Star-Studded Americares Airlift Benefit Highlights Access to Health

Tony Goldwyn, Shonda Rhimes, Scott Foley, Ross Mathews and Erica Hill Attend New York City Benefit

Stamford, Conn. – April 7, 2025 – The 2025 Americares Airlift Benefit hosted by Emmy-Winning TV Host and Producer Ross Mathews celebrated the organization’s mission to increase access to health in times of disaster and every day.

More than 350 guests attended the April 4 event at Pier Sixty in New York City. In addition to Mathews—best known for “The Drew Barrymore Show” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race”—Americares Board Member and Actor, Director, Producer Tony Goldwyn and Americares Board Member and CNN Anchor and National Correspondent Erica Hill served as special presenters. Other notable guests included Goldwyn’s “Scandal” co-star Scott Foley, actor Marika Domińczyk and famed television producer and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes.

The benefit highlighted Americares emergency responses to the earthquake in Myanmar, the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene, as well as the organization’s health programs in El Salvador and dozens of other countries.

“In this world – in 2025 – ensuring access to health is no easy task. And yet Americares achieves it every day with your support,” Mathews told the crowd. “When others say no, Americares says: Go!”

The featured speakers included Kathy Christian, executive director of the Church Hill Medical Mission, who spoke about the support Americares provided to her community in eastern Tennessee in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Americares rushed her clinic medical aid to stock mobile clinics for farm workers rescued from the floodwaters.

“Our clinic has been partnering with Americares for years to provide free medication and supplies to our uninsured patients. What we didn’t realize was the extent of what Americares could provide in a disaster,” Christian said. “The Americares staff knew that our survivors would need things like subzero sleeping bags, tents, cots, hygiene kits and so much more—in addition to the medical needs. Trust me, we took full advantage of what was available.” 

Puerto Rico Country Director, Global Leadership Team member and Interim Senior Director of Latin America and Caribbean Programs  Eric Jovan Pérez-López also addressed the crowd, telling supporters Americares has provided similar support to clinics serving communities in crisis from El Salvador to Liberia and Ukraine.

Several speakers noted the increased challenges to global health with the loss of foreign aid funding, emphasizing the importance of philanthropy in this moment with lives at risk.

“This is how we make a difference,” said Goldwyn, urging supporters in the room to donate. “This is how we make sure that millions have access to health, a healthy life and a future that benefits all of us.”

The next morning, a group of guests boarded a plane to El Salvador for a unique 48-hour journey, which included volunteer activities and meeting local health workers, patients and community leaders at an Americares clinic that provides low-cost, high-quality health care.

Americares President and CEO Christine Squires said both the benefit at Pier Sixty, and the whirlwind trip to El Salvador, exceeded her expectations.

“I am humbled by the remarkable show of support from our donors, whose kindness allows us to provide lifesaving health programs and emergency aid to those in crisis,” Squires said. “Now, more than ever, our work must continue. Lives depend on it.”

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