History

1993 - 1996
• Moved by the climatic increase of Mongolia's poverty and street children, David Edwards began to hand carry winter clothing donated by his friends in Flagstaff, AZ to Mongolia. He personally delivered each item to families and orphanages in Ulanbator and his photographic locations.
• Dave Edwards gave slideshows about Mongolia throughout the community.

1997 - 1998
• A group of concerned Flagstaff citizens rallied together in support of Dave's efforts, evolving into the Mongolian Orphans' Association.
• Dave Edwards gave slideshows about Mongolia throughout the community.

1999
• Operates as a 501c.3
The Mongolian Orphans Association, under the umbrella of A.W.A.R.E. (Alliance for Wholistic Arts, Resources and Education.)
• Clothing drives were held at local Wal-Mart stores, schools, churches and local businesses.
• Volunteers based in Flagstaff, AZ collected 7 tons of clothing.
• A team of 9 volunteers traveled to Mongolia and distributed 6 tons of clothing in Ulan Bator to 2,000 people.
• David Edwards gave slideshows about Mongolia throughout the community.

2000
• F.I.R.E. changed its name to the Flagstaff International Relief Effort.
• Clothing drives were held at local Wal-Mart stores, schools, churches and local businesses.
• Volunteers based in Flagstaff, AZ collected 10 tons of clothing.
• 8 volunteers distributed 7 tons of clothing , medical and educational supplies to 5,000 people distributed in Ulan Bator, the Gobi Desert, Cholibalsan, Khenti and Renchilumbe.
• Established a long term relationship with Oyun Sanjaasuren at the Zorig Foundation.
• David Edwards and Kate Thompson gave slideshows about Mongolia throughout the community, including schools and social service organizations.

2001
• Went into a brief hibernation period to conserve funding and reorganize.

2002
• F.I.R.E. gained its own 501c.3 status as a non-profit organization.

2003
• Meredith Potts began to organize and restructure F.I.R.E., eventually reviving it.

2004
• Hired Meredith Potts as Executive Director, becoming its first paid employee.
• FIREWORKS, A Photography & Fine Art Show & Auction, was held in Flagstaff, AZ. The event auctioned 175 items.
• A clothing drive was held at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, collecting over 1 ton of clothing.
• Established weekly pick-ups of donated clothing from 5 local used clothing stores.
• The local Eddie Bauer store began donating their used boxes for the packing of clothes.
• Volunteers in Flagstaff, AZ collected 12 tons of clothes.
• 6 volunteers distributed 8 tons of winter clothing, distributed aid in Ulan Bator, the Gobi Desert, Cholibalsan, Ulgii and Batshireet.
• David Edwards and Meredith Potts gave slideshows about Mongolia throughout the community.
• Purchased handicrafts directly from women in Mongolia and sold them as a fundraiser through David Edwards Photography.
• F.I.R.E. imported its first ger to be sold as a fundraiser.

2005
• Collected over 15 tons of clothing.
• The Dulaan Project recieved 4,517 items from knitters around the world
• 8 clothing volunteers distributed 18 tons of winter clothing to over 10,000 people.
• 4 medical volunteers distributed 400 boxes of medical supplies valued at $110,000 to 14 different hospitals and clinics.
• Distributed aid in 9 provinces, including Ulanbator, Khovsgol, Darnod, Bayan Olgii, and Tov.
• Anne Walton filmed One Steppe at a Time: F.I.R.E. in Mongolia following the 2005 distribution team.
• Meredith Potts purchased 500 handmade Mongolian and Kazakh bags directly from the women who made them and sold them as a fundraiser through David Edwards Photography.
• Pete Morrow and Khan Bank donated $2000 to purchase Mongolian Fine Art to be sold at FIREWORKS 2.
• FIREWORKS 2, A Photography & Fine Art Show & Auction, was held at Photography on the Square in Flagstaff, AZ.
• Meredith Potts gave slideshows about Mongolia and F.I.R.E. to the Flagstaff, AZ community.

2006
• Shipped 10 tons of winter clothing to Pakistan through the Hidaya Foundation to assist earthquake victims.
• Pre-sold and imported a container of 8 gers from Mongolia as a fundraiser.
• The documentary, One Steppe at a Time: F.I.R.E. in Mongolia showed at Telluride Mountainfilm Festival.
• Featured non-profit at Telluride Mountainfilm’s Next Steppe, non-profit venue.
• Received in-kind donations totaling over $200,000 including over 20 tons of used clothing.
• The Dulaan Project received 12,085 handmade items from knitters around the world.
• 4 clothing volunteers distributed 8 tons of clothing to 10,000 people.
• Assisted 12 schools and the Mongolian Education Alliance with 6,000 English language books.
• 2 medical volunteers delivered 450 boxes containing $200,000 of medical supplies to 14 rural hospitals and clinics.
• Began a long-term relationship with Dr. Yanjima and her Autoimmunity Disease and Rehabilitation Center in Ulanbator.

2007
• The documentary, One Steppe at a Time: F.I.R.E. in Mongolia showed at Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival.
• FIREWORKS 3, A Photography & Fine Art Show & Auction, was held at Josephine’s Modern American Bistro in Flagstaff, AZ.
• Received in-kind donations totaling
over $600,000 including over 30 tons of used clothing.
• The Dulaan Project received 17, 376 handmade items from knitters around the world.
• 6 clothing volunteers distributed 12 tons of winter clothing to over 5,000 of Mongolia’s poorest children and families.
• Assisted schools with educational supplies and English books, including 80 computers loaded with English language software for English learning.
• 4 medical volunteers gave medical lectures and training to approximately 250 physicians and nurses on a variety of clinical and public health topics.
• Provided $300,000 worth of medical supplies to 20 rural hospitals and family clinics in 4 provinces.
• Continued to work with Dr. Yanjma and her Autoimmunity Disease and Rehabilitation Center in Ulanbator.
• Distributed aid in Ulanbator, Choibalson, Sainsand, Olgii, and Khovsgol.
• Began a relationship with the Northern Arizona Volunteer Medical and Surgical Corporation who traveled to Mongolia to begin preparation for a surgical trip in 2008.

2008
• Moved into its first office.
• The Dulaan Project received over 8,000 hand made items from knitters as of July 1.

F.I.R.E. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible.