35th Americares Airlift Benefit Raises Nearly $1.8 Million

Event highlighted Americares emergency work in Ukraine, Puerto Rico and Florida 

Stamford, Conn. – Oct. 3, 2022 – The 35th annual Americares Airlift Benefit on Oct. 1, 2022, raised nearly $1.8 million for the health-focused relief and development organization’s programs worldwide. Craig Melvin, award-winning news anchor on NBC News’ “TODAY,” and co-host of “3rd Hour of TODAY” served as Master of Ceremonies. 

“We are so grateful for the incredible support that we received at this year’s Americares Airlift Benefit,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “The funds raised will help support our responses to current and future emergencies, such as Hurricane Ian, as well as fuel our ongoing programs that improve health in communities across the globe.” 

The Americares Airlift Benefit celebrates the organization’s life-changing health programs and the health workers and partners who make the programs possible. This year’s event highlighted Americares relief efforts for Hurricane Fiona, the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and its response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine with Americares Senior Director of Latin America and Caribbean Programs Dr. Brenda Rivera-García and Americares Director of Complex Emergencies Adam Keehn as the featured speakers. 

Nearly 400 guests attended the benefit at the Citi Aviation Hangar at Westchester County Airport in West Harrison, N.Y. 

Percival Barretto-Ko, Roberta and James Conroy, Erica Hill and David Yount, Marti Noxon and Joy and Eric Weintz, M.D., co-chaired the successful event. The event was produced by Rafanelli Events, led by renowned event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who worked for the Obama White House and designed the weddings of Chelsea Clinton, Matt Damon, Allison Williams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others.   

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than $20 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States. For more information, visit sandbox.americares.org  

Moffly Media is the exclusive regional magazine sponsor of the 2022 Americares Airlift Benefit 

To download b-roll of the 2022 Americares Airlift Benefit click here.