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Sobrato Philanthropies Invests $5 Million in Americares Emergency Response Program

  • December 17, 2024
  • An Americares relief worker assesses storm damage in Valdosta, Georgia, after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Photo by Ray Carson/Americares.

Stamford, Conn. December 17, 2024 – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has received a commitment of $5 million in strategic impact investment from Sobrato Philanthropies to bolster its ability to respond to major disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide.

The $5 million impact investment loan will allow Americares to immediately access funding to launch responses to major emergencies globally, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, disease outbreaks and other disasters. The funds will also help Americares to sustain its commitment to communities in need around the world, especially in locations with long-running humanitarian crises such as Gaza, where Americares is helping to increase access to medicine, medical supplies and mental health support. Impact investing funds minimize the timing gap between the commitment of funds to a charitable organization and the receipt of donations.

“With Sobrato Philanthropies’ support, Americares can accelerate responses to sudden onset emergencies and sustain responses to long-running humanitarian crises,” said Americares Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs Provash Budden. “This investment is more than financial—it’s a commitment to making sure health care reaches those in need quickly even during the most challenging times. Together, we’re making a lasting impact for communities in crisis around the world.”

Americares responds to more than 35 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. At the same time, the organization maintains a constant state of readiness so that it can deploy quickly when disaster strikes. Americares relief workers are among the first to respond to emergencies, helping to restore health services for survivors. After disasters, the organization often stays for months—or years—helping communities recover.

“We believe in investing in solutions that make a measurable impact,” said John A. Sobrato, philanthropist and board chair emeritus of both Sobrato Philanthropies and The Sobrato Organization. “Americares is a proven leader in emergency response, and this loan will allow the organization to act even faster when disaster strikes and communities are most in need. We are proud to partner with an organization dedicated to saving lives and improving health worldwide.”

Sobrato Philanthropies is part of The Sobrato Organization, a multi-generational, family-owned firm that has played a dynamic role in the emergence and growth of Silicon Valley for nearly 70 years. Sobrato Philanthropies’ mission is to partner with communities to meet immediate needs, address systemic barriers and pursue social justice to build a more equitable and sustainable world.

A leader in the humanitarian sector, Americares is No. 8 on Forbes 2024 list of America’s Top 100 Charities and has a four-star rating—the highest possible—from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability of medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand health services; and prevent disease and promote good health.