Humanitarian International Services Group

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Humanitarian International Services Group is a New York state non-profit corporation and a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Its incorporation date is December 14, 2001. HISG specializes in private sector resource mobilization and management for crisis response and community development. Simply stated: “We connect resources to needs”. As a non-governmental organization, HISG provides support services to US and international for-profit and non-profit organizations for crisis response and humanitarian developmental initiatives.

Since 2001, HISG has mobilized and moved over $20 million in humanitarian aid and operates at less than 10% handling costs. Having prototyped new and innovative solutions, HISG has established an institutional capability to mobilize and manage private sector resources. HISG has now established a network of warehouses across the USA and around the world to work collaboratively to aid the poor and needy.

Humanitarian International Services Group typically initiates projects in areas where there is the most need, or areas where there is minimal other humanitarian assistance. A simple explanation of their mission to “serve the underserved.”
Origins
In the summer of 2001, four friends, Kay Hiramine, Mike McCausland, Rob Mabary and Michael Mastrodonato and their families vacationed in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the scenic Rocky Mountains. Each of these men had successful backgrounds managing either businesses or non-profit organizations and had determined that they wanted to do something together to give back to the world. They decided to form a non-profit humanitarian aid organization to help orphans, widows and needy around the world, especially in the most oppressive areas of the globe.
On September 10, 2001, the newly formed HISG held its first strategy development meeting. The following day (9-11) emphasized the need for people to reach out and care for others around the world. All four founders invested a significant amount of time and personal funding on due diligence to clearly understand the needs and challenges involving global crisis response and development operations. HISG principals interviewed many well known figures in the humanitarian aid arena and interfaced with multiple subject matter experts while forming HISG’s organizational strategy.
Vision
HISG’s vision is to establish a stable environment with sustainable solutions that benefit the local population.
Asian Tsunami, 2004
HISG leadership was on the ground in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, near Ground Zero only eight days after the Tsunami. The networks that HISG is connected to sent shipments of medical supplies, foodstuffs, dental equipment, house wares, health and hygiene products, clothing as well as a medical team to treat people at one of the only hospitals in the area still standing.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005
Hurricane Katrina emphasized the need for cooperation between private sector organizations and between the private sector and government agencies. HISG was asked to set up an operations center to organize and process all information coming in from emergency responders, aid organizations, and government agencies. They were commended for their efforts by Admiral Timothy Keating of United States Northern Command in a report to the United States Senate
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President’s Volunteer Service Award, 2007
Kay Hiramine, HISG’s CEO, was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his work during Hurricane Katrina. He received the award from President George W. Bush in a ceremony at the White House.

HISG shuts down and becomes Sustainable Communities Worldwide, 2013
In the Fall of 2013, the Board of Directors of Humanitarian International Services Group gave the non profit to Sustainable Communities Worldwide.
World-wide operations
HISG divides their projects into two categories: community development and disaster relief. Community development projects move communities away from poverty and instability toward a more secure lifestyle and sustainable economic solutions. Disaster relief helps to minimize the economic impact of catastrophes that would impede the community development process. All of HISG’s disaster relief operations are carried out with a focus on long-term community development.
Communities in poverty are always the ones that feel the harshest effects of disasters. Thus, disaster management has become a major focus for organizations that want to help those in poverty. With global resources being stretched thin, collaboration and coordination become critical. HISG supported the growth and development of the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN). The IDRN provides a web-based Virtual Emergency Coordination Center (VECC) and focuses the efforts of a global community to respond across 14 disaster response skill sets. The IDRN has trained more than 5,000 people around the world to be ready for and respond to disasters.
Regional offices
HISG's main office is near Denver in Palmer Lake, Colorado, but the organization also has international offices in Nairobi, Kenya; Geneva, Switzerland; London, England; Amman, Jordan; Vancouver, Canada; and Singapore.

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