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Words From The Chairman And Executive Director |
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Throughout the year there has been a variety of opportunities, challenges, and successes as outlined in this report. AmericasRelief
Team has been actively engaged in a number of activities that have increased our ability to rapidly respond to crises and to solidify our position as one of the pre-eminent NGOs operating in our category. |
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As you read through this Annual Report, please pay particular note to the number, breadth, and diversity of ART’s activities in support of relief and development efforts. We could not accomplish our growing mission without the support of our dedicated staff and partners and to those; I say a heartfelt “Thank you!” |
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The mission of AmericasRelief
Team (ART) is to reduce the suffering and increase the self-sufficiency of the most vulnerable groups in the Americas, and provide tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. We have met our goals set forth in this mission statement in 2010 only by the hard work of our staff and dedication of our partners. |
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Last year was a big year for ART. Through the Haiti Crisis, we grew more confident in our capabilities and formed stronger partnerships for the future. Moreover, we recognized our weaknesses and the weaknesses in the ecosystem of disaster response. |
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As a result, we have adapted our activities to better support the greater humanitarian logistics effort and are beginning to implement more focused, structured initiatives, e.g. the Florida and Caribbean Basin Network for Disaster Mitigation. Our focus continues to be to provide logistics assistance, which will benefit disaster victims in our region. We are, however, concentrating on sustainable programs which will have a greater impact and longer term benefits for those in need. |
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Dr. Teo Babun, Executive Director |
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About Americas Relief Team |
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AmericasRelief
Team is a private 501(c)3 organization based in Miami and a Florida private sector collaboration of corporations and non-profit organizations created to help the Americas in times of crisis and disasters. ART reacts to immediate crisis, provides ongoing logistics assistance, and plans for future disasters in the region which will require effective coordination of humanitarian relief. ART works in coordination with affected governments, the U.S. government, corporate donors, air and sea cargo carriers, logistics companies, non-governmental experts and others to assess damage when disaster strikes, and then effectively channel emergency relief to the most affected areas. ART conducts multiple programs and initiatives as advocates, coordinators, and facilitators in the planning and implementation for the effective distribution of disaster relief to victims of humanitarian crises in the Americas. |
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Beyond working in the scope of disaster mitigation and response, ART participates in long term sustainable development projects throughout the region. We are either directly or indirectly involved in projects dealing with microenterprise development, education and training initiatives, caring for internally displaced persons and multiple feeding programs. |
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ART is an established member of the South Florida non-profit community. We benefit from a wonderful working relationship with many Latin American and Caribbean consulates working out of Miami, including the consulates of Hon-duras, El Salvador, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, and many others. The con-sulates are continually engaged for input as to needs and specific contingency plans for hurricane season or other emergencies. |
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Logistics is the Achilles heel of emergency response. One of AmericasRelief
Team’s programs is to manage collaborative efforts of corporations and NGOs to help maximize relief aid efforts in the Americas to Internally Displaced
People (IDP) following a humanitarian crisis event; ensuring that the aid can be effectively channeled to the most affected areas and to those most in need. |
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Picture above: Means of transportation which support our logistics efforts.
Picture below: Laparkan Emergency Response Center |
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Logistics Activities Include: |
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Operations of Emergency Response Center |
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Continued Development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
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Shipping & storage collaboration and assistance |
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Vetting of Consignees |
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Matching “mini-grants” to NGOs to help respond to emergency/crisis situations |
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Educational presentations and communications on “cash is best” and humanitarian logistics |
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Collaboration with US SOUTHCOM and other USG agencies |
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Collaboration with TSA and United Nations Logistics Cluster |
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Online NGO Logistics Tools provided via www.americasrelief.org |
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PAILS for Haiti is better described as Providing Aid In Livelihoods and Self-sustainability for the internally displaced persons of Haiti through targeted self-employment initiatives. |
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With the view that self-employment initiatives are an effective tool for reconstruction and development, PAILS for Haiti provides men and women internally displaced in Haiti, and in need of sustainable livelihoods, with a compact medium by which to employ their skills, become self-sufficient, and thereby less
reliant on humanitarian assistance and better able to reintegrate into society. |
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The design of the project is to create nine separate “pails” specifically designed to meet the needs of eight
different employment categories. Filled with the pertinent tools, materials, and equipment to carry out each work function, such as construction, carpentry, seamstress, etc. Pails will be distributed to internally displaced persons so that they can begin finding work and making a new life for themselves and their families. |
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Beyond the hundreds of micro-enterprises that ART was able to start through our partnership with Harvest International in 2010, ART
will be working to exceed that number in 2011. |
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ART is teaming together with the Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management (GMSHRM) to create awareness and raise funds throughout the Miami corporate community for further micro-enterprise development in Haiti! |
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Picture above: Sample of a PAIL for a barber.
Picture below: Group of Haitians receiving PAILS
in order to begin
their self-employed business initiative. |
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Together, Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management (GMSHRM) and AmericasRelief
Team collected new flip-flops and Crocs in all sizes (kids and adults) for earth-quake victims in Haiti. |
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GMSHRM and ART provided these shoes to Harvest International, a ministry with a presence of more than 23 years in Haiti. Harvest International runs feeding programs, medical clinics and supports orphanages and hospitals throughout the country. |
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After the earthquake, Harvest International staff quickly set up three refugee camps in Haiti, the largest in Port-au-Price. Flip-Flops and Crocs collected were given to those in need of shoes amongst the displaced. |
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Picture above: Collection of Crocs and Flip-Flops for Haiti victims after the earthquake.
Picture below: Seaport of Port-au-Prince after earthquake in January of 2010. |
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ART is currently in the process of building a network of in-country disaster mitigation centers in Florida and throughout the Caribbean and Central America, which will help diminish the effects of a disaster. The project provides humanitarian aid and care to key and essential port and emergency response workers and their families, thereby facilitating a swift reopening of ports and airports and allowing for a more steady flow of humanitarian aid into the country. |
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The Florida Center portion of this project provides a convenient drop-off point to the community for donations of disaster relief commodities. It is a humanitarian relief and long-term development staging facility for Non-Profit organizations; the warehouse is used to preposition disaster items that would be shipped in advance of an approaching Atlantic storm, or immediately after a natural disaster. Warehousing is provided at no cost to the users. |
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ART uses clothing collection bins as a means of generating funds for our programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. The income ART receives from used clothing collection bins goes to underwrite such things as shipping, transportation, and warehousing of relief aid to make sure it gets to those in need as fast as possible. We also conduct clothing and shoe drives at offices, churches, schools, and other locations. |
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ART signed a new 5 year contract with Clothing the Poor, LLC effective October 1, 2010. The renewal of the contract brought about a larger monthly contribution from Clothing the Poor than previously received. |
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Through the Freight Calculator, ART provides NGOs the best options for shipping humanitarian relief aid cargo, efficiently and economically. AmericasRelief
Team collaborates with a large number of ocean freight and air cargo companies to leverage quantity discounts for its members and other NGOs. |
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The Freight Calculator is a state-of-the-art quotation and booking tool that provides NGOs with instant competitive quotes, This tool makes it easy and convenient for NGOs to get their relief items shipped at the best prices. |
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The Limited Excess Personal Property Program (LEPP) began in 2010, when ART received $2,000,000/2 years in kind grant from USAID. This gives ART access to the US Government’s excess property. ART is currently strategizing as to how we can use this program to support our programs. |
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On January 13, 2010, one day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, ART mobilized and activated an Emergency Operations Center, helping the general public understand the needs on the ground, providing collection sites in the community, and working with our partners to connect donations to available cargo space. |
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In collaboration with most all of the commercial shipping companies serving Haiti and the Dominican
Republic, many of which are long time partners, we assisted a host of NGOs ship humanitarian aid to displaced persons in Haiti. We collaborated with ocean freight companies, the U.S. Coast Guard, and US SOUTHCOM on shipping options and strategies, getting goods in to Haiti early on – a formidable task given the destruction of the main port in Port-au-Prince, security challenges, and poor road conditions. |
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Ways ART Effectively Responded: |
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Facilitated 6.8 million lbs of humanitarian aid to Haiti, representing donations collected from 36 NGOs. |
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Facilitated Passenger Flights: Collaborated with a key private charter airline partner to secure the first flight to Haiti and transported 82 first-responders. |
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Obtained and Loaded Cargo Flights: Partnering with FedEx, assisted in chartering an available DC10 and loaded it with first-response relief supplies. |
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Mini-Grants to NGOs: Provided eight mini grants of $15,000 each to international NGOs so they could ship needed equipment, supplies, and medicines in commercial vessels (Feed the Children, Harvest International, IRD, ADRA, etc.) |
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Reports: In collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Agents, and other military operations, sent Port Reports to member organizations, informing them of private source and Coast Guard information on logistics issues. |
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Staging Warehouses: Provided over 100 square feet of free staging warehouse space for NGOs moving their donations cargo through Miami. |
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Telethon Fundraiser: Volunteered with the charitable organization Neighbors-4Neighbors to conduct five telethons with CBS News to raise money for transport. |
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Volunteer Support: Assisted TSA (Transit Security Administrators) volunteers and 100 airport workers at the Port-au-Prince airport by providing them with food and water for fifteen days. |
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Handling of Special Requests: As follow up to a United Nations Logistics Cluster request, partnered with The Salvation Army to successfully locate free and rapid shipping for 1600 private donation Care Packages. |
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Dissemination of Military-Related Information: Relayed information and instructions to relevant logistics players and NGOs on access to US Navy ships and military aircraft that accept private sector aid. |
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| In May, more than 200 govern-ment officials, corporations, and non-profit organizations gathered to discuss aid logistics to the Americas and Caribbean following a humanitarian crisis such as a hurricane for this year. AmericasRelief Team hosted its sixth annual Regional Crisis Relief and Logistics Luncheon aboard theCarnival cruise ship, Imagination, at the Port of Miami. |
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The luncheon’s keynote speaker was former Governor of the State of Florida Jeb Bush, who discussed the importance of involving non-profit organizations in the coordination of relief work following natural disasters and human crises in the Caribbean. Bush expressed his strong support of economic and social development in the Caribbean. He also encouraged the members and partners of AmericasRelief Team to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate suffering and help the region recover from the devastation created by natural disasters such as hurricanes and the devastating earthquake that impacted Haiti earlier this year. Governor Bush stated that “these contributions foster goodwill and strengthen Florida’s relationship with our neighbors in the Caribbean.” |
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Picture above: Luncheon Keynote Speaker Former Governor of the State of Florida Jeb Bush
Picture below: Teo Babun and Zafeiria Nomicos of Americas Relief Team
with Bruce Cheadle and Lisa Samson of US SOUTHCOM |
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In August, ART hosted a Disaster Relief Soirée at Mia at Biscayne, which served as a fundraiser for ART’s programs. Through generous donations, we were able to raffle off extraordinary gifts including 2 round-trip tickets to Latin America courtesy of LAN Airlines, a signed football from the Miami Dolphins, tickets to the Actors Playhouse in Coral Gables and brunch at the Doral Country Club. We also hosted a live painting from painter Sergio Torres; he later donated the painting to ART to auction at our next function. |
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Board Members |
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Cliff Deeds
FedEx Express
Dr. Teo A. Babun, Jr.
Americas Relief Team
Danny Thomas
Harvest International, Inc.
John Babun
BBR Services, Inc.
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Dr. Jose Oro
Galway Resources, Ltd.
Ana Guevara
Walmart Latin America
Carlos J. Velez
APL Limited
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Through Project Aid the Americas, ART has partnered with a variety of media partners throughout South Florida. With this project South Floridians now have an opportunity to reach out and help those who have been directly affected by catastrophic events. |
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Statement Of Activities |
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| December 31, 2010 |
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2010 Totals |
Functional |
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Revenue and Support |
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Contributions |
334,850 |
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Other income |
7,700 |
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TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT |
$342,550 |
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Expenses (Program Services) |
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Advocacy |
242,916 |
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Community & Economic Development |
114,161 |
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TOTAL PROGRAM SERVICES |
$357,077 |
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91.5% |
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Expenses (Supporting Services) |
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Management and General |
31,050 |
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8.0% |
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Fundraising |
2,178 |
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0.5% |
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TOTAL EXPENSES |
$390,305 |
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100% |
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CHANGE IN NET ASSETS |
-47,755 |
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NET ASSETS, BEGINNING OF YEAR |
$38,258 |
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NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR |
($9,497) |
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ADRA
Air Parcel Express, Inc.
American Nicaraguan Foundation
American Red Cross
APL Limited
Baptist Health
Boden PR
Carnival Corporation
CBS 4 & Neighbors4Neighbors
Compassion Alliance
Cross International
DAMCO USA
DHL Aviation Americas, Inc.
Enterprise Florida, Inc.
FAVACA
FedEx Express, LAC
Food for the Poor, Inc.
Gateway Florida, Inc.
General Dynamics
Gordon Reyes & Company
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Harvest International, Inc.
IBC Airways
International Relief & Development
LAN
LAPARKAN, Inc.
Miami-Dade Aviation Department
Miami International Airport
Oxfam America
POMTOC
Port of Miami
República
SAHF
Sante Shipping Lines, Inc.
Seaboard Marine
SeaFreight Agencies, Inc.
United States Southern Command
Univision 23
Univision Radio
World Trade Center
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You may also view or print this 2010 Annual Report in a
PDF format |
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