History
THE ER FOUNDING STORY
For generations, struggling families in Quito, Ecuador built informal settlements in the city’s garbage dump, living off the limited resources around them. In the late 1990’s, Jerry & Dawn Carnill were serving as missionaries in Quito when they saw these families living and working in the dump. Driven by compassion and faith, they reached out to the community through informal kids clubs. The parents responded positively when they saw volunteers shower love and care upon their children.
As the clubs grew, so did support from friends and volunteers. It became clear that if the recycling families were given an opportunity – and the right tools – they would have a much brighter future. In 2001, generous support for the community allowed the Carnills, along with close friends Russ and Gina Cline, to formally establish Extreme Response International (ER). Today ER is a global humanitarian organization, headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Ecuador, The Philippines, and South Africa.
All Quito programs transition to a much larger community center
ER celebrates 25 Years
Farm Program launches in Fish Hoek
I Believe In Kids Education becomes a program
Limpopo Dream Center launches in South Africa
Muntinlupa Dream Center launches with IT Tender
Taguig Dream Center launches with Youth Mobilization
Brad McKenna joins ER as President & CEO
ER responds to pandemic with computer labs & food distribution
ER introduces new logo with “Pathway to Hope” integrated into design
Pathway For Hope program launches in Metro Manila
First ER Dream Center launches in Fish Hoek
Golden Hands Livelihood launches in Metro Manila
Africa Region Office opens in Fish Hoek, South Africa
Asia Region Office opens in Metro Manila
Quito Women’s Resource Center opens (now known as Quito Community Center)
Global HQ openes in Snellville, GA
Christmas celebrations for 14,800 in Ecuador, SA, Philippines, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nepal
Clinic opens at Quito Dump
ER Canada is established by Paul & Linda Cripps
Daycare opens in Quito Dump, now called Zambiza Garbage Transfer Station
ER buys and renovates building in North Quito
Ron & Barb Cline lead the first ER Christmas team to South Africa. 6,100 people attend in Quito & Cape Town
Original Zambiza dump closes – people scattered – reopens as transfer station
First team travels to South Africa to work with Living Hope on the clinic in Masi (Mike Carnill, Dale Meier & Jim Witt)
ER registers as a 501(c)(3) in the State of Georgia, USA
First Annual Christmas Party at the Dump – 500 attend – put on by the Carnills, Clines, HCJB and Alliance volunteers
First Kids’ Club in Quito Dump – Carnills, Beth Kinzel and high schoolers from Alliance Academy
The first team (At Any Cost from Sacramento, CA) and the Carnill family enter the dump and pass out fruit and bread
Jerry & Grace Fellowship Church team, Lilburn, GA visit people working and living in the Quito Dump in Zambiza