ShelterBox USA Awarded 2022 Peace Prize

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — On October 24th, The United Nations Association of Santa Barbara awarded its 2022 “Peace Prize” to humanitarian organization ShelterBox USA for its work responding to disasters and conflicts around the world.  

Local Congressman Salud Carbajal also presented ShelterBox USA with a “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition” for its work.  

A hundred people gathered at Pascucci in downtown Santa Barbara for the presentation of the UN Association of Santa Barbara award, which was created six years ago to honor those in the community who advance the causes of peace, human rights, and humanitarian aid globally. ShelterBox USA is based in Santa Barbara.  

“ShelterBox USA is deeply grateful for this award,” said Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA. “We share so many values with the UN Association of Santa Barbara, including our mission of a world where no one goes without shelter after disaster.” 

Right now, more than 114 million people around the world are displaced by disasters or conflicts – more than ever before.  

“Whether responding to the crisis in Ukraine, drought-induced famine in Eastern Africa, or catastrophic emergencies like typhoons in the Philippines, ShelterBox remains committed to providing life-saving shelter, tools, and training to enable the most vulnerable people rebuild their homes after disaster,” Murray said. “But we can’t do this work alone. We are so grateful to the UN Association of Santa Barbara, as well as our volunteers and staff across the world, whose quiet acts of courage and compassion make this work possible.”  

ShelterBox was founded in 2000 by a Rotary Club in England, with the goal of providing everything a family would need immediately after a disaster. It has since grown rapidly, providing aid items including tents, water filters, solar lights and other life-saving essentials in more than 100 countries following over 300 disasters. It is official project partners with Rotary International.  

ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, and conflicts, customizing its aid items by working with local communities and assessing the greatest needs. It is currently responding to the war in Ukraine, the devastating floods in Pakistan, drought in East Africa, as well as seven other countries around the world. In 2018 and 2019, ShelterBox was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in conflict areas.