Tag archives: direct relief

Celebrating the Relief Chief
By Richard Mineards   |   December 17, 2024

Thomas Tighe, who is retiring as head of Direct Relief after 24 years was fêted by members of the charity’s Legacy Society at the organization’s headquarters. Since starting in 2000, Tighe has seen the charity’s expansion become the fifth largest charity in the U.S. among the largest providers of charitable medicine in America and globally. […]

Direct Relief
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 26, 2024

At the end of July, Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of the year after 24 years leading the organization, a period that saw unprecedented expansion of the nonprofit’s critical work to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty […]

Vintners Give Back: Biennial Auction Raises Money for Direct Relief and Local Health Services
By Gabe Saglie   |   November 19, 2024

The MJ had a seat at the table, and we witnessed the power of giving back. The Santa Barbara Wine Auction was back at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Goleta this past weekend, drawing hundreds of oenophiles who dressed up, showed up and raised their paddles up. This is a biennial party put on by the […]

Alycia Clark: Leading the Way as Head Pharmacist at Direct Relief
By Dalina Michaels   |   October 24, 2023

In the realm of humanitarian aid and global healthcare, individuals like Alycia Clark stand as beacons of hope and progress. As the head pharmacist at Direct Relief, Clark plays a pivotal role in delivering vital medical supplies and assistance to those in need worldwide. Her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to improving global healthcare have […]

The Locals Helping Ukraine
By Zach Rosen   |   May 31, 2022

While Ukraine can seem very far away and hard to help from here, these are some stories of local organizations and people that are helping Ukrainians both close by and afar.  ShelterBox USA For years ShelterBox USA has been helping communities in crisis around the world, even being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in […]

New Development at the Foodbank
By Richard Mineards   |   March 22, 2022

Alisse Harris is the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s new chief development officer. A resident of the Santa Ynez Valley, with close ties to both the north and south ends of the county, Harris most recently spearheaded the public phase of Direct Relief’s $40 million capital campaign to build and launch a new warehouse in […]

Santa Barbara: The Epicenter of (Direct) Relief
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 2, 2021

Direct Relief has been so efficient at serving as one of the country’s most effective humanitarian assistance organizations that it’s easy to overlook the scope and the scale of what the nonprofit achieves. Just last week alone, for example, Direct Relief airlifted a huge planeload of medical supplies and other equipment to Haiti after the […]

International Women’s Day
By Lynda Millner   |   March 26, 2020

Direct Relief (DR) was a bustling place for International Women’s Day. Over one hundred folks gathered to learn and to help pack 2,000 hygiene kits for women. To begin the morning there was a baker’s delight of sweets and fruits of many kinds along with a variety of coffees all organized by Kelly Walker and […]

Hometown Healthcare Heroes
By Richard Mineards   |   October 24, 2019

Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief for 19 years, was lauded at a sold-out Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Healthcare Heroes lunch at the Montecito Club. During his time with the non profit, it has provided cash grants of more than $40 million and furnished more than $4 billion in essential medicines, equipment and […]

Direct Relief Women
By Lynda Millner   |   June 6, 2019

Direct Relief Women held a Mother’s Day celebration in the new mammoth facility. Direct Relief Women has enabled over 60,000 safe births since its inception. Every $25 makes one safe delivery possible. Shockingly there are 303,000 women who die each year from preventable complications occurring during pregnancy and childbirth – 830 per day. We know […]

Fine Wine
By Richard Mineards   |   March 1, 2018

Pioneering winemaker Fred Brander was honored as Vintner of the Year at a socially gridlocked gala in aid of Direct Relief at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The biennial oenophile bash and wine auction, which attracted 600 guests and was emceed by The Bachelor host Chris Harrison, raised a hefty $1.2 million, with a third of the […]

Laguna Blanca Raises Funds
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 22, 2018

On Tuesday, February 13, Laguna families came together at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club in the name of love and music to benefit Direct Relief and all those affected by the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslides. In addition to helping others and enjoying an evening of music by Laguna’s talented students, guests heard from Laguna […]