Gift of Life NJ Inc. is a project of the Rotary Clubs in District 7475. We are recognized by the IRS as an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our mission is to provide resources to children with congenital heart defects from anywhere in the world where our assistance is needed.
In 1973, a Rotary Club in Long Island, NY, was asked to help a five-year-old girl in Uganda get the open-heart surgery she needed to correct a congenital defect. After the project’s success, these Rotarians felt compelled to continue helping children anywhere in the world where this life-saving surgery was not available.
In 1985, Rotarians from our District learned of this project and were inspired to join the cause to help connect children with heart defects to the medical services they desperately need.
Today, we are proud to be the second oldest and second largest of the over 60 Gift of Life programs worldwide.
The Mission of Gift of Life NJ Inc. is to provide resources to treat children with congenital heart defects from anywhere in the world where our assistance is needed.
We save children’s lives four ways:
Bringing Children to the United States
We, along with the support of Rotary members and many others, arrange for children with congenital heart defects from countries where specialized surgery is not available, to be treated in a hospital in the United States, usually in the greater New York City area. Here we provide hands-on care for both patient and parent.
Training Foreign Surgeons
Over the years we have provided funding to training several foreign pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons to help them advance their skills and provide children’s cardiac programs.
Sponsoring Overseas Missions
We fund teams of volunteer medical personnel who travel to underdeveloped countries where they spend typically two weeks operating on children and providing training for the local staff of doctors.
Providing Needed Equipment
Over those same years we have provided many hospitals in developing countries with medical supplies and specialized equipment to help them successfully treat their young patients.
Help Save the Lives of Children – Support Gift of Life NJ Inc.
Some links to our partners, people, and groups we work with:
International Children’s Heart Foundation