On the U.S. side of the border, almost 50% of American clubs were contacted and gave support, and on the Canadian side of the border,10 % of the Canadian clubs were contacted and gave support by buying our delicious, high-quality chocolate hearts. In addition, five US clubs made club donations and one club, Eastern Hills Rotary, contributed $5000, and that club was able to individually sponsor a little girl in Kosovo requiring cardiac surgery. Three clubs on the Canadian side made a club donation.
To those clubs that donated to GOL through a budget item, we are most grateful. We would like to encourage more clubs to build a donation into their budgets because no matter how hard we try; we cannot sell enough chocolate hearts to fund surgery for even one child ($5000). If every club in District 7090 could donate even $100, we would be able to raise enough money for surgery for at least one child. Just as a reminder, on every day in every country we service, there are approximately 100 children waiting for life-saving surgery. How often can we know a child whose life we have saved? It is a wonderful feeling to know that you have saved a child’s life and we have that opportunity through donations to the Gift of Life District 7090 project. Please ask your club to consider an annual donation to GOL for this coming year. We shall continue to sell hearts through our club visits and hope you will continue to support this humanitarian district project.
The Board of Directors of the Gift of Life would like to thank all the District 7090 Rotary Clubs that supported our chocolate heart sale either at Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Through the generosity of individual club members and club donations, we have raised enough money to support cardiac surgery for two children.