As a major part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, American Red Cross International Services supports humanitarian relief around the world. CARE assis ts the world's poor in their efforts to achieve social and economic well-being. CARE's work reaches 48 million people in 66 nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Programs include emergency relief, water and sanitation, microenterprise, natural resource management, population, AIDS prevention, girls' education, primary health care and food security. CARE also advocates for public policies that support these ends.
CARE is the world's largest private relief and development organization.
It is administered by a Board of Bishops selected by the National Council of Catholic Bishops and is staffed by men and women committed to the Catholic Church's apostolate of helping those in need. It maintains strict standards of efficiency and accountability. The fundamental motivating force in all activities of CRS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world. The policies and programs of the agency reflect and express the teaching of the Catholic Church. At the same time, Catholic Relief Services assists persons on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.