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Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Direct Relief Accepts 2025 Seoul Peace Prize for Global Humanitarian Impact
SEOUL, South Korea - On April 28, 2025, Direct Relief formally accepted the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize, one of the world's most distinguished honors for humanitarian achievement, in recognition of the organization's unwavering commitment to aiding people affected by poverty, disasters, and conflict. 'Peace is not just about the absence of conflict, but the presence of dignity, opportunity, and hope for all people,' said Dr. Byron Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief, at the award ceremony today in Seoul. 'This is what Direct Relief strives to create through our work—by ensuring everyone, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay, has access to the healthcare they need to live full and healthy lives.' Established in 1990 to commemorate the Seoul Olympic Games, the Seoul Peace Prize recognizes individuals and organizations making significant global contributions to peace, development, and human welfare. Direct Relief, the 17th laureate, joins distinguished previous awardees such as Kofi Annan, Václav Havel, Ban Ki Moon, and Doctors Without Borders. 'It is with great sincerity that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Direct Relief, an international medical relief organization, on being named laureate of the Seoul Peace Prize 2025, an award of deep and lasting significance,' said Jaeho Yeom, Chairman of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation. 'Direct Relief has exemplified true humanitarianism by providing medicines and medical supplies around the world—not through temporary aid, but sustained, patient-focused support uniquely tailored to each region. By maintaining the highest financial transparency and relying solely on private donations, Direct Relief maximizes the impact of giving, delivering medical assistance precisely where it's most urgently needed.' In presenting the prize, Christopher Koo, Chairman of the Seoul Peace Prize Selection Committee, underscored the urgency of Direct Relief's work: 'The current global landscape, regrettably, continues to challenge our relentless efforts toward peace. In particular, countless victims of war and natural disasters are dying due to the lack of access to essential medicines and medical supplies. … Direct Relief was highly regarded for its unwavering commitment over the past 76 years to advancing peace through medical aid. The organization has quietly but powerfully carried out its mission to deliver healthcare where it is most needed.' Since 2000, Direct Relief has delivered more than $16 billion in medical assistance to 136 countries and every U.S. state. 'This prize is a reminder that peace begins in the most fundamental way—in supporting the health and well-being of every person,' Dr. Scott concluded. 'This is the peace we aim to foster every day.' Click to continue reading highlights from Dr. Scott's acceptance speech. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Direct Relief
Associated Press
26-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Direct Relief Awarded Seoul Peace Prize for Its Humanitarian Medical Work
Direct Relief has been awarded the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize for its longstanding humanitarian work in delivering medical resources to advance global health and aid communities impacted by disasters and conflicts, the prize committee announced Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The Seoul Peace Prize, established to commemorate the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to world peace and cooperation. The selection process involves approximately 1,300 nominators from South Korea and around the world, including internationally renowned figures from various fields. 'By promptly and efficiently delivering medical supplies, Direct Relief has not only protected lives and ensured psychological stability, but has also instilled hope for a new beginning,' the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation said. 'It has demonstrated humanitarianism and made a significant contribution to the advancement of human welfare.' The Seoul Peace Prize has been awarded every other year since 1990. As the 17th recipient of the prize, Direct Relief joins a distinguished group of laureates including former Czech President and human rights champion Václav Havel, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, renowned economist Muhammad Yunus, and Doctors Without Borders. 'Direct Relief is deeply honored to receive the Seoul Peace Prize,' said Dr. Byron Scott, CEO of Direct Relief. 'This recognition affirms our belief that public health is a requirement for societal health. When communities have access to healthcare, they build resilience against the destabilizing forces of disasters, conflict, and poverty.' Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. From its beginnings in 1948—when Estonian immigrant William Zimdin started sending food, clothing, and medicine to post-war Europe—Direct Relief has upheld one defining principle: every individual deserves high-quality health care, no matter their circumstance. Over the past seven-plus decades, that commitment has guided the organization to become one of the world's largest humanitarian nonprofits, delivering over $16 billion in medical aid and $350 million in grants to 136 countries and all 50 U.S. states since year 2000.
Korea Herald
18-02-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
US-based Direct Relief wins Seoul Peace Prize
A US-based relief organization has won the Seoul Peace Prize for its longstanding humanitarian work in delivering medical supplies to those impacted by disasters and conflicts, the prize committee announced Tuesday. The award will be presented to Direct Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian relief organization, committed to providing immediate and direct medical supplies to people affected by natural disasters, wars, diseases and poverty, the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation said in a press release. The awarding ceremony will take place in Seoul in the first half of this year. Founded in 1948, Direct Relief is dedicated to serving people in medical needs and has provided assistance to people in 136 countries worldwide, solely on donations from individuals, companies and organizations without any government support, according to the foundation. "By promptly and efficiently delivering medical supplies, Direct Relief has not only protected lives and ensured psychological stability, but has also instilled hope for a new beginning," the foundation said. "It has demonstrated humanitarianism and made a significant contribution to the advancement of human welfare," it added. The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 in commemoration of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games to promote peace and cooperation. Its previous laureates include former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Yonhap)
