×

News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

Happy 105th Birthday, Edythe!

News

Edythe Kirchmaier's 105th Birthday Celebration. Direct Relief International. Goleta, California. January 22, 2013. Photo: ©IsaacHernandez.com
By Hannah Rael

 

This morning, Direct Relief celebrated one of its longest-serving volunteers, Edythe Kirchmaier, who turned a remarkable 105 years young. Even today, Edythe continues to volunteer at Direct Relief as she has been for the past 40 years, committed to the mission of improving the health and lives of those in need around the world.

Edythe’s wish for her birthday is to inspire the world to make a difference, as she has, by raising awareness for the organization to which she has dedicated much of her life. To celebrate Edythe’s milestone birthday and honor her wish, Direct Relief created the world’s largest virtual birthday cake  to help reach her goal of having 105,000 people “liking” Direct Relief by lighting a Facebook candle for her 105th birthday.

To light a candle on Edythe’s birthday cake, please click this link Edythe’s Birthday Challenge, and then share this page on your own Facebook page using the mobile-friendly URL: http://on.fb.me/T6lcEa.

Other ways to stay involved:

  • Join the conversation on Twitter via #lightacandle
  • Tell your friends to “like” Direct Relief on Facebook and help celebrate!
  • Be on the lookout for Edythe’s segment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show airing Thursday afternoon
  • “Friend” Edythe on her personal Facebook page

Want to know more about Edythe’s life?

  • Edythe was born in Ohio in 1908. At Springfield High School, she was an active member of the YWCA girls club and the Glee Club.
  • Edythe is the University of Chicago’s oldest living former student. She went to Ohio State and then University of Chicago to study social work, at a time when social work was just beginning as a career. Many of her professors were key founders of social work in America today.
  • She met her late husband, Joe, while working as a supervisor at the Illinois Emergency Relief Agency.
  • Joe and Edythe drove across the country in the 1930’s when they moved to California. They bought a house in Santa Barbara in 1948, where Edythe still lives independently today.
  • The couple began volunteering at Direct Relief in the 1970’s in response to a newspaper ad seeking volunteers. They served 36 months volunteering internationally, and continued volunteering in the Santa Barbara offices upon their return.
  • During her time at Direct Relief, Edythe has been involved with relief to dozens of historic emergency response efforts, including earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, floods in Pakistan, famine in Somalia, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy.
  • Edythe is the oldest registered Facebook user in the world! Facebook confirmed this, as they had to do extensive recoding to be able to enter her correct birthdate.
  • About a month ago, Edythe was saved from a falling tree branch by a neighbor.
  • Edythe still volunteers at Direct Relief every Tuesday morning,  even today, her 105th birthday, she worked before her celebration.
  • Edythe takes her driver’s test tomorrow. She has never been in an accident, never gotten a ticket and never received a parking citation.

Giving is Good Medicine

You don't have to donate. That's why it's so extraordinary if you do.