Record $50 million gift will expand medicine access through Americares

Americares has received the largest donation in its history, a $50 million gift from an unnamed Connecticut family that has supported the nonprofit for 30 years. The funding will allow the organization to expand while many global health groups are scaling back after major reductions in US aid.

Half of the gift will support Americares’ goal of helping 100 million people access quality healthcare by 2030. The nonprofit plans to provide more medicines, equipment and other supplies through its network of more than 4,000 health centers, focusing on underfunded countries across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Latin America. It will also increase assistance to US health centers in states where more residents are expected to lack insurance. The remaining $25 million will strengthen Americares’ endowment.

The contribution follows substantial disruption to the organization’s work. Americares previously received about 10% of its funding from the US government. Lost support contributed to the cancellation of a maternal care project in Tanzania, the closure of clinics serving Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and the abandonment of a planned medical supply-chain project in Gaza.

Private donations cannot replace the billions withdrawn from international assistance. But this record gift gives Americares greater capacity to supply local health providers and respond to more than 20 active emergencies.