World Medical Relief was established in 1953 by Detroit housewife Irene M. Auberlin, who mobilized her friends and family to collect food, baby clothing, cribs, and medicines to ship overseas for a Korean war orphan.
[1] The initial help for one small boy turned into a larger mission: relieving the pain and suffering of an entire orphanage filled with 400 children.
Although Mrs. Auberlin died in 1999, WMR continues to follow the path of a "world class beggar" and helps the poorest countries and citizens of the globe.
Goods are reported to be distributed in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, gender, religion, nationality or political beliefs.
The goals of the organization are stated as follows: In 2005, World Medical Relief spent $18,405,574 on its charity programs, according to its annual report.