Americares history

In March 1982, the first airlift delivered $2.4 million worth of medicine and supplies to Poland.

In 1983, Americares and the Knights of Malta started shipping medical supplies to Central America.

In May 1984, the organization was given the President’s Volunteer Action Award for International Humanitarianism from President Ronald Reagan.

Sherrid, Pamela, “Leverage: Robert Macauley’s Charitable Operations,” Forbes, May 6, 1985.

In June 1987, Macauley was referred to in the media as a “one-man Red Cross.” His organization had, since its birth, distributed $140 million worth of medicine and supplies around the world.

In April 1988, AmeriCares launched its HomeFront division.

MacFarquhar, Neil, “First United States Aid Shipment Arrives for Iran Quake Victims,” Associated Press, June 24, 1990.

In March 1991, the private relief group airlifted medical supplies, and medical personnel from the White House staff and the Mayo Clinic, into Kuwait City, just days after that city was liberated from Iraqi occupation by a United States-led multinational military force.

During 1993, Americares was rated "the Best Charity in America" by Money.

The Americares Free Clinics were established in 1994 to serve the medical needs of the working poor.

The organization created Camp AmeriKids in 1995 to provide an outdoor camping experience for inner-city children from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who were affected by HIV/AIDS.

In April 1996, the ninth annual HomeFront project drew 10,000 volunteers in New York and Connecticut.

In January 1997, the second AmeriCares Free Clinic opened in Danbury, Connecticut.

In April 1998, AmeriCares delivered medicines and supplies to Albanians in strife-torn Kosovo through Mother Teresa’s order, the Missionaries of Charity.

In addition to responding to disasters, in February 2000, the organization began an ongoing partnership with the Giao Diem Humanitarian Foundation to sponsor mobile health clinics, hospitals, orphanages, and elementary schools throughout Vietnam.

Consequently, when an earthquake struck Peru in June 2001, 11 tons of medical supplies were already en route by sea from Miami as part of a long-term humanitarian aid campaign.

On March 31, 2005, with $40 million in donations in hand, AmeriCares stopped accepting contributions to its Tsunami Relief Fund (TRF). The source of the funds also showed, for the first time, the significant power of the Internet.

“AmeriCares to Build 20 Rural Health Centres in Quake Hit Areas,” Baluchistan Times, May 22, 2006.