I’ve often traveled to New York for the opening week of the UN General Assembly, but this year I’m honored to join other civil society leaders at President Barack Obama’s Leaders’ Summit on Refugees. And U.S. civil society, once again, has stepped up to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to helping affected people lift themselves out of hardship in a time of historic humanitarian need.

The American people have a long, proud tradition of aiding others in times of great need. Today’s global refugee crisis is no exception.

On Sept. 15, InterAction announced that 31 of its member NGOs had pledged to collectively invest over $1.2 billion in private resources on global humanitarian assistance efforts over the next three years. These funds will assist the participating NGOs with providing urgent medical assistance, food and nutrition security, shelter, education and other essential services to refugees and displaced populations across the globe.

A majority of the $1.2 billion will come from the American people, who have chosen to donate to the participating NGOs. As recent research found, contributions from individuals between 2010 and 2014 accounted for around 69% of all private funding humanitarian funding – more than trusts, foundations or the private sector.

Image: A group of Syrians arrives on Lesvos after sailing on an inflatable raft from Turkey. Niarchos Lesvos.