Congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in ALL countries around the world.  In the United States alone, 25,000 babies area born each year with a congenital heart defect.  Figures for third world countries are substantially higher and in most cases are not fully known due to the lack of medical care and knowledge in these countries.  Expectant women in third world countries lack basic nutrition, prenatal care and sanitary living conditions, which places their unborn children at a greater risk for congenital heart defects.

The concept for the Gift of Life began in 1974 with the Manhasset Rotary Club of Long Island (NY).  This Rotary Club brought a young girl from overseas to Roslyn, NY where she underwent a successful four hour open heart surgical procedure at St.Francis Hospital.  This event developed into a dynamic worldwide movement involving Rotary Clubs from around the world and countless other community organizations.

 

As the Gift of Life Program expanded its, reach The Rotary District 7490 Gift of Life Foundation was founded in 1986 by the Rotary Clubs of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson Counties in New Jersey.  This Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation created for the purpose of providing life saving cardiac surgeries to children around the world.  In additional to providing surgeries for children performed both domestically and abroad, GOL also works in their home countries to educate the medical profession, provide medical equipment and raise the standard of living thus lowering the potential incidence of congenital heart