Aligned with the start of the new Rotary year, D7090 Gift of Life (GOL) has begun its efforts to have all clubs in the district donate in support of 7090’s only district project.Clubs are asked to include in their budgets each year a donation used to support surgery for children born with congenital heart defects who live in underdeveloped countries. Without such surgery, these children would die. Every day in the 80+ countries affiliated, there are 100 children on a waiting list for such surgeries. In the United States and Canada, our children can obtain the required surgery because we have excellent facilities and pediatric cardiac specialists. The cost of these expensive surgeries is assumed primarily by the government giving our children the hope of a bright future. Obviously, this is not true in many countries in the world.
We are very fortunate in that GOL International, to which we are affiliated, is composed primarily of volunteers reducing the cost of what are very expensive procedures. In District 7090, we would like to be able to obtain $5000 from each side of the border. This is the estimated cost per child, used primarily for medical supplies /equipment. We could meet this goal if each club could donate whatever they can, at least $100, to the effort. In 2023-24, nine (9) U.S. clubs out of 30+, made club donations. Listed alphabetically, they are: East Aurora, Grand Island, Hamburg, Hamburg Sunrise, Kenmore, Orchard Park, Lewiston-NOTL, Olean, and Westfield-Mayville. Five of these clubs donated above the minimum $100. Another club, Amherst, held a Wine and Appetizer Party on June 21st with GOL being one of the recipients of funding.
- Pat Castiglia
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of a new board member. Wendy Hvisdak of the Hamburg club will join Co-Presidents Cathy Henry and Pat Castiglia, Secretary Margaret Andrewes, and members Valerie Phillips, Pam Milroy, John Rydzik, Tom Gerbasi, and Carol Lipsett. The positions of treasurer are filled by Margaret Andrewes, Canadian accounts and Pat Castiglia, U.S. accounts. All positions were approved at the annual meeting in June.
Also discussed at the annual meeting was the sale of chocolate hearts. Unfortunately, funds raised this year were less than those raised in previous years. We acknowledge that the sale of chocolate hearts alone will not ever be sufficient to promote surgery for even one child. We do feel, however, that hearts continue to be a symbol of our effort to save hearts. The sale of hearts for this coming year will be discussed by the Board at the next meeting.
The donations from 2023-2024 and some reserve funds were recently allocated to an emergency situation in Ghana. GOL project in Ghana requested an immediate need for a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). This instrument uses echocardiography to assess the structure and function of the heart and provides a clearer image of the heart because the sound waves do not have to pass through skin, muscle, or bone tissue. Our District 7090 donation of $8,000 will purchase one TEE.
Canadian clubs desiring a program about GOL may contact Cathy Henry at dhenry1@cogeco.ca. U.S. clubs may contact Pat Castiglia at ptcas34@hotmail.com. Board members are available to visit in person or by zoom. Clubs are being asked to identify a member who could be our GOL advocate for their club. Advocates could help by taking orders for chocolate hearts and aid in their distribution for their clubs. It is anticipated that a minimum amount of time will be required for advocates but that their impact could be great.