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Search and Rescue Charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Surpasses $1.5 Million Mark in US Donations through Partnership with Global Impact

Search and Rescue Charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Surpasses $1.5 Million Mark in US Donations through Partnership with Global Impact

Published 03-03-16

Submitted by Global Impact

In the face of the largest humanitarian crisis of our time, Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) surpassed the $1.5 million mark through a new base of U.S. donors in partnership with Global Impact. Images shared on social media of a Syrian refugee washing up on a beach in Turkey garnered international press and millions of views within the space of a day, inspiring a dramatic surge of donations, which enabled MOAS to expand its work and coverage area in less than six months.  

Based in Malta, MOAS was the first privately funded foundation dedicated to preventing loss of life by providing professional search-and-rescue assistance to refugees and migrants in distress at sea. To date, MOAS has rescued more than 12,000 people. MOAS' life saving operation began in 2014 with a single converted fishing boat in the Mediterranean. Today, it operates on two search-and-rescue vessels equipped to respond to calls relating to migrant boats in distress in the Mediterranean, Aegean and South Asian seas. The organization and its founders have received several humanitarian awards, the most recent being the "New European of the Year” Award for outstanding contribution in the service of shared European values.  

In August 2015, Global Impact became the U.S. fiscal sponsor for MOAS, enabling the organization to accept tax deductible donations from U.S. donors for the first time through a newly launched online donation platform. When the horrific image of Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian refugee who washed ashore on a Turkish beach, made headlines in September 2015, the story went viral, bringing an unprecedented surge in donations to MOAS from American supporters. Over a transformational six months, MOAS received more than $1.5 million in U.S. donations, a phenomenon successfully managed with the support of the Global Impact team. The funds enabled MOAS to charter an additional rescue vessel and expand their operations and coverage area. 

MOAS Director Martin Xuereb stated that "MOAS is only able to keep saving lives at sea thanks to the support we receive from donors all over the world. As the world grapples with the refugee crisis, we are incredibly proud of being able to offer a platform to people who want their money to go directly into preventing deaths at sea. We have already saved thousands of families who could have otherwise perished and joined a long list of faceless, nameless statistics. Instead, we have helped them find safety."   

Ann Canela, Vice President at Global Impact, said, "This is a powerful example of how technology is helping us not only to raise awareness of the plight of Syrian refugees, but to facilitate immediate action by individual donors. This collective effort and online platform enabled us to amplify the impact of U.S. donations, large and small alike." She added, "As a partner with more than 60 years of experience growing global philanthropy, we are committed to innovating the ways donors can support the work of incredible organizations like MOAS."  

As MOAS continues to perform daily rescues of refugees at sea, Global Impact continues to support MOAS with a U.S. fundraising strategy. Donate now at http://www.moas.eu/donate.

About MOAS 
After seeing little response to the 400-person drowning off the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2013, Christopher and Regina Catrambone founded Migrant Offshore Aid Station in Malta with private funds and one 40-metre fishing boat purchase. After converting it into a search-and-rescue vessel, they set out on the Mediterranean Sea with a crew of sailors, search-and-rescue professionals and emergency medical responders. In less than two years, MOAS has rescued more than 12,000 people at sea. Today, MOAS is operating two vessels to effectively respond to calls relating to migrant boats in distress in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Andaman Seas. To donate, go to www.moas.eu/donate

About Global Impact 
Global Impact is a leader in growing global philanthropy. The organization builds partnerships and raises resources that help the world’s most vulnerable people by providing integrated, partner-specific advisory and secretariat services; campaign design, marketing and implementation for workplace and signature fundraising campaigns; and fiscal agency, technology services and integrated giving platforms. Global Impact has generated more than $1.7 billion to help people in need.  

Visit our website. Follow us on Twitter. "¯Like us on Facebook. 

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Global Impact

Global Impact

Global Impact works on charitable ventures to inspire greater giving. We serve as a trusted advisor, intermediary and implementing partner across the private, nonprofit and public sectors. Through these partnerships, we have raised nearly $2 billion for causes such as disaster relief and global development. Our expertise includes fundraising and partnerships, employee engagement and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and finance and business services.

Learn more at charity.org. Follow Global Impact on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook.

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