Americares provides approximately $900 million in medicine and supplies annually. It began with a request from Pope John Paul II.
A Private Audience
Robert C. "Bob" Macauley was a successful businessman and World War II veteran. In 1981, the Pope invited him for a private audience and asked if he could help raise funds to buy medicines for Poland, then suffering under martial law.
Macauley collaborated with two friends to collect $1.5 million worth of donated medicines from U.S. pharmaceutical companies. In March 1982, they airlifted over $3.2 million in aid to Poland, exceeding their goal. Macauley realized this model could serve needy populations worldwide, and Americares was born.
No Salary, Maximum Impact
Macauley served as unpaid CEO from the founding until 2002, funding operations through corporate pharmaceutical donations and his personal network. He recognized that pharmaceutical companies regularly had surplus stock that could save lives if properly distributed.
Since its founding, Americares has distributed over $20 billion in aid across 164 countries. In fiscal year 2024, the organization responded to 35 emergencies in 28 countries and supports over 4,000 health centers worldwide. Macauley's model of leveraging corporate donations remains the foundation of its work.
Learn more on our Americares page.
