Project C.U.R.E. and U.S. Energy Partners Airlift $500,000 in Medical Equipment to Venezuelan Hospitals

30 pallets of hospital equipment and supplies, valued at approximately $500,000, fill a 737-cargo aircraft bound for hospitals and clinics across Caracas.

DENVER, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Project C.U.R.E., the Denver-based nonprofit delivering health & hope to the world, and its U.S. energy partners have airlifted approximately $500,000 in medical equipment and supplies to hospitals in Venezuela, the organization's second air cargo shipment to the country. The flight departed Miami in early October and landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, that afternoon, carrying approximately $500,000 in donated medical equipment and supplies (8,388 kg (about the weight of a school bus), or about 18,500 lbs.) for four hospitals in Caracas.

The delivery supports healthcare providers as communities continue to recover and rebuild following the earthquakes. Selected in response to locally identified needs, the equipment and supplies will help hospitals maintain essential services and care for patients, including mothers and newborns.

Caritas de Venezuela received the cargo and is distributing it to four hospitals in Caracas's Libertador Municipality, three of which focus on maternal and infant care:

• Maternidad Concepción Palacios, Caracas
• Hospital Materno Infantil de Caricuao, southwestern Caracas
• Complejo Hospitalario José Ignacio Baldó (El Algodonal), western Caracas
• Obstetrics service at Hospital Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, Los Magallanes de Catia, western Caracas

The shipment includes orthopedic implants, orthopedic power equipment, battery-operated surgical headlamps, diagnostic equipment, vital sign and ICU monitors, surgical dermatomes and blades, birthing gurneys, ICU beds, 100 wheelchairs, crutches and other physical therapy equipment.  Items were chosen to match requests from healthcare providers in Venezuela.  The surgical dermatomes and blades were donated by Zimmer Biomet. These resources support care ranging from childbirth and intensive care to surgery, rehabilitation, and mobility.

Volunteers contributed approximately 1,100 hours of sorting, packing and palletizing the aid at Project C.U.R.E.'s Chicago distribution center. Their work prepared enough medical equipment and supplies to fill an entire 737 aircraft. Two 53-foot semi-trailers carried the cargo from Project C.U.R.E.'s Chicago distribution center to Miami for the flight to Caracas.

The flight was made possible by financial support from Aspect Holdings, Formentera Partners, Hunt Oil Company and Kavak Energy. Flexport coordinated freight and Air Charter Service provided the aircraft. In Venezuela, Caritas de Venezuela received the cargo and is leading distribution, supported by the Venezuelan American Medical Association (VAMA). Together, these partners connected donated medical resources with the funding, transportation and local coordination needed to reach healthcare providers.

"Formentera Partners is grateful to partner with a fantastic organization like Project C.U.R.E. to bring critical medical supplies, equipment and services to those in need," says Bryan Sheffield, Managing Partner of Formentera Partners. "We know people are hurting from the continued devastation caused by the earthquakes and deeply appreciate the actions of the energy industry and responding organizations who are showing up with compassion and support."

"This second flight shows what happens when generous partners, dedicated volunteers and trusted local organizations come together around a single goal: making sure Venezuela's doctors and nurses have the tools they need to care for their patients," said Project C.U.R.E. President/CEO Dr. Douglas Jackson. "From ICU beds to wheelchairs, every piece of equipment on this plane answers a specific need. Where you live shouldn't determine whether you live, and we're grateful to everyone who helped deliver health and hope to the people of Venezuela."

The delivery follows Project C.U.R.E.'s first airlift to Venezuela in July 2026. Underwritten by Aspect Holdings, that shipment delivered more than $775,000 in donated medical supplies and equipment after two back-to-back earthquakes devastated Caracas and claimed more than 4,000 lives.

The two airlifts build on a longstanding commitment to Venezuela. Between 2016 and 2022, Project C.U.R.E. delivered five medical cargo containers valued at nearly $2 million to hospitals in the country.

Project C.U.R.E. will continue working with its partners to identify ongoing needs, support additional deliveries and share updates on how the donated resources are being used. As communities move through recovery and rebuilding, the shared commitment remains: helping local healthcare professionals have the tools they need to care for their patients.

About Project C.U.R.E.

Project C.U.R.E. was founded in 1987 to address the staggering shortage of medical resources around the world. From its beginnings in a garage in Colorado, Project C.U.R.E. has become the world's largest distributor of donated medical supplies, equipment, and services. Project C.U.R.E. delivers over 250 cargo loads a year using ocean freight and airlifts. Over 30,000 volunteers provide in excess of 250,000 hours of time each year. Through assessment-driven deployment and strategic partnerships, Project C.U.R.E. strengthens health systems worldwide. On average, a single C.U.R.E. Cargo semi-truck-sized container will impact an estimated 30,000 patients. Learn more at projectcure.org.

Media contact: Tiffany Rhys, Director of Marketing and Communications, Project C.U.R.E., 720-763-7448, [email protected] 

SOURCE Project C.U.R.E.