The acts of giving and helping others are tremendously powerful. Not only does charitable giving open one’s eyes to a new perspective on life, but it also increases human feelings of connectedness by providing the knowledge that you, a single individual, put your unique talents to work to make a direct impact on the life of another human being. Volunteering time and talents and charitable giving allow us all to recognize that we have the power to effect change; what can be more fulfilling than realizing we all have the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Dr. James Jackson is a remarkable individual who put his experience and talents to work to effect change. Dr. Jackson describes himself as “the happiest man in the world.” However, his work as an international economic consultant in developing countries put him in direct contact with the unhappiest of situations in which people were impoverished, sick, and dying. Tragically, Dr. Jackson learned that many of these sick patients in developing countries often were denied care because the most basic medical supplies and equipment were not available to local clinics. After seeing this exact situation play out before his eyes during a trip to Brazil, Dr. Jackson was moved to action to provide relief to such people. When he returned to the U.S., Dr. Jackson began collecting medical supplies and storing them in the garage of his Colorado home. Within a month’s time, he was able to amass enough supplies to fill a cargo container; he shipped this to Brazil, and the rest is, well, history.

From this beginning that centered on the commitment of one individual to make a difference, Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) has grown to be the largest provider of the highest quality donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. Not only is the organization notable for the quantity of supplies donated, but it is equally noteworthy for its constant innovation including efficient and accurate inventory systems, supply chain management, expert management of logistics, and strong in-country relationships. Since its founding, Project C.U.R.E. has reached patients and families in over 130 countries, delivering health and hope to the world’s most needy people. To meet these needs, the organization has expanded within the United States and currently maintains large distribution warehouses in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Tennessee. It operates over 400,000 square feet of warehouse space in 17 US cities, receives 26,000 types of donated medical supplies and equipment, and hosts more than 17,000 volunteers each year to sort, inspect, inventory, and pack supplies for delivery all over the globe. Operating on 1.6% administrative overhead, Project C.U.R.E is one of the 20 most cost-effective nonprofits in the US. More information and statistics about Project C.U.R.E. can be found in the organization’s annual report.

Project C.U.R.E.’s mission and services are indispensable in the modern world. The resource gap between the rich and poor is staggering, but Project C.U.R.E.’s donations help to fill the health gaps in developing countries by giving doctors and nurses the health tools they need to deliver quality care and medical services to their communities. As a result of the compassion, dedication, and hard work of thousands of volunteers across the US who give and coordinate the shipping of life-saving medical supplies every week from the Project C.U.R.E.’s warehouses, thousands of people are alive today who otherwise would not be.

With the help of so many dedicated and passionate supporters, Project C.U.R.E is able to continue delivering health and hope around the world, and Passport Health is proud to be able to provide support to this organization that is doing so much global good. Passport Health recently donated gloves, syringes, thermometers, and other medical supplies to support Project C.U.R.E.’s important, life-saving global work, and Passport Health looks forward to continuing to support Project C.U.R.E. in the future.

Barbara Bush once wisely observed, “Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.” Passport Health encourages you to put your talents to work in the service of others; not only will you expand your personal horizons, but you also have the opportunity to add value to society via individual good work.