For nearly 80 years, Direct Relief has stood ready to meet the cascading challenges of global disasters, delivering life-saving medicines, […more…]

As Direct Relief’s new CEO, Amy Weaver leads a global humanitarian organization with deep roots in Montecito, where it was founded in 1948. Today, Direct Relief delivers nearly $2 billion annually in medical aid and financial assistance to people facing poverty and disasters worldwide. Praised for running with the efficiency of a leading corporation, the nonprofit consistently ranks among the nation’s top five charities in the United States, according to Forbes. With Weaver taking over the reins in May 2025, Direct Relief is now being run by someone with significant experience in the corporate world. A Washington State native, Weaver [...more...]

Direct Relief has a new President and CEO, Amy Weaver having taken the reins from retiring Thomas Tighe, who over […more…]

Direct Relief has debuted a new public service announcement featuring Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian, and long-time supporter Jane Lynch. In […more…]

Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the […more…]

New infusion of funds will ensure dozens of nonprofit facilities serving vulnerable people can fulfill critical role when most needed. […more…]

In November 2022, a tornado tore through Idabel, Oklahoma, demolishing dozens of buildings, including the Kiamichi Family Medical Center. It’s […more…]

In 1945, William Zimdin, an Estonian immigrant who had fled fascism to California, dedicated his fortune to sending relief parcels […more…]

Hurricane Katrina was a major turning point in the history of Direct Relief. Until then, the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that […more…]

Direct Relief has been so efficient at serving as one of the country’s most effective humanitarian assistance organizations that it’s […more…]

For a relatively large and well-established nonprofit organization in our community, United Way of Santa Barbara County over the last […more…]

By the time the Thomas Fire turned toward Montecito in December 2017, Santa Barbara County’s first responders had already spent […more…]

Kerri Murray, a veteran disaster relief professional, first saw ShelterBox in action in 2010 as Haiti was reeling from a […more…]