Nancy Aossey, President & CEO of International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian aid organization, was named Non-Profit CEO of the Year today by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Aossey was selected from a group of 48 other nominees representing a wide range of professions at the publication’s 15th annual “Women Making a Difference” luncheon in downtown Los Angeles.
“We’re delivering over $100 million in relief in some of the toughest places in the world,” Aossey said in receiving her award. “It’s a real honor to have this work recognized, because it is so important to provide some element of hope.”
“Nancy’s dedication is remarkable by any standards, but particularly amazing considering that she puts her efforts in areas that most others feel are lost causes,” said Vivian Mastrangelo of Union Bank of California in presenting the award to Aossey.
Keynote speaker, Nancy Daly Riordan, who won last year’s Philanthropist of the Year award, spoke about the important role that women play in building communities worldwide. Riordan’s daughter, Linda Daly, first visited International Medical Corps’ programs in Chad, and mother and daughter then visited International Medical Corps’ programs in Kenya in April. “I wasn’t able to fully understand my daughter’s experiences with International Medical Corps until I joined her on a trip and was able to bear witness for myself,” Riordan told the more than 500 people in attendance.
Since joining International Medical Corps shortly after its inception in 1986, Aossey has shepherded the organization from a three-employee start-up to a $100-million-plus relief organization with more than 4,000 volunteers and staff working in 21 countries. She has been instrumental in building International Medical Corps and its operations into a highly respected humanitarian agency, establishing International Medical Corps as a leader in crisis response and capacity building in areas worldwide.
Aossey’s leadership was particularly put to the test in 2005, with the unprecedented wave of disasters that occurred across the globe. International Medical Corps was first to respond to many remote areas after the Indian Ocean tsunami and the Pakistan earthquake. And International Medical Corps mobilized emergency teams for the first time domestically after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But in addition to responding to these crises, International Medical Corps continued its work in less-publicized disaster zones, like war-ravaged Uganda, and Somalia, which has suffered from relentless drought and famine.
In 2005, more than 3,475,000 medical consultations were conducted at fixed and mobile clinics; over 200,000 malnourished mothers and children were given nutrition services focused on long-term strategies for famine relief; education on HIV/AIDS, malaria, epidemic preparedness and hygiene reached over 5.1 million people worldwide; and more than 35,000 doctors, nurses, midwives and others were trained to deliver health care in their communities, expanding care to millions more.
Through it all, International Medical Corps continues to receive top marks: a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, an A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy, and a 99% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes.
Since the beginning, Aossey has championed International Medical Corps’ core principles: delivering humanitarian aid that brings self-reliance. All International Medical Corps programs focus on training, working with local communities, doctors, nurses and other professionals, to help them rebuild with dignity and hope.
Aossey has been a frequent guest at the White House where she has briefed the President, Vice President, and First Lady on humanitarian issues. She has testified before the U.S. Congress, served as Chairman of the Board of InterAction, America’s largest coalition of international relief organizations, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Recognized as an expert on humanitarian relief issues, Aossey has appeared on the major news networks, including shows like “Larry King Live” and “Good Morning America.” She has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Business Journal.