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The MedShare Story

In 1998, A.B. Short and Bob Freeman were concerned with the critical healthcare needs of the underserved populations throughout the world and the environmental threat of discarded medical supplies and equipment. To act on these issues, MedShare was born.

1999
  • MedShare ships its first 40-foot shipping container of medical supplies to Costa Rica.
2000
  • MedShare receives its first significant foundation gift of $250,000 from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.  This serves as a "seal of approval" for MedShare.
2002
  • MedShare has a 50% increase in medical shipments from 2001, increasing from 15 forty-foot medical containers to 30.
2004
  •  MedShare pilots a project to provide enhanced biomedical services to recipient hospitals, having engineers travel onsite to evaluate their equipment needs and help with installation and maintenance training.
2005
  • MedShare moves into a 50,000 square-foot facility that is double the size of its previous space.
  • An independent research study conducted by Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University confirms that 95% of MedShare respondents have high overall satisfaction with MedShare.
2006
  • With the help of an average of 320 volunteers per month, MedShare surpasses a major milestone by shipping $35 million worth of supplies and equipment overseas.
2007
  • National expansion begins, with the hiring of an Executive Director for the Western Region.
  • MedShare secures a $6.2 million capital campaign to purchase and endow its National Headquarters facility, upgrade technology and fund national expansion.
2008
  • MedShare celebrates the Grand Opening of a second distribution center in San Leandro, CA.
  • The total number of containers of medical supplies shipped reaches 400.
  • Charity Navigator recognized MedShare by ranking them #4 on Top Ten List of Slam Dunk Charities.
  • TechBridge awards MedShare with the Technology Innovation Award.
  • The Georgia Center for Nonprofits names MedShare the Top Nonprofit of the Year.
2009
  • MedShare's 500th forty-foot container of medical supplies and equipment is shipped. The shipment was sponsored by the newly-formed Southeastern Regional Council and was sent to benefit Santa Rosa Maternity Hospital in Ecuador.
  • A mobile CT Scanner is donated to MedShare's Western Region Distribution by Catalina Imaging. This is the largest single medical equipment donation MedShare has received to date.
  • The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation awards MedShare a $400,000 grant, the largest program grant ever received by MedShare in a given year.
  • The State of California recognizes MedShare as a recipient of the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).
  • MedShare is a finalist in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Environmental Business Awards and the San Francisco Business Times Green Business Awards.
  • Charity Navigator names MedShare a top charity providing humanitarian relief supplies., and also ranks the organization #2 on their Top Ten list of Highly-Rated Charities Relying on Private Contributions and #2 on their Top Ten list of Slam Dunk Charities.
  • A $500,000 capital campaign challenge grant is claimed to complete the endowment of MedShare's National Headquarters and Southeastern Distribution Center.
  • MedShare piloted regional programs by engaging a Country Representative in Ecuador.
2010

  • For the first time, MedShare ships over 100 containers of medical supplies in a calendar year.
  • After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, MedShare responds by shipping 28 containers of medical supplies, supplying over 83 medical mission teams, and providing biomedical equipment training.
  • MedShare ships its 600th container of medical supplies and equipment.
  • In an effort to make its warehouses more environmentally friendly, MedShare installs motion-activated lights to save energy.
  • For the second year running, the State of California recognizes MedShare as a recipient of the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).
  • MedShare enjoys a record fundraising year, increasing total support by more than 30%.
2011
  • Surpassed 2 million cubic feet in material saved from landfills.
  • Secured partnership with The Atlantic Philanthropies that will result in substantial container shipments to Viet Nam.
  • Established a New York Regional Council, and explored expansion opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic and South Florida regions.
  • Meridith Rentz elected CEO after a one-year search by the Board of Trustees.
2012
  • Hired new Chief Operating Officer Charles Redding.
  • Shipped our 800th ocean container.
  • Began expansion efforts for the New York Metropolitan Area and South Florida.
  • Sent a record 125 ocean containers and provisioned a record 436 medical teams.
  • Diverted an estimated 1.5 million pounds of medical surplus from landfills.

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