Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Walden.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We are such an “Only in LA” story. Sitting on Venice Beach on a Saturday in 1979 two 30-ish public health care appointees of CA Governor Jerry Brown are reading the LA Times whose front page had just two stories–the tragic American Airlines plane crash of a DC-10 aircraft in Chicago which killed 330 passengers and crew, the federal government grounding of all DC-10s; and the massive Vietnamese refugee crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping by boat (hence being called the “Boat people”) to 5 neighboring countries with tens of thousands dying at sea. The two men saw that the DC-10 grounding could put tens of thousands of Californians out of work so they called the Long Beach, CA headquarters of McDonald-Douglas Aircraft and spoke to its Chairman. He readily agreed to lend them a cargo jet to carry aid to the refugees in Southeast Asia if the men could obtain a waiver to let one DC-10 fly the aid. Twenty-nine days later, “Operation California” launched its first humanitarian aid airlift to SE Asia with Jane Fonda and Gov. Jerry Brown at LAX to see it off. After an avalanche of publicity about its unique approach to relief, the actress Julie Andrews called to offer her support as she has adopted two infants from Vietnam in 1975. Julie Andrews is still an active Board member. Richard’s original partner left after six months with Richard continuing the charitable work and the development of the charity.
Now 40 years old and using the name Operation USA to reflect its wide national support, the charity has aided 101 countries using donated products and aircraft, sea shipping and trucking services. It is 100% privately funded and has focused on disaster relief, health care, education, water resource development and power generation–all with corporate donations and no government funds.
In 1997 the charity shared the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in which it played a leadership role focused on transferring advanced technology to find landmines.
Has it been a smooth road?
While Richard Walden did not set out to do more than one relief flight, the effect on his learning curve was vast and each challenge–mostly in the form of a huge natural or war-related disaster–kept Richard going and expanding the charity’s work.
The challenge of setting up a truly global charity is daunting; the fundraising necessary to be an effective private aid giver is constant; the change in the nonprofit charity field over 40 years has been profound. There was also the impact this work has on family life as the work requires extensive international travel to the world’s most dangerous places.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Operation USA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as an organization and what sets you apart from others.
Operation USA–www.opusa.org–has an unvarnished 40 year record with no legal problems of any kind from any source. We seek to inform the public as to how it can participate in our relief efforts as well as develop corporate partnerships channeling their services to those places most in need in the USA and throughout the world.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Over many years I’ve become hugely cynical about some of the brand name charities like the American Red Cross, some evangelical church charities (Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Blessing, Feed The Children and others) and charities largely funded by the US Government which are forced to follow US Government policy sometimes to the detriment of meeting humanitarian needs. There are also consultants to celebrities to attempt to direct their donations but at too high a cost in consulting fees and largely ineffective in results..
I greatly admire the legions of field workers–volunteers as well as paid staff–who sacrifice so much to provide the aid to those in need.
I admire the legion of entertainment celebrities who NOW work tirelessly to better the human condition. Julie Andrews and Jane Fonda–among the earliest (1979) to engage in international humanitarian issues– as well as those in Hollywood outraged about US Government policy in Central America in the early to mid 1980’s were the precursors of Bono and Angelina Jolie whose engagement launched what is now a widespread engagement by many entertainers and entertainment companies.
Pricing:
- Donations can be made to give.opusa.org
Contact Info:
- Address: Operation USA
7421 Beverly Blvd., Penthouse
Los Angeles, CA 90036 - Website: www.opusa.org
- Phone: 3234132353
- Email: Rwalden@opusa.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/operationusa
- Facebook: facebook.com/operationusa
- Twitter: twitter.com/operationusa
- Other: youtube.com/operationusa
Image Credit:
Richard Walden
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