family fundraiser for Maternal and Child Health). You can edit this later in the Champion Center.

Fundraising Goal
Entering a fundraising goal encourages people to give generously to your cause.

About Your Fundraiser
A short statement to display with the Fund Name allows you to add a few more details, if you choose. This is not required and can be edited later in the Champion Center.

5. Add a photo

6. In order to access, monitor and make edits to your fundraising page, sign up through Facebook or manually by entering:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Email
• Password

Once you have set up your account you will be able to email a link to your fundraising page to your friends and easily share on Facebook, Twitter, etc. The money you raise is automatically sent to Direct Relief so all you need to do is share your page and have fun while you do it!

For additional support, visit the CrowdRise Support Center or contact a representative via the Live Chat and Email.

If you have further questions about fundraising, please contact donations@directrelief.org.

Thank you for choosing to support Direct Relief. Happy fundraising!

The post Help Save Lives: How To Create A Fundraising Webpage Through CrowdRise appeared first on Direct Relief.

“We see these as big impact years,” said Natalie. “We’re creating people that will be the future of this world.”

That’s one of the reasons why the Rowes made the decision to join the Legacy Society by remembering Direct Relief in their will.

“We wanted to start to have a more clearly defined strategy with our philanthropic giving,” said Matt, a financial adviser.

For the Rowes, this meant getting involved more deeply with fewer organizations. They said Direct Relief was a perfect fit because as seasoned travelers (Matt hails from Australia), they wanted to give back to an organization working internationally.

“You can’t travel to other countries and not be changed by what you see,” said Natalie, who added that she was particularly transformed by her time spent in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Having moved to Santa Barbara six years ago when their first daughter was born, the couple recognizes that the beautiful beach town “isn’t the reality that most people get to enjoy every day.”

To ensure their daughters grow up knowing what life is like for many people around the world, they’ve begun to start talking to them about the importance of thinking globally and giving back.

“Direct Relief is the ideal way to have that conversation with them,” said Natalie.

While the Rowes support the mission to improve the health and lives of people in need on an annual basis, they want to make sure that giving continues beyond their time here on earth.

But people like the Rowes are rare. According to nonprofit rating site, GuideStar, nearly 70 percent of Americans make gifts to charity during their lifetime, yet fewer than 10 percent create legacy gifts – though almost everyone has the ability to create one and they help organizations maintain long-term financial stability.

You can join the Rowes in making a lasting impact by remembering Direct Relief in your estate plans. Often referred to as “planned gifts,” these opportunities allow you to create a lasting legacy representing your lifelong values while planning for your own future as well as that of your loved ones.

When you establish any one of the following estate plan gifts and inform us of your intentions, you will qualify for membership in our Legacy Society.

The post Leaving a Legacy: Matt & Natalie Rowe Invest in a Healthy Future appeared first on Direct Relief.

The packs will be pre-positioned at Direct Relief’s headquarters so they are on hand to immediately respond to the next emergency with critically needed supplies. This is the second year that AbbVie has hosted the preparedness event.

The kits contain basic personal care supplies such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, and other products to help families who are left without everyday necessities because of natural disasters or other emergency situations.

“The emergency kits are one way we support Direct Relief to help people in times of need. Last year, emergency kits created by AbbVie volunteers went to survivors of flooding in Colorado and to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan,” said Tracie Haas, Vice President, AbbVie Foundation and Corporate Responsibility.

Direct Relief is grateful for AbbVie’s generous support of its emergency preparedness efforts. Beyond this initiative, Direct Relief has worked with AbbVie and the AbbVie Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, in many other areas to improve the health and lives of those in need, especially during times of disaster. The AbbVie Foundation has provided critical support to Direct Relief to help recovery efforts after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and more recently to help combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

AbbVie also supports Direct Relief’s Hurricane Preparedness Program in which life-saving medicines and supplies are pre-positioned in advance of hurricane season in at-risk communities in the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean. This ensures the right products will be on-site, ready for immediate distribution if and when a hurricane or other disaster strikes.

In addition to emergency preparedness, Direct Relief and the AbbVie Foundation work together to combat HIV/AIDS worldwide by expanding access to HIV testing for pregnant women in developing countries. Helping soon-to-be moms know their status is a critical step in preventing the transmission of HIV to children. Over the last decade, more than 26 million tests have been provided through this program.

The post AbbVie Employees Ready 1,000 Family Emergency Kits appeared first on Direct Relief.

More than six years ago, a group of local high school and middle school students came together out of a desire to help people in need around the world by raising funds and awareness for Direct Relief. Their focus was maternal and child health and their goal was to raise money to support safe births around the world. Since they began, the students have raised nearly $180,000.

The Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs prove that no matter your age, you can make a difference. Over time, this network of Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs has expanded to every high school and most of the middle schools in the Santa Barbara area where Direct Relief is headquartered. They annually hold a flower sale during the month of April with all the proceeds going to Direct Relief.

This fall, Youth 4 Direct Relief clubs have been encouraged to focus their fundraising on Direct Relief’s Ebola relief work. To date, Direct Relief has sent over $6 million in medical supplies to West Africa, and more will be headed to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, over the next few months.

The post Start a Youth 4 Direct Relief Chapter at Your School appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Right now we are witnessing a human catastrophe in West Africa with the Ebola crisis,” he says in a video released to raise funds and awareness for the response efforts. “Please join me in supporting Direct Relief.”

Direct Relief is sending protective gear such as gowns, masks, and goggles to health workers in Ebola-affected areas as well as medicines such as antibiotics and oral rehydration solutions to help treat patients.

So far, ten shipments valued at more than $862,000 have been sent to Sierra Leone and Liberia, with another airlift of urgently requested supplies on the way. But more is needed. Your contribution can have twice the life-saving impact when you join Martin and donate here: http://dpchm.de/ebola_dr.

The post Double Your Impact in the Fight Against Ebola: Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore Commits to $50,000 Match appeared first on Direct Relief.

Writing a review is a free, easy way to support Direct Relief’s work—your honest feedback helps spread the word to others who are less familiar with Direct Relief’s mission to improve the health and lives of people in need.

Your experience and insight matter, and your commitment to Direct Relief helps keep the good work going. Anyone who has firsthand experience with Direct Relief and is not a paid employee can write a review on GuideStar and leave a comment on Charity Navigator.

To write a review on GuideStar, please click here… And if you have an extra minute, leave a comment on Charity Navigator, too!

GuideStar and Charity Navigator are independent nonprofit organizations who provide unbiased evaluations aimed at advancing transparency, helping donors make informed giving decisions, and enabling well-run charities to demonstrate their commitment to proper stewardship of every dollar they raise.

Over the last 10 years, Direct Relief has received numerous awards and recognitions from some of the nation’s best independent evaluators of charities and humanitarian relief organizations. Direct Relief maintains GuideStar’s Gold Participant rating as well as Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating, which both recognize charities for high-performance in a number of key areas: financial, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and results.

Reviews are an important tool for any nonprofit and dedicated supporters who are able to take a few minutes to share their stories about Direct Relief’s work, are incredibly important. These stories not only help with outreach and fundraising, but also give important insight into how we’re doing.

The post Reviews Wanted: How Your Words Can Help People in Need appeared first on Direct Relief.

Why Monthly Donations Make A Big Difference

Savvy supporters know that regular gifts enable Direct Relief to better plan for the future and continue to build sustainable health systems that are vital for people who would otherwise not be able to afford care. When you choose to support Direct Relief on a monthly basis, the impact of your support is amplified.

Becoming a monthly contributor allows you to give smaller amounts on a regular basis. It’s the long-term, committed supporters who truly enable Direct Relief and its partners to bring about successful change in areas most in need.

If you already give regularly and need to make any changes to your recurring gift, such as updating your credit card number, expiration date, the frequency of your donation, or the amount you wish to give, you can do so here or by calling (805) 964-4767.

• Click here to change or cancel your monthly donation

The post Monthly Donations Matter: Simple Action, Major Impact appeared first on Direct Relief.

One thousand family dental kits are ready to send to local families in need thanks to the human resources team from the Santa Barbara Citrix office who packed the kits yesterday as part of their Global Day of Impact.

“We had no idea the scope of Direct Relief’s work and how much it had developed its domestic efforts. It’s great to see that the work is truly in your backyard as well as all around the world,” said Amy Meyer, Vice President of Human Resources Consulting and Services at Citrix.

The kits – which contain toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss – will be distributed to local organizations providing dental care to Santa Barbara County kids in need, including Eastside Family Dental Clinic; Isla Vista Youth Projects; Santa Barbara County Education Health Linkages and Migrant Program; and the Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center.

Families who receive dental care and education from these local Direct Relief partners are given dental kits with everything they need to practice good hygiene while at home, as many local families cannot afford to buy these essential supplies.

In providing local families access to treatment, education, and the supplies our partners are working to combat one of the most common chronic childhood diseases: tooth decay.

Dental care for children is one of the greatest health needs in Santa Barbara County. For over ten years, Direct Relief has been working with local partners to help children from low-income families who could not otherwise afford these healthcare services.

Direct Relief is grateful to the volunteers from the local Citrix for donating their time to help make this local program possible.

The post Citrix Volunteers Ready 1,000 Dental Kits for Families in Need appeared first on Direct Relief.

“The events have helped a lot of women meet their babies for the first time under good care,” Direct Relief Women Chair, Mari Mitchel told the crowd.

More than 200 people attended the event that featured special guest Dr. Steve Arrowsmith, a world-renowned obstetric fistula surgeon who also serves as an adviser for Direct Relief’s fistula programs.

Dr. Arrowsmith explained that obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal that is a consequence of untreated, obstructed labor. He said that on average, women with fistula labor for more than three days because they don’t have access to a skilled attendant at birth.

Left untreated, women with fistula uncontrollably leak urine and/or feces. “They smell like walking outhouses,” said Dr. Arrowsmith. As a result, many suffer humiliation, isolation and stigma in addition to physical pain.

If women with obstetric fistula are identified and able to travel to a hospital, fistula can be treated with surgical repair. Direct Relief supports fistula surgeons around the world, like Dr. Arrowsmith, with the medical supplies needed for the surgery. It also supports post-surgery reintegration and counseling programs to help fistula survivors thrive after their repair.

To help prevent obstetric fistula, Direct Relief equips trained midwives with Midwife Kits containing all the tools needed for a skilled provider to protect a mother during childbirth and bring a baby safely into the world. The funds raised at the Mother’s Day event enable this life-saving program to exist.

Many thanks to Rachael Stein and Kim Thomas for chairing this year’s event as well as to the rest of the Direct Relief Women for their advocacy, service, and financial giving that supports the work of Direct Relief in creating healthy families around the world.

Additional thanks goes to the event sponsors: Alamar Capital Management; Alamo Self Storage; Ambient Event Design; Classic Party Rentals; Daniel Gibbings Jewelry; Duo Cooling Systems; Firestone Walker Brewing Company; Florabundance; Kirby-Jones; Mentor Worldwide LLC; Montecito Bank & Trust; Signature Parking; LLC; The Solvang Bakery; Straight Up Cocktail Service; Stein Goodies & Gifts; and WMD Asset Management.

The post Direct Relief Women Raises Funds for 6,000 Safe Births appeared first on Direct Relief.