Swashplate, there is a real International Rescue that goes to various disaster areas around the world, and Gerry anderson is it's President (or non executive director or whatever it's called).
However, unlike the Tracey's it's mainly the likes of Fireman, Paramedics, Civil Defence crew, funding themselves and taking time off from work to assist at the likes of earthquake and flood rescue.
http://www.ps2.com/irc/index.htm
(According to their website Richard Branson is now their President, But Gerry Anderson was something to do with it)