The Summit That Could Reshape Your Crypto Strategy

Join 27 top crypto experts as they reveal the exact tools and frameworks they use to find winning coins. This 3-day online event is free to attend-but the takeaways could be priceless.

Thomas Tighe reflects on 24 years leading the international health nonprofit Direct Relief

GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA
January 20, 2025

SANTA BARBARA, Calif (AP) -- Just days before ending his 24-year tenure as president and CEO of Direct Relief, Thomas Tighe was still so energized talking about delivering free medications to people who couldn't afford them that he seemed to forget he was standing inside an enormous "cold room," set to a crisp 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).

Tighe, 64, leaned over boxes of Granix, a $1,500-per-dose cancer-related medication on its way to clinics in Central America and Africa. Each container had an advanced sensor to track its location, measure light exposure and monitor temperature.

"Medications and therapies are increasingly sophisticated," he said. "If we don't address that gap, then the only people who will benefit from advances in medical science will be people who can pay for it."

Direct Relief's mission is to expand healthcare access. Founded in 1948, the group supplies free medical resources across the U.S. and globally. Tighe helped transform its operations, embracing technology and courting corporate partners, guided by the idea that a nonprofit health venture could and should run as efficiently as a commercial one.

Today, Direct Relief runs out of a 155,000-square-foot headquarters reminiscent of an Amazon warehouse. It is the 5th largest charity in the United States, and distributed $1.6 billion in medicine and supplies last year.

Tighe spoke to The Associated Press in December about Direct Relief's growth and responding to crises like Ukraine and climate change. His answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You were a lawyer and a Senate staffer, a Peace Corps volunteer and later one of its chief staff members. How did you find yourself at Direct Relief?

A: In the Peace Corps, I got a sense of the absence of opportunity that exists in life. You see personally how many great people, just by virtue of where they were born and their circumstances, that dictates the course of their life.

Directionally, the opportunity at Direct Relief was familiar to the Peace Corps, because here's an organization with a strong history started in a different era. So how do you retain the purpose, the spirit, the sense of service? But the risk is always looking backwards. It's not 1948 and new opportunities exist, new tools exist.

Q: It was 2000, when much of the technology we rely on today was in its nascency. Yet you embraced innovation early on, why?

A: We're trying to make a charitable site as efficient as if it were a commercial site. If you look in our distribution center, you can't tell that this is all done free of charge, and that is by design.

The idea was to bring the best that we're learning in the commercial sector to bear in something that is philanthropy. We were not necessarily the first, but a relatively early adopter for nonprofits using many of the techniques and systems that are common in the business setting.

Q: Corporate partnerships and philanthropy seem to have played a big role in Direct Relief's success.

A: There's no way forward without the involvement of the talent and the resources in the private sector. The one dimensional thing that corporations are bad and nonprofits are good ... I never accepted that premise. Why not invite everyone? It's their world too.

When the 2004 Asian tsunami happened, Google had a link to help the victims and Direct Relief was one of the groups that showed up. We received more support from people in one day than we had in 20 years.

It was a big eye opener. We saw the opportunity to not make everything about obtaining money, but encourage the contribution of services. FedEx has been the instrument through which we've been able to do much of the distribution. SAP provided their enterprise system. Extending those services to us is far more valuable than if they just gave us a cash equivalent.

Q: Direct Relief donates medicines and supplies, but now it also funds rooftop solar and backup battery systems for health clinics. What led you there?

A: We're trying to make sure there's a resilient power source for the most vulnerable people. In Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, unless power was restored, health services were not going to be restored. It was an easy call to recognize the unanimity among its health professionals that we had to get power restored.

When we thought back, versions of that always had happened. Healthcare is highly dependent on power, with electronic medical records, the diagnostic tools, cold-storage medications.

We were trying not to do it because we thought, 'We're not a power provider.' But it's integral to health services. And like anything, if you say 'Someone needs to fix that' enough times and no one does, you think, 'I guess it's us. Let's lean into it.'

Q: You just got back from Ukraine, your last trip as CEO.

A: I've been to Ukraine a dozen times. Direct Relief has been able to provide a lot of support to backstop the medical supply as well as fund some of the activities there.

There's no quit in the Ukrainian people. To see these people really embodying courage to defend themselves, their families, their homeland, it's moving. It's also heartbreaking because of the number of young men in particular, and just people who have been victimized by the bombing.

I was there in part to just tell them that they still have Direct Relief support. People continue to contribute for Ukraine. I think it's probably been over $100 million in cash since the war began nearly three years ago. The contribution of products in the corporate sectors is about $1.5 billion.

It's by far the largest thing Direct Relief has done in its history.

Q: In your 24 years here, what are you most proud of?

A: It's been rewarding to be part of the evolution of the organization. To see a relatively small group of people tackle tough issues and do it as well as more prominent groups or bigger places, all from a warehouse in Goleta.

Almost everyone I encounter in this job in 24 years is trying to do something positive, with great motivation. So it's hard to be cynical about the future prospects of the world when literally almost everyone I meet is like, 'How can I help? What can we do? I'm concerned about this.'

My personal experience here has been about positive things and generosity, empathy, desire to help. So it's a weirdly positive view of our species.

----

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'Muslim Takeover' Threatens American Women

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has expressed her fears regarding what she believes to be the most significant threat to the freedom of American women.

Cathie Wood's Alpha Surge: $250 Million Circle Windfall, Big AMD Buys

Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Invest, has recently been on a hot streak of successful and high-profile trades through her flagship ARK ETFs. 

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

Bernie Sanders Shares First Thing He Would Do As President — And It Could Be A Jab At Elon Musk

Bernie Sanders lost the 2016 and 2020 presidential races. In a recent interview, Sanders shared what he would do first if he were president.

Elon Musk Says 'Clear Path' To Restoring Hearing With Neuralink, But The Deaf Community Want To Have Their 'Say'

Elon Musk's Neuralink faces backlash from the deaf community after proposing brain implant technology to restore hearing, with deaf adults calling for inclusion in the research process.

A 64% Dividend From Gold? - Ad

Gold is soaring. But here's what no one's talking about: a way to earn a 64% dividend-paid in real cash every 30 days. No trading. No risky mining stocks. Just one simple move in your brokerage account... and you could start collecting monthly income almost instantly.

Nike soars on a production shift away from China, but it warns of a $1 billion tariff hit

Nike's shares jumped at the opening bell Friday after the company said it's shifting some production away from China. But it also warned that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will cost it about $1 billion before it makes internal changes, which include “surgical” price increases in the U.S. starting this fall.

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14179, a brief "AI Wealth Window" is opening now. Genius investor James Altucher has released 3 AI wealth-building strategies to take advantage of Trump's genius Executive Order 14179. James believes you could see $10,000 grow to $1 MILLION or more over the next few years.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney says trade talks with US resume after Canada rescinded tech tax

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Sunday trade talks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax U.S. technology firms.

A Historic Gold Announcement Is About to Rock Wall Street - Ad

The greatest investor of all time is about to validate what Garrett Goggin has been saying for months: Gold is entering a once-in-a-generation mania. Front-running Buffett has never been more urgent - and four tiny miners could be your ticket to 100X gains.

The Senate is putting Trump's big bill back on track but hurdles remain

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans appeared Friday to push back on track after a flurry of last-minute revisions, including , but there's still a long way to go ahead of expected weekend votes.

Occidental Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Surge In Monday Pre-Market: What's Going On?

Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE: OXY), Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX) climbed 1.95%, 1.53% and 1.31% during Monday pre-market trading session after oil prices have skyrocketed to their highest point since January, sparking concerns about potential supply disruptions.

The Missing Ingredient for Big Tech's $3T Recipe? - Ad

Big Tech doesn't build everything; they buy what's next. And only Emteq's tech offers real behavior insights for smart glasses, key to unlocking the $3T XR market. Their patented sensors track live facial muscle movements. With health-focused smart glasses in demand, only Emteq has this tech.

T-Mobile Stock (TMUS) Plunges After SoftBank's $4.8B Share Sale: Report

T-Mobile stock is down over 4% after SoftBank reportedly sold $4.8 billion in shares at a discount. This major share sale by a key investor is contributing significantly to the stock's decline Tuesday.

Japan launches a climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight

TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Sunday launched a satellite to monitor greenhouse gas emissions using its mainstay rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

FDA requires updated warning about rare heart risk with COVID shots

WASHINGTON (AP) — said Wednesday it has expanded existing warnings on the two leading COVID-19 vaccines about a rare heart side effect mainly seen in young men.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Steve Jobs Took Secrecy To Fight Club Levels For This Critical Mission At Apple — 'People Thought They Knew…But Nobody Knew'

Apple's original iPhone team, under Steve Jobs, operated with intense secrecy, likening their work to "Fight Club," with no one outside the core group knowing the device's design until its 2007 debut.

Nations are meeting to drum up trillions to combat poverty — but the US isn't going

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Many of the world’s nations are gathering starting Monday in Spain for a high-level conference to tackle the and try to drum up trillions of dollars needed to close it. The United States, previously a major contributor, pulled its participation, so finding funding will be tough.

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens - Ad

This company is making heart disease easier to detect with AI. Their tech has officially been designated a "Breakthrough" by the FDA. You now have an opportunity to get in at a potential inflection point.

Russian Spy Chief And CIA Director Ratcliffe Agree To 'Call Any Time' Amid Tensions: Report

Russian spy chief Sergei Naryshkin and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, have reportedly agreed to have direct communication at any time.

Asia Markets Mixed, Europe Slips, Dollar Weakens Further As Tariff Deadline Looms - Global Markets Today While US Slept

U.S. markets up on trade deals and rate cut hopes, but concerns persist. Mixed economic data, Central bank expectations, and geopolitical risks affect performance. Asia and Europe markets mostly lower, commodities mixed, USD weak on trade uncertainty.

The Unlikely Duo Rethinking Wearable Technology - Ad

Why did a surgeon and Snap exec team up? They saw the missing ingredient in the $84T wearables market: behavior. So they built Emteq and invented smart glasses sensors to track real-time expressions, unlocking insights into why we do things. With a $15M term sheet already secured, Emteq is what Big Tech's missing.

US brings charges in North Korean remote worker scheme that officials say funds weapons program

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department announced criminal charges Monday in connection with a scheme by North Korea to fund its weapons program through the salaries of remote information technology workers employed unwittingly by U.S. companies.

The Summit That Could Reshape Your Crypto Strategy - Ad

Join 27 top crypto experts as they reveal the exact tools and frameworks they use to find winning coins. This 3-day online event is free to attend-but the takeaways could be priceless.

Trump's Crypto Advisor David Sacks Says July Will Be A 'Big Month' — Says President Supports Legislation On Market Structure And Stablecoins

President Donald Trump's crypto and AI advisor, David Sacks, praised on Thursday the Senate’s timeline and plan for crypto legislation that proposes dividing oversight of digital assets between market regulators.

College graduates face toughest job market in more than a decade as hiring slows

WASHINGTON (AP) — While completing a master’s degree in data analysis, Palwasha Zahid moved from Dallas to a town near . The location made it easy to visit the campuses of tech stalwarts such as Google, Apple, and .

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

Hong Kong's security net extends beyond arrests as small businesses pressured

HONG KONG (AP) — It’s been years since all but silenced pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong. But a crackdown on dissent in the semiautonomous Chinese city is still expanding, hitting restaurants, bookstores and other small businesses.

These are the celebs who are attending Jeff Bezos’ Venice wedding

VENICE, Italy (AP) — arrived in Venice on Thursday, leading a star-studded guest list of celebrities descending on the lagoon city for the weekend wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.

A 64% Dividend From Gold? - Ad

Gold is soaring. But here's what no one's talking about: a way to earn a 64% dividend-paid in real cash every 30 days. No trading. No risky mining stocks. Just one simple move in your brokerage account... and you could start collecting monthly income almost instantly.

Trump vents online about service provider after conference call marred by glitch

WASHINGTON (AP) — On Monday afternoon, the president of the United States was just another person complaining online about his service provider.

Asia Markets Mixed, Europe Rises While Dollar Gains - Global Markets Today While US Slept

On Tues, U.S. markets closed mixed w/ S&P 500 & Nasdaq down due to large-cap tech stocks, while Dow gained. Volatility high, data supported Fed's stance. Asia markets vary, Europe up, commodities steady, U.S. futures and dollar index rise.

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14179, a brief "AI Wealth Window" is opening now. Genius investor James Altucher has released 3 AI wealth-building strategies to take advantage of Trump's genius Executive Order 14179. James believes you could see $10,000 grow to $1 MILLION or more over the next few years.

Elon Musk renews his criticism of Trump's big bill as it faces a key Senate vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — on Saturday doubled down on his distaste for President sprawling tax and spending cuts bill, arguing the that Republican senators are scrambling to pass would kill jobs and bog down burgeoning industries.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright trendadvisor.net
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service