The Rotary Club of the Caldwells presents their check for $5,000.00 to Rotary District 7470’s “Gift of Life” Program, whose mission is “To save as many children's lives as possible by providing life-saving open heart surgery to children from infancy to 18 years of age with congenital heart defects, children for whom we are the last hope.”
For over three decades, Rotary’s “Gift of Life” programs have saved the lives of some 10,000 children.
This has been accomplished through the efforts of thousands of doctors and nurses, Rotarians, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers worldwide.
GOL began as a project of the Manhasset Rotary Club on Long Island, New York back in 1975. Back then Robbie Donno proposed to his club that they bring a 5-year old Ugandan girl to the United States for open heart surgery. This surgery was not available in Uganda and without it she would perish. That single act of kindness thirty-three years ago has grown into a worldwide movement that now embodies itself in fifty programs throughout the world. These programs have treated children from 64 countries and six continents.
In October of 2008,Gift of Life (GOL) programs throughout the world celebrated the milestone of saving their 10,000th child. This accomplishment was made possible by the efforts of countless Rotarians, volunteers, and healthcare professionals who over the past three decades have sacrificed their time for the common goal of saving a child in need. In commemoration of this event, Grace Agwaru (GOL’s first child to be saved) retraced the path she traveled 33 years ago from Uganda to New York with Jonathan Olunga, the 10,000th GOL recipient. After Jonathan received his lifesaving surgery on October 8th, he and Grace visited 26 Rotary Clubs and Districts that are affiliated with GOL. They expressed the gratitude of all beneficiaries of GOL’s lifesaving efforts over the past 3 decades.
Mission
The mission of Gift of Life International and Gift of Life programs around the world is to further the cause of world peace and understanding by facilitating free medical services to children suffering from congenital heart defects and other similar or allied illnesses, regardless of their race, creed, gender, religion or national origin, and who would otherwise lack access to such services.
