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Gift
of Life is a crusade of the heart, touching children in peril. An
idea born in 1975 to a group of Rotarians from Manhasset, Long
Island, NY, is today a global effort. We reach out to many children,
who would otherwise die, and heal their failing hearts with the
miracle of cardiac surgery. Our outreach spans the world, nurtured by
compassion for young victims we alone can cure. Each child whose
future we restore is a tribute to humanity and love, helping build
bridges of friendship and peace among people everywhere.
More
than 2,500 children have since been flown here from dozens of
nations for sophisticated open-heart surgery...from Europe, the
Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and within our
nation. Medical centers throughout the U.S., and in Israel and
Malaysia, are participating Gift of Life hospitals. Dedicated
surgeons and nurses donate their skills to the cause. American
families assist Rotarians as hosts and interpreters who bring warmth
and comfort to children and their escorts.
The
program includes over 30 participating hospitals in the United
States along with 10 participating hospitals around the world.
They
wait for us with failing hearts, children, everywhere. Our goals, on
their behalf, have been endorsed by celebrated recipients of the Gift
of Life International Humanitarian Award. The recipients include
former first lady, Nancy Reagan, Jerry Lewis, Marty Lyons, Sally
Struthers, Alan King, Elliot Gould, Gavin McCloud, Chad Everett,
Storm and Frank Field, Steve Guttenberg, Tony Randall, Jack Klugman,
Morgan Fairchild and Connie Stevens. Yet another Gift of Life
honoree, Danny Thomas, echoed a thought that inspires our purpose:
"That a child should die before his time is, to me, simply unacceptable."
Ours
is a dynamic international program in partnership with Rotary
members and physicians worldwide who evaluate children for treatment
in our country. Foreign doctors may also receive technical training
on these shores and return to help children in their own lands. We
have since opened pathways to Korea, Poland, the Russian Republics,
China, Caribbean Nations and to places as distant as Mongolia,
medically screening many thousands of children for life-saving
surgery here. In a related project called the Gift of Hope, guided by
our chairman emeritus, Kurt Weishaupt, more than $80-million of free
medicines and medical equipment have been shipped overseas to
hospitals of needful nations. The spirit of the Gift of Life ingores
borders. Medically advanced countries are being encouraged to do as
we do--to open their own hospital doors to imperiled youngsters from
developing nations. With the Gift of Life as an international model,
cardiac medicine will extend its power to save many who were
unreachable before. The Gift of Life has also become more of a public
presence through fund-raising programs like Save-A-Child, Skate for
Life, golf outings, and through an annual series of historic
awareness campaigns, such as the 20-day Hearts for Hearts walks.
We
are pledged to saving the lives of children who could be ours, to
returning them to lives which should be theirs. We invite the
generosity of foundations, corporations, community groups and of
every caring individual. Join the crusade and be a friend for life! |
