Background

1933 American branch of the European-based International Relief Association (IRA) founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein to assist Germans suffering under Hitler. Refugees from Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain are later assisted. 1940 Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) formed to aid European refugees trapped in Vichy France. Over 2,000 political, cultural, union and academic leaders rescued in 13 months. 1942 IRA and ERC join forces under the name International Relief and Rescue Committee, later shortened to the International Rescue Committee. The IRC, at the end of World War II, initiates emergency relief programs, establishes hospitals and children's centers and starts refugee resettlement efforts in Europe. 2004 In Sudan, the IRC begins providing health, water and sanitation, hygiene awareness, shelter, flood and drought relief, food security and economic revitalization assistance to nearly 100 communities in the Darfur region. The IRC starts providing essential service to Sudanese refugees in neighboring Chad.

Program Funding
	One-hundred precent of all money raised at Art for Darfur will go directly to the IRC's programs in Darfur, Sudan and Eastern Chad. Ninety percent of donations to the IRC go directly to programs and ten percent go to administrative costs and further fund-raising.