NEW YORK – The morning after the April 4, 2025 Americares Airlift Benefit at Pier 60 in Manhattan a group of guests boarded a plane to El Salvador for a 48-hour journey to volunteer and meet local health workers, patients and community leaders at an Americares clinic there.
Americares President and CEO Christine Squires said both the benefit 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.”
More than 350 guests attended the event that was hosted by Emmy-Winning TV host and producer Ross Mathews, who is 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,” Matthews told the crowd. “And yet Americares achieves it every day with your support. 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.
While Americares has yet to release how much was raised at this year’s gala, last year the Americares Airlift Benefit held on April 11, 2024, at the TWA Hotel in Manhattan, raised $1.9 million.
